Gainesville
FFA Contributed by: Kenadee Jones, GHS Sophomore
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hen people think of the FFA, they think of farming. Despite the acronym meaning, Future Farmers of America, FFA is also about support, leadership, and reaching your dream career. While FFA can prepare you for a life in farming, it is actually an avenue to many different careers. If you want to be a veterinarian, a welder, or a biochemist, having an agriculture class at GHS is a great way to begin those career paths. “FFA is a leadership program that is based on agriculture, but includes many different aspects,” Ag teacher Traci Broom said. The growth of Gainesville’s FFA program has been truly astounding. Over the past 10 years alone, they have more than doubled in size from 100 members to over 240. “The biggest change is just how much it has grown,” FFA Chapter President Marian Motomochi said. With over 100,000 members in Texas and more than 700,000 worldwide, college scholarships are available to FFA participants even if you don’t pursue it in college.
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• Gainesville SPOT SPOTlight light • Winter 2020
Texas is one of the top scholarship states for FFA as its program continues to grow. FFA is also known for encouraging educational growth, a solid moral code, and a strong work ethic, all which look good on a college application. Motomochi says that to be in FFA, you cannot be afraid of reaching out or asking questions. Joining FFA is as simple as enrolling in any Principles of Agriculture and Natural Resources course. These courses include Floral Design, Horticulture, Advanced Floral Design, Small Animal Management, Equine Science, Veterinary Medical Apps, Advanced Animal Science, Agriculture Mechanics, and Metal Technology. As you can see, it’s not just about livestock. Students can enter their projects for Agricultural Mechanics Project Show Awards or compete in practical application competitions like electrical wiring. With 30 to 40 competitions per year, FFA has plenty of opportunities to compete. “We have several competitions based on career skills,” Broom said. “Others are based on leadership skills like speaking and major competitions based on raising livestock.” Many of the most lucrative competitions are livestock shows, where students
train and develop their show animals. These animals may range from the smallest rabbits to the largest cows and everything in between. Some of those livestock competitions can really pay off with thousands of dollars in sale and scholarship money for the winners. While being in FFA can be time-consuming, the benefits are numerous. FFA students learn to be responsible for themselves and their surroundings, from taking care of livestock to completing their projects to the very best of their abilities. “It has made me grow as a person and be more self-confident,” Motomochi said. “It made me realize that I am more than I thought I was.”
