Commentary: Thanks to FFA, agriculture's future is in good hands

By Jackson Alves

National FFA Week kicked off Feb. 19 as students began to celebrate in chapters across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The tradition originated in 1948, recognizing George Washington’s legacy as an agriculturist and farmer.

FFA was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Since then, the organization has been influencing generations of agriculturalists with not just planting and harvesting but also science, business, leadership and more. The National FFA Organization is a school-based youth leadership development organization of more than 945,000 student members.

The agriculture department at Hamilton High School in Glenn County prides itself on the opportunities provided to the students. Comprising teachers Ashley Thorpe, Janice Lohse and Andrew Martin, the agriculture department offers an array of course studies and projects for students to experience. The equipment and infrastructure made possible in the past few years make student learning fun and relevant, with animal husbandry projects, field crops, technology and industry tours. The industry partners that support these teachers and students are instrumental in making it the program it is today.

Hamilton City FFA takes pride in giving students the best opportunities to become successful and develop a love for the agriculture industry. Career Development Event teams are a major part of our chapter and provide students with the chance to join teams such as farm power, vet science and tree judging.

Many students gain passion and often center their career goals around what they have learned through being a part of Hamilton City FFA CDE teams. Speaking competitions are another way for students to gain experience in public speaking and center what they have gained through agriculture. Classes also play a big role in involvement and the interest of our students. By teaching our students about agriculture from different perspectives and through different industry focuses, it will help spark the passion of our students.

Trips and conventions occur often for the students of our chapter. Trips can reach across the country and include industry tours and FFA-related events. This allows students to gain an understanding of agricultural production in California and other states across the country.

Factory tours give students the opportunity to see how different byproducts are produced and learn about the process from start to finish. Students are able to explore possible careers in different fields of the agriculture industry. FFA-related trips include conferences where students get to meet new people and learn new leadership skills that can be brought back to their home chapter.

Several of our students recently spoke about the impact FFA has made on their lives and how our chapter has helped them develop a love for agriculture.

FFA member Claire Boles said, “Hamilton City FFA has impacted my life in a positive way. I am thankful for my advisors. Their encouragement has led me to become a more confident person both at school and in my community. I am sure that this impact will follow me for many years to come.”

Anthony Alves said, “Hamilton City has positively impacted my life because it has opened doors to what I’m capable of, and I have accomplished so much through my years of involvement. For example, I am a part of the Farm Power team at Hamilton, and I have gained so much knowledge in mechanics and farming that I would not have gained if I wasn’t a part of it. This has helped me recognize my love for diesel mechanics and what I want to do as my career in the future.”

As you can see, our chapter is like a second home to our students and has changed the outlook of many people. By providing these opportunities to our students and continuing to educate the next generation, the agriculture industry has a very bright future.

The Hamilton City FFA chapter is extremely unique and is much different from other FFA chapters. The continuous effort of teachers and students has helped build a structured and effective chapter.

FFA member Bryant Odom said , “Our program has a plethora of different ag facilities and a great community. We have a large school farm with many animals and crops, as well as a shop and great courses to take. Our small school aspect allows all members to feel personally welcomed and involved in Hamilton City FFA.”

The Hamilton City FFA program is the home of three amazing teachers who dedicate their time to helping students succeed and find a love for agriculture. The environment at Hamilton City FFA is very positive and makes you feel at home whenever you are in the agriculture department.

As the agriculture industry continues to evolve, so does the next generation of farmers. The FFA organization is one of a kind and truly is the future. The education of the students in FFA is vital and has proven to be a difference maker in the success of the industry as a whole. Gaining involvement and interest in all chapters will help with the growth of the FFA organization.

(Jackson Alves is the FFA reporter at Hamilton High School in Hamilton City in Glenn County. Ag Alert invites future submissions from other FFA reporters.)