Agriculture is part of our daily lives -- from the food we eat to the clothes
we wear. Next week, more than 653,000 FFA members will celebrate the role
agriculture plays in our lives while sharing the message of agricultural
education as part of National FFA Week. The celebration always runs Saturday to
Saturday and encompasses Feb. 22, George Washington's birthday.
The National FFA board of directors designated the weeklong tradition, which
began in 1948, in recognition of Washington's legacy as an agriculturist and
farmer. A group of young farmers founded FFA in 1928, influencing generations
that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting -- it involves science,
business and more. The organization's mission is to prepare future generations
for the challenges of feeding a growing population.
Today, FFA continues to help the next generation meet new agricultural
challenges, develop unique talents and explore a broad range of career
pathways. Today's FFA members are tomorrow's future biologists, chemists,
veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs.
National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to share agriculture with their
fellow students as well as their communities. Chapters also give back to their
communities through service projects and recruit students to become FFA
members. For example, next week, the Kenmare FFA Chapter in North Dakota will
work with local partners to fix up apartments at the Community Housing
Facility. These apartments are part of a nonprofit that houses community members
in need. Another chapter, located in Whiteland, Ind., will collect supplies for
100 art kits that will go to a local children's hospital. These are just two
examples of the service events during the week. Recommended Stories For You
During National FFA Week, the six national officers will visit chapters across
the country. Western Region Vice President Bryce Cluff will visit Utah; Gracie
Furnish, eastern region vice president, will visit Alabama; Erica Baier,
central region vice president, will visit Virginia; Ian Bennett, southern
region vice president, will visit Colorado; Piper Merritt, national secretary,
will visit Indiana; and National FFA President Breanna Holbert will visit
Minnesota.