Stark County FFA

What is FFA?

The National FFA Organization is the largest student-run organization in the country and prepares students with an interest in science, business, and technology. Formerly known as Future Farmers of America, today the FFA is a widespread and diverse organization serving a half a million students annually. While the FFA certainly still serves students with an interest in farming, it is also provides opportunities in medicine, research, technology, the environment, business, communications, and leadership. FFA members are on the forefront of advances in science, have opportunities to grow through leadership, and can become proficient in public speaking and career-related skills through activities avaialble throughout the year in FFA.

Stark County FFA members participate in a wide range of activities ranging from the traditional county fair to more contemporary activities such as agriscience research and bioenergy production.

Stark County FFA members have the opportunities to travel, make money, and meet new people through annual activities, conferences, and conventions. A wide variety of scholarships are available to FFA members and the local, state, and national levels and numerous awards and grants can be received by active FFA members.

Who Joins the FFA?

The membership of the Stark County FFA is as diverse as the student body at Stark County High School. Some members are from a farm but the majority are not directly connected to production agriculture. Many are college bound and gain valuable real-world experience (and valuable additions to their scholarship and university applications) through participation in the FFA.

What Do FFA Members Do?

FFA Members are among the most active students at Stark County High School. Members can choose for themselves how active they wish to be in the organization. No student does every activity in the FFA – there are simply too many! Rather, students are encouraged to explore their own personal interests within the FFA. Some students may have an interest in more traditional activities in the FFA, such as showing at the county fair. Others may be more interested in the scientific side of the FFA and may choose to conduct research using the department facilities such as the lab or agriculture shop. Some students join FFA to travel to conferences, workshops, and conventions all across the state and nation. Students may want to take part in a public speaking competition or meet new friends on a field trip or social event such as snow-tubing or college tours. Students can make money by assisting with our football concession cooperative with the yearbook club, banquet labor auction, or donkey basketball tournament.

Who is in charge of the FFA?

Stark County FFA is run by a team of elected officers who oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization. They are guided by the faculty advisor, Mr. Fairfield, who works to ensure that all decisions made by the officers reflect the best interests of the organization and its members.

On the state level, a team of high school graduates serve as state officers, guiding the work of the state association. They are elected by delegates from each FFA chapter in the state and are oveseen by the state advisor and Illinois State Board of Education Instruction consultant for agriculture, Mr. Harley Hepner.

Nationally, the FFA is divided into regions, each of which are guided by an elected National Officer and a National President. The National Officer Team is elected by state delegates at the annual National FFA Convention and are overseen by the National FFA Advisor, who also works as an administrator for the US Department of Education.

 

MEMBERSHIP​

 

Today, there are 557,318 FFA members, aged 12‒21, in 7,498 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

• 44% of FFA members are female; women hold approximately 50% of state leadership positions.
• 73% of our membership is White; 15% is Hispanic/Latino; 7% is Black/African-American; 5% is American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander.
• 9% of FFA members are currently enrolled in grades 6-8; 87% of FFA members are currently enrolled in grades 9-12; 4% have already graduated from high school and may be engaged in postsecondary studies.
• FFA chapters are in 18 of the 20 largest U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.
• The top five membership states are Texas, California, Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma.
• The 2012 National FFA Convention was host to 56,167 members, FFA advisors and FFA supporters.

 

 

 

EDUCATION

 

More than 11,000 FFA advisors and agriculture teachers deliver an integrated model of agricultural education providing students with innovative and leading-edge education, enabling them to grow into competent leaders.

 

• 92% offer agriscience; 71% offer advanced agriscience and biotechnology; 59% offer agricultural mechanics; 49% offer horticulture; 43% offer animal science; and 24% offer environment-related
• In 2001, 59% of qualified agricultural education graduates pursued teaching, 35 agriculture programs closed due to lack of qualified teachers and 365 agriculture teachers teach in more than one school
• 23% of teachers have five or fewer years of teaching experience
• The shortage of qualified agriculture teachers is the greatest challenge facing FFA and agricultural education

 

CAREER EXPLORATION

 

FFA classroom activities include math and science as well as hands-on work experience and the development of life skills, helping members discover their career path and realize success.

 

• Collectively, FFA members earn more than $4 billion annually through their hands-on work experience.
• Members participate and learn advanced career skills in 47 national proficiency areas based on their hands-on work experiences ranging from agricultural communications and food science and technology to turf grass management and wildlife production and management.
• According to the student magazine readership study, 87% of our students are interested in learning about career exploration, 81% about college preparation and 81% about technology.
• Through 24 national career development events and one activity, FFA members are challenged to real-life, hands-on tests of skills used to prepare them for more than 300 careers in the agriculture industry.

 

INDUSTRY SUPPORT

 

Agriculture is the nation’s largest employer, with more than 23 million jobs (17 percent of the civilian workforce) involved in some facet of American agriculture.

 

• The National FFA Foundation has raised more than $232 million for the National FFA Organization since 1944.
• Over 3,000 sponsors provided more than $16 million for FFA and agricultural programs and activities in 2011.
• In 2011, 129 sponsors provided 1,590 individual scholarships worth over $1.9 million through the National FFA Organization.
• To date, more than $34 million in FFA collegiate scholarships have been awarded to students pursuing higher education.
• At the National FFA Convention and Expo, the exhibit halls utilize more than 225,000 net square feet, attracting more than 400 exhibitors and vendors.