Being an FFA member and officer myself, I sometimes find it concerning how little impact some people seem to think we have on the world at large, while in fact, the National FFA Organization has been growing leaders since it’s inception. For example, former United States President, Jimmy Carter, was once an FFA Member, around the same time that famous country singer, Johnny Cash, was also a part of the FFA.

Most students involved in FFA say that it has contributed to the person they are today. In an interview, ADM FFA President Brodrick Schmidt said, “Being an FFA Officer has taught me a lot about leadership, and with people skills, like observing how people act and react to specific things and it helps me communicate with them better. especially when you’re in a leadership role that’s very important because otherwise people wont want to listen to you, because they don’t think you care”.

As you can see, those students that most know by name, and those involved in the FFA, are the ones learning the skills that they will need to use later on in life to get to where they want to be.

I asked ADM FFA Advisor, McKenzie Gettler, to give some insight on how the FFA teaches students about leadership. “Leadership simply means to “influence others.”  In the National FFA Organization members are able to run for leadership positions at the chapter, district, state or national levels but the POSITION is not really what it is all about. In the FFA, being a leader really means to lead by example. Some of the desirable traits in our leaders include being dedicated, compassionate, responsible, inspiring, and also having an abundance of integrity.  Leadership doesn’t always mean that you have to “take charge” but is expressed by how you are able to influence others to become the BEST members that they can possibly be”.

As I partake in the class, “Ag Leadership”, it has become more apparent to me that, like Mrs. Gettler says, leading isn’t always about being the one in charge, but being the one who is willing to work for the betterment of the group, class, or society at large.