The Future Farmers of America (FFA) has changed big-time.

Perhaps the only thing you’ll still recognize about FFA is the blue corduroy jackets with gold lettering. Instead of mostly farm kids, FFA members now include a lot more females and city kids, and it’s name has changed to the National FFA Organization.

“The face of FFA (state and national) has changed from an all-male organization to, in Michigan, 54 percent female and 46 percent male,” says Dave Wyrick, the Michigan FFA Association’s state executive secretary. As more female students started participating in FFA and ag education programs, their numbers in leadership roles and the ag teaching profession also increased. “This has had a very positive impact on FFA,” he adds. “Out of 120 agriscience teachers in Michigan, 62 are female.”

This new diversity is also one of the biggest challenges facing the organization, Wyrick says, particularly, offering programming to meet differing student needs and supplying enough qualified teachers to school districts.

“FFA is no longer just ‘cows, plows and sows,’ and has expanded into many other areas such as the green industry (floriculture, nursery, landscape) natural resources, environmental studies and small animal care,” adds Randy Showerman, Michigan FFA’s state advisor.

In Michigan, FFA serves 5,308 members from 103 chapters—from urban chapters in Grand Rapids and Detroit to rural ones in the U.P. and Thumb areas.

Nationally, in 2006, the group boasted over 495,000 total members, and there are at least 11 chapters in the nation’s most populated cities, including Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.

“FFA provides students with opportunities for recognition, travel, making money, and development of leadership skills,” Wyrick explains. “The mission of FFA is premier leadership, career success, and personal growth.”

In fact, Showerman says some of Michigan’s best FFA successes are in leadership development. “The history book (see box below) does a good job of outlining the good things that FFA has done,” he says. “Some successful former Michigan FFA members are involved in both the public and private sector.”

From a student’s perspective, “FFA has opened many doors for me and helped me become the well-rounded person that I am today,” says Kate Krepps, an MSU freshman and state FFA treasurer. FFA, she says, has helped her fine-tune her public speaking abilities, grow into an experienced presenter, and become a better team member.

“FFA is fun because it allows you to experience many new things and meet tons of new people,” Krepps adds. On top of that, there are fun interactive events and numerous competitions members can enter. “The competitions are fun,” she says, “because you get to work with others or by yourself and showcase your skills and abilities.”

FFA has also changed with technology, Krepps says, allowing members to be more connected with each other and state and national officers. “There are websites now at both the state and national levels. These were not available when I was first a member,” she explains.

From a teacher/advisor viewpoint, Melanie Block, Krepps’ ag teacher and FFA advisor when she was at Ravenna High School, says, “The best skills FFA offers are teamwork and a taste of success that builds confidence in themselves to try other things and careers—because in any job you have to learn to work with others.”

Block is entering her eighth year as FFA advisor and says, “I love it.” She started the chapter with a handful of kids and has seen “phenomenal growth” and “a supportive administration.” One-half of the high school is in FFA right now, and she says it’s due largely to community support. Of 116 students in Ravenna’s chapter last year, 65 were female.

“In my chapter, it (FFA) also offers kids a place to belong,” Block explains, “they don’t have to be the best-looking or the most athletic—they just have to be willing to try, and to work hard.” In her group, she has everyone from the homecoming king and queen to the shyest students.

“FFA is full of opportunities for everyone, male or female,” Krepps echoes. “It is not strictly ‘farming’ based…this allows those who aren’t interested in the agricultural aspects directly to benefit from what FFA has to offer.” And, the agricultural field has many different career choices, she says, including being a communications or public relations consultant, university professor, a farm manager or owner, and more.

“FFA activities have changed over the years as students’ needs have changed, but a constant has been that FFA activities are enjoyable for students,” Wyrick says of the group’s appeal.

Gift Idea
Read about Michigan FFA’s history and connection to electric co-ops in a new coffee table book:

“Michigan FFA: A Legacy of Great Lakes Leadership”
Info/ordering: michiganffa.com, mtpublishing.com Or call: 1-888-263-4702.