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About FFA
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What is FFA?
FFA is a dynamic student-led leadership development organization for students of agricultural education. The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
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What does FFA stand for?
The official name of the organization is the National FFA Organization. The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America and our part of our history and heritage, however agriculture is much broader than farming and ranching. Members study things such as horticulture, aquaculture, food sciences, accounting, business, wildlife management, mechanics and engineering, leading to careers in a variety of fields.
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What is the difference between 4-H and FFA?
We do many of the same things and have lots in common. The 4-H is part of the cooperative extension service and is coordinated by local extension agents through county government and by volunteers. 4-H is not limited to agriculture, but takes in things like family and consumer sciences and other areas as well. The FFA is an integral part of the school’s agricultural science program. Each local program is led by an agricultural science teacher who works for the school. FFA members apply what they learn in the classroom in FFA activities through school activities.
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Are FFA members going to be farmers?
Yes and No. Agriculture is a very broad field of study. Members study things like landscaping, floriculture, animal science, computer applications, accounting, environmental science, mechanics and engineering. Regardless of an FFA member’s career choice, the FFA provides opportunities to build and apply math, science, technology and leadership skills to their life.
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Are there any jobs in agriculture?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at least 22 million people in the United States work in one of over 300 careers that exist in the field of agriculture. While most people think of farming when the word agriculture is mentioned, there are agriculture-related jobs in veterinary science, marketing, food processing, retail sales and timber harvesting. It is estimated that one in five people in the U.S. work in agriculture-related jobs.
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Can private school and home schooled students be FFA members?
FFA is integral to a systematic school-based agricultural science instructional program. Private schools may establish agricultural science instructional programs following the State Plan for Career and Technical Education program guidelines and charter an FFA chapter in the same manner as a public school. Because FFA is part of a school-based instructional program, no provision exists for home-schooled students. However, some districts may allow in-district home-schooled students to access the career and technical education program and participate in the student organizations affiliated with these programs. This is a local district decision.
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Does everyone have to raise a cow or pig in FFA?
No. Every FFA member must have a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program. An SAE is a project or enterprise that gives members hands-on training and a chance to apply what is learned in the classroom. Livestock projects are very popular, but there are many options: placement in an agricultural job, internships, experimental work in agriscience, horticultural projects and crop projects are just a few.
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Do you have to be a cowboy to be in FFA?
Western wear is popular among many FFA members, but is definitely not a requirement. FFA members come with all kinds of styles and interests. From big cities like Houston and San Antonio to small towns all across Texas, what brings FFA members together is their interest in agriculture, leadership and community service.
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