Agriculture is part of our daily lives — from the food we eat to the clothes we wear. This week, more than 700,000 FFA members across the country will share the story of agriculture as part of National FFA Week.
Today, FFA provides for the next generation of leaders who will change the world. As the top school-based youth leadership development organization in the nation, FFA continues to help young people meet new agricultural challenges by helping members develop their unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. FFA members are our future leaders, our future food-suppliers, our future innovators and so much more!
Whether it is through service projects or community gatherings, National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in the development of agriculture’s future leaders and the importance of agricultural education.
National FFA Week always runs Saturday to Saturday and encompasses Feb. 22, George Washington’s birthday. This year, the week kicked off on Feb. 22, and culminates on Saturday, Feb. 29.
The National FFA Board of Directors designated the weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, in recognition of Washington’s legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. A group of young farmers founded FFA in 1928, and the organization has been influencing generations that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting — it involves science, business, and more.
National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to share agriculture with their fellow students as well as their communities. Chapters also give back to their communities through service projects during FFA Week. For example, during FFA Week, the Firebaugh FFA Chapter in California will be working with the newly remodeled senior center to encourage education on agriculture that is cross-generational by recording stories about residents and their past roles in agriculture. The Woodstown FFA Chapter in New Jersey will be assembling and distributing birthday boxes to their local women and children’s center for mini birthday celebrations. The kits will include balloons, candles, a cake mix that will only require water to be added, cups, plates, napkins, party hats, and a small gift. During National FFA Week, the Carrington FFA Chapter in North Dakota will make tie blankets and pillows that will be donated for the Foster County Social Services. With hunger a prevalent issue in their school district and local community, the Doland FFA Chapter in South Dakota will work with other members of the community and pack 10,000 meals for food pantries in their county and surrounding areas.
During FFA Week, the six national FFA officers will visit chapters across the country. Western Region Vice President Lyle Logemann will visit Wyoming and Nevada; Yomar Roman, southern region vice president, will visit North Carolina and Missouri; Mamie Hertel, central region vice president, will visit Delaware and Maryland; Tess Seibel, eastern region vice president, will visit New York and West Virginia; Kourtney Lehman, national secretary, will visit South Dakota and Hawaii; and National FFA President Kolesen McCoy will visit the U.S. Virgin Islands.
National FFA Week is also a time for alumni and supporters to advocate for agricultural education and FFA. Today, Tuesday, Feb. 25, the National FFA Foundation will celebrate Give FFA Day, a 24-hour campaign encouraging the public to support various needs impacting FFA members. If interested in giving, one can visit FFA.org/giveffaday. On Thursday, FFA Alumni and Supporters will celebrate Alumni Day. Friday, Feb. 28, all FFA members and supporters are encouraged to wear blue and show their FFA pride!
National FFA Week will be featured on social media as well. Follow the #FFAweek hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and don’t miss posts from the National FFA Officer Team while on the road as well.
