FFA

Scroggins Animal Hospital 1259 S Eastern, Moore (405) 895-6638 scrogginsanimalhospital.com Moore FFA Leadership Learns that Anything is Possible

Two Moore High School students recently attended the prestigious 2022 Oklahoma FFA Foundation Legislative Dinner. Agricultural Education instructor Jessica Dunlap says since part of the local FFA chapter's funding comes from the state, students need to engage with legislative leaders.

"These students are our next generation leaders," said Dunlap. "They're going to grow up and become voters. They also need to be involved and understand why this is important for them and why it is relative to them."

Senior Hope Helm is the MHS FFA Chapter President. She says one of the dinner was a great chance to meet our state's legislative leaders. She also enjoyed meeting other students from across the state who are learning about the challenges of serving in leadership roles for their chapters.

"Being a leader means not just making calls for myself," said Helm. "I'm coming to understand that I'm making a call for a whole group and making the best call not just based on my opinion, but for everybody's sake."

Helm says that her involvement with FFA has taught her some great lessons that extend far beyond the stereotypical images associated with the organization.

"I think a lot of the time it's misconstrued that FFA is just livestock showing and farming," said Helm. "It's so much more than that. We have animal science, aquaponics, and shop classes where kids learn welding and take into careers."

Diego Lopez is the MHS FFA Chapter Vice President. One of the biggest takeaways he has from the Legislative Dinner is just how similar our state leaders are to everyone else, including high school students.

"I thought it was fascinating to get to know the people who run our state and understand that they're just people, too," said Lopez. "They have their everyday problems just like you and me."

When it comes to overcoming everyday problems, Lopez points to his experience with FFA as the primary reason he has gained a tremendous amount of self-confidence over his high school career.

"My freshman year, I really could not really talk to anybody," said Lopez. "Every time I would talk to someone, I would always have this voice in my head that would be like, 'No, you shouldn't have said that.' But being involved in FFA and speaking at things like our opening ceremonies have given me more self-confidence."

Dunlap says helping students find this kind of self-confidence is something she loves about the MHS FFA program.

"It's been great to see Diego bloom in his confidence," said Dunlap. "I think this is a skill that we need to teach our young people; to be confident in themselves."

Helm agrees, noting that FFA has opened doors for her.

"I have met so many amazing people and made friendships that will last a lifetime," said Helm. "And I've gotten opportunities such as this dinner that have opened my eyes to seeing that really nothing is impossible."

From left, State Rep. Ajay Pittman, Home Helm, Former Rep. Anastasia Pittman

From left, Hope Helm, Jessica Dunlap, Diego Lopez