With more than 24,000 members in nearly 340 chapters across the state, North Carolina FFA continues to grow – and so do the opportunities for hands-on agricultural education.
As a result, middle and high school students from all walks of life are growing their understanding of the importance of farming. They are learning more about where their food, fiber and fuel come from while also becoming well-informed consumers and connecting with their communities.
“Hands-on learning makes theory real,” says Joshua Bledsoe, North Carolina’s state agricultural education leader and state FFA advisor. “The way FFA enables students to apply what they learn in the classroom helps ensure the information sticks with them, which means they are likely to be agriculturally literate when they graduate. Even if a student doesn’t pursue a career in ag, the leadership, communication and collaboration skills they develop during their time in FFA will serve them well. And they’ll be more likely to engage in community service because they’ll have seen its impact firsthand.”
West Rowan FFA
The West Rowan FFA makes it easy for students to get involved in hands-on agriculture with an on-campus land lab. They were even recognized as the state’s Outstanding Middle/Secondary Program in 2021 by the North Carolina Agriculture Teachers Association.
The lab includes livestock facilities, heated greenhouses, a nursery area, nature trails and more. The lab complements the classroom work students complete in courses. Courses offered include horticulture, agriscience, animal science, natural resources and sustainable agriculture.
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“In all of our classes, we try to make sure there are ample opportunities for students to apply what they’re learning,” says West Rowan FFA Advisor Jason Chester. He teaches ag education courses at West Rowan High School in Mount Ulla, alongside Tori Cardea, Alex Silliman and Matthew Owen. “For example, our horticulture students can explore traditional gardening methods while growing squash, radishes and eggplant in our caterpillar tunnels. They also learn about hydroponics as they grow produce like hydroponic lettuce. When they start with a seed and see the plant grow into what they can sell at the Salisbury Farmers Market, they have a much better understanding of the process from start to finish.”
An Education in Cultivation
West Rowan ag education students can also participate in the school’s farm-to-table program. The program creates meals from foods grown on or near campus in a commercial restaurant environment. Thanks to an FFA member’s leadership, students have helped feed underserved families in the community.
“I led the Falcons Feeding Falcons project. It fed about 16 families per week with food we grew at our school,” says Madeline Kluttz. She served as president of both the West Rowan FFA and the North Carolina FFA Southwest Region and plans to pursue a career in vegetable production. “I’ve learned that hard work really does pay off, and you can achieve great things when you set a goal and work toward it.”
Davie County FFA
The Davie County FFA in Mocksville is another award-winning ag program known for its hands-on learning opportunities.
The chapter was recognized by the North Carolina FFA as a National Chapter Finalist in both 2020 and 2021. It has an on-campus barn that houses the students’ livestock, along with a greenhouse and raised beds. They use these tools to grow fruits and vegetables like sweetpotatoes, sugar snap peas and tomatoes.
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“Many of our students wouldn’t have the opportunity to raise livestock or plant crops if we didn’t have facilities at school. We’re always looking at how we can expand,” says Jesse Ledbetter, Davie County FFA advisor. “Right now, we’re working on adding a honeybee operation. As well as plan to create a workshop where students can learn to harvest honey.”
The Davie County FFA also works with the Mocksville Garden Club and the North Carolina State Extension to maintain a garden at a local nonprofit organization, A Storehouse for Jesus. All the produce is donated to community members in need.
“Our chapter helped raise more than 2,000 pounds of produce that were distributed to families in our area in 2021,” Ledbetter says. “FFA’s motto is ‘Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve,’ and we take that seriously. We do our best to give back as often as we can.”
FFA for the Future
FFA’s focus on community service is just one reason the Davie County FFA was a perfect fit for Kasey Williford. She is an aspiring nurse who joined the program as a freshman in 2018 with no prior experience in agriculture. Williford raised and showed sheep, as well as competed in horticulture and floriculture events, and helped organize chapter fundraisers. She says that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her FFA experience.
“I had no idea how much I’d learn about leadership, working with others and serving my community,” says Williford. She served as the Davie County FFA treasurer for three years. “My time in FFA was incredibly valuable, and I know high school wouldn’t have been the same without it.”
– Jessica Walker Boehm
