Nurturing lifelong success through agricultural education and leadership development
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Every year, thousands of middle and high school students gather together to find inspiration and skills to become a leader. The National FFA Convention & Expo serves as one of the country’s largest conventions and a time-honored tradition of nearly a century, and it happens right here in Indianapolis. Earlier this year, the National FFA Organization, the largest student-run leadership organization in the country with headquarters here in Indianapolis, celebrated record-high membership at nearly 950,000 members.
This kind of growth makes it an exciting time for agricultural education — but many are unfamiliar with the full scope of benefits and career opportunities it’s providing our young learners who have diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Developing the next generation of leaders who will change the world
It’s time we make it known to a broader audience the value of agricultural education, and leadership opportunities that come along with this systematic and strategic program. When referring to FFA communities specifically, the general public often thinks solely about farming, cowboy hats, blue jackets, and rural living. FFA is that and much more.
Agricultural education and the industry as a whole have expanded significantly into science, business, and tech focuses as our society continues to evolve and grow, leading to more than 350 career opportunities related to agriculture. To give an idea of the depth and opportunity involved, it’s important to know that school-based agricultural education across the country is made up of three closely related components: classroom/laboratory instruction, experiential service and/or work-based learning, and premier leadership development.
Because of this unique structure, the future of agriculture, and the future of our workforce overall, begins with our K-12 learners. There aren’t many other middle and high school learning opportunities like agricultural education that place such a strong emphasis on leadership development, in addition to the classroom work. Now more than ever, our world is in need of leaders who recognize the potential in others, know how to think strategically, and successfully manage through change. Now that AI is at the helm of nearly all industries, these soft skills will be even more important as human interaction is where we’ll find empathy and emotional intelligence to successfully deploy AI technologies, lead others, and best serve our communities.
Accessibility for all students from every background
Having grown up in Indiana, and then earning an agricultural degree from Purdue University, I’m very appreciative of my Hoosier roots and the values instilled in me when it comes to a strong work ethic, the importance of family, and supporting the next generation of the workforce. FFA and agricultural education has been a part of my life from a very young age as my father was an agriculture educator, and my mother was a 4-H leader. Over the years, though, it became clear that a rural background and a tie to farming wasn’t the only path to find success in the agricultural industry.
In FFA, for example, there’s a standing commitment to expanding access as we prioritize seeking diversity in our membership, leadership and staff. It’s critical that we continue to provide a community where every classroom and event is a place where any student, from any background, feels like they belong. What we know is that the agricultural industry is diverse in and of itself, with career opportunities stretching from natural resources to communications to life sciences.
It’s important that we work together to invite and engage future leaders from all of America’s communities, both rural and urban, to feed, fuel, clothe and sustain a growing planet.
Value of accessible mentorship
Having worked in the agricultural industry for the past three decades, much of my career growth and success, both personally and professionally, can be attributed to the mentorship I’ve received over the years. There’s immense value in having a mentor at all stages of life, even as early as middle and high school. It’s during those younger years in the classroom that students have that initial opportunity to look up to, and learn from, their teachers and advisors.
There’s immense value in teachers having mentors so that they have a network of support, guidance and resources. The growth and retainment of agricultural educators stem back to the support they receive while educating our youth. According to a survey by Purdue University, respondents reported difficulty hiring adequate labor for ag-focused jobs, and agricultural classrooms are struggling to fill teaching roles with skilled educators.
Structured and accessible mentorship programs (i.e., FFA for students, organized networks for educators) are the lifeline to success. It’s important for everyone to have a champion that encourages and supports them through each stage of life.
I look forward to continuing to help build systems that build people up. I am committed to working with our state leaders, current and coming educators to strengthen our delivery system so that our next generation of leaders can successfully change lives and positively impact communities.
Scott Stump has more than 30 years of agricultural and leadership experience and is the CEO of the National FFA Organization, a school-based national youth leadership development organization, headquartered in Indianapolis.