Future Farmers of America (FFA) students connected with each other and the land at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show.
With more than 945,000 members across the country, FFA’s the largest student organization in the nation, according to the National FFA website. Gov. Josh Shapiro celebrated their impact on the agricultural industry in a speech at the Farm Show.
“We have the largest number of first-year FFA members in the history of this Commonwealth,” said Shapiro. 960 strong – the future looks bright.”
Pennsylvania has 13,000 active members, according to FFA. Several FFA chapters presented at the show, teaching audiences skills like making chicken coops and apple cider. WVIA News caught up with students in between their presentations.
Sophomore Lilly Whiting and her sister, junior Jenna Whiting, built an animal feeder on stage. They’re from the Wilmington Area FFA. Lilly Whiting said the organization opened her eyes to new perspectives.
“We’re meeting people from all over the United States. And we’re learning that it’s not a part of ourselves. The world works by working together. And by going out through FFA, we are communicating with people, we’re working our public speaking skills, we’re learning about what others are doing,” said Lilly Whiting. “[We’re] creating job opportunities, traveling to colleges, and seeing how our future can benefit both ourselves and others around us.”
FFA shows kids that they can be leaders in their community – no matter their age. Lilly Whiting has gotten the confidence to teach others agriculture.
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Photo Credit: american-farm-bureau-federation
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops