Future Farmers of America (FFA) has had a local chapter for 80 years. Throughout these years, students have not only learned leadership, but also skills that can help them in their future careers.
“We have a lot of fun, we do fundraisers and sometimes we do community service work,” sophomore Casey Sprouse said.
The organization does multiple projects year-round to support the community. The Radio Mash toy drive is just one of the projects FFA participates in by collecting money for the purchase of toys for the less fortunate.
“During the month of December, FFA members collected change from students during lunch and raised over $500 to support that organization,” sponsor Barbara Volk-Tunnel said.
Other events that the members participate in are attending the Agriculture Awareness Day in Dallas and entering in the Holiday Parade.
“FFA members decided to enter a float in the Holiday Parade,” Volk-Tunnel said. “They made a float using only recycled materials and won first place in the first ever Green Award.”
Students also put the skills they learn in class to use in various competitions throughout the year.
“I participate in agriculture sales and we are going to go to competition in March and we have to sell products,” junior Elizabeth Hartman said.
The competitions give students an opportunity to apply their learned skills in a real environment and use them to move toward careers in agriculture.
“These competitions focus more on helping you gain skills that might be applied towards a career,” Volk-Tunnel said.
The organization not only equips students with the skills to succeed, but also provides a means to move forward by providing members a chance to earn scholarships.
“Students who are the most active in our organization and keep high scholastic marks can definitely be in the running for these funds that will go toward their higher education,” Volk-Tunnel said.
What members like about the organization is the overall experience that they gain from being in FFA.
“I like the experience, because it’s something that all the other organizations don’t do and don’t have; it’s a lot different,” FFA president Nicole Kuder said.
If students have questions about FFA, they can contact sponsors Barbara-Volk Tunnel or Terry Hausenfluck.
“As you can see we have something for everyone in the Bryan FFA” Volk-Tunnel said.
