The Future Farmers of America (FFA) is a non-profit service and educational organization dedicated to agricultural education in the United States. Since 1988, when the organization changed its official name to reflect the changing nature of American agriculture, which now includes everything from organic poultry pasturing to biofuels, the organization has been known as the National FFA Organization. Although many people in the United States associate the FFA with state fairs and livestock shows, the organization has many more facets, and the FFA began pushing a more broad image in the early twenty-first century, designed to encompass the many facets of American farming.
The organization was founded by students who wanted to provide leadership training to other vocational agriculture students. Since the first meeting in 1928, this mission has been an important part of FFA activities. Since its inception, the FFA has provided classroom instruction on a variety of agricultural topics, as well as supervised projects designed to provide practical experience.
Furthermore, the FFA places a high value on community service, encouraging members to volunteer in and around their communities to improve living conditions. Members of the FFA can compete in a variety of events, such as livestock management and public speaking. Scholarships are available to members who want to pursue agricultural education, and many FFA chapters also help with job placement.
While FFA members can certainly study livestock management and handling in addition to farming, they can also look into a variety of other agricultural topics. Business management, public speaking, landscaping, nursery management, livestock judging, meat evaluation, forestry, dairy, agriculture sales, environmental sustainability, and agricultural equipment are all topics that FFA members are interested in. Members can raise cattle for practical projects, but they can also intern with a local farm’s management, research environmental issues that affect agriculture, or participate in food science advancements.
Every year, millions of young people across the United States don the FFA’s signature blue jacket at a variety of events. Members can join the FFA as early as middle school if they wish, and they can stay active in the organization throughout their college years. Former members can serve as mentors, teachers, local organizers, and board members for the organization. Former President Jimmy Carter and other well-known leaders in American society have all participated in the FFA.