Have you ever even heard about Future Farmers America (FFA)? FFA is an agriculture class where you can learn about animals, plants or even leadership skills. FFA is one of the largest youth organizations with about 1,042,245 student members in 9,407 local chapters across all 50 states. It will help you learn how to talk to people or even just meet new people. The organization has one big week called FFA week.
Senior Clara Harden is the Rolla FFA president and the Area 13 vice president, and she has been in FFA for four years. Harden has competed in many events: FFA Knowledge, Public Speaking Grasslands and also Agriculture Sales. Harden found this year’s FFA week to be special because it is her last year.
“It was great. It was nice to go though all the events that we do every FFA week and it was sentimental as it was my last FFA week. We raised a lot of money at the pork loin supper and the gar field trip. It was a lot of fun,” Harden said.
Harden has enjoyed being a leader and has helped a lot of the underclassmen feel at home in FFA.
“It doesn’t matter where you are or who you are or what you’re interested in, FFA has a place for everyone, especially people who are interested in leadership and want to get into something new. FFA is a great place to explore new things and learn about agriculture,” Harden said.
Senior Isabel Morris is the Rolla FFA secretary and has been in FFA for four years. She has definitely put most of her time into FFA by making it on stage at Nationals.
“I’ve definitely dedicated a lot of my time towards FFA and I’ve made FFA my main thing. So it definitely takes some time up but I’m pretty good at balancing the activity with some of my other activities that aren’t my main things and then school work and stuff at home as well,” Morris said.
Senior Lucy Conger is the Rolla FFA treasurer, and she is looking forward to this year’s events.
“This year, I’m really looking forward to a job interview contest, which is an LDE [Leadership Development Event], and then I’m also excited for my agriscience project with Isabel,” Conger said.
As a leader, Conger has helped a lot of other members including her freshman brother Vincent “Cosmo” Conger with his Agriculture Science project this year.
“I’m excited to be in FFA, and I wish more people would join so we have a bigger community of help. I would like to have a lot of the incoming freshmen join since I can be an officer next year. I’m hoping to make it one of the best years yet,” Cosmo Conger said.
