By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist
Texas FFA members are celebrating National FFA Week with activities highlighting the organization’s impact on students, agriculture and local communities.
“During National FFA week, over 180,000 members of Texas FFA and over 1 million FFA members are celebrating all the messages that FFA promotes,” Texas FFA Area V State Vice President Caden Garner said. “Our mission statement is premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. In Texas, we encourage chapters to participate in various activities to promote agriculture, education and community involvement.”
A key highlight of the week for Texas FFA is My Texas FFA Day on Feb. 18, where members and alumni use social media to share how FFA has influenced their lives. The week also features themed days and a visit to the Texas State Capitol, where FFA students and teachers will engage with state leaders.
“When I think about the impact that Texas FFA and National FFA is having on students, I see that professional development that’s happening,” Garner said. “I see the leaders that are being developed every day. I see the skills that these members are gaining and see how not only are they going to apply them in high school, but they’re going to apply them in college and in the workforce where we are constantly facing different challenges, different issues within agriculture or even outside agriculture.”
New this year, Texas FFA is launching the Plant the Future Initiative: Texas FFA Community Tree Planting Initiative.
“It’s a community tree planting initiative that unites chapters with their local communities to plant a tree. We’re fostering environmental stewardship and community engagement,” Garner said.
Texas FFA is also teaming up with Texas Farm Bureau to provide agricultural literacy resources for K-5 students, including a coloring contest to engage the younger grade levels.
“Texas FFA is very blessed to be able to work with Texas Farm Bureau on all our lesson plans that we use for elementary school visits through National FFA Week,” he said.
Garner noted FFA offers students opportunities to learn about agriculture, future careers and leadership, and he encourages members to participate in the events and activities available.
“One the biggest things I learned is to just always say yes,” Garner said. “It’s so important to take every opportunity you can because I know looking back, if I had not taken half the opportunities that I had taken, I would not be in the shoes that I am in today. Take every opportunity that you can within the FFA.”
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