Spring Gardening

Cultivating tradition

FFA brings together HSE, FHS students for unique club experience

Laura Masoni masonlau000@hsestudents.org

Hamilton Southeastern FFA after competing at the District 5 contest. The District 5 contest was held on Saturday, March 5. Photo by Caroline Mills.

FHS FFA is an agricultural centered club that participates each year in cultivate your interests, or find volunteer opportunities, FFA can be for anybody,” competitions, fundraisers and demonstrations. The club is built to foster leadership skills that can carry over into each member’s future career and life. “Many people assume that it is a farming club, and that is only for people who want to be farmers,” sophomore Sophia Huffman said. “It actually covers a wide variety of interests.” In 1988 the organization changed its name to the National FFA Organization to mirror the expanding diversity that the program was seeing. Today the range of topics covered includes horticulture, government, environmental science, Ag mechanics, and more. “Whether you want something to put on an application, you want to Huffman said. There are two main categories they compete in. There are Career Developement Events (CDE’s) which consist of vet science, livestock skill and horse and livestock judging.There are also Leadership Development Events (LDE’s) that incorporate parliamentary procedure, job interviews and prepared public speaking. “Some events include donkey basketball, ham and bean supper and the barn dance kind of like homecoming,” junior Courtney Phillips said. The impact that these competitions have on chapter members is long-lasting and stretches beyond career development. For many, the club brought out aspects of themselves they didn’t know they had. “FFA helped me be more comfortable speaking and being more confident,” junior Sarah Majeski said. “The teachers and people you meet and the opportunities you will get are ones you will never forget.” In addition to competitions, FHS FFA builds bonds amongst its fellow members. With the numerous opportunities to interact as a club, FFA is a place to make connections. “What’s great about Fishers especially is the tight-knit community that is created. Most of the members partake in one of the many Ag classes, so you get to really know people,” Huffman said. FFA also provides opportunities for real-world connections. The club has even led chapter members to employment within the Fishers community. “Through FFA, I was able to gain my dream internship at VIP Animal Care as a vet assistant, and there are so many scholarships you can apply for through FFA.” Phillips said. While career and personal development is at the forefront of the club’s mission, members say they take away much more. “FFA means a lot to me,” Huffman said. “I learned more about what I want to do when I grow up, I have learned about the importance of agriculture and I have met an amazing group of people. It is a really one-of-a-kind club.” National Mission Statement: The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.