For those who wore the blue jacket, the concept of FFA being like a family is not unfamiliar. For two brothers from Puerto Rico, however, this concept takes on a literal meaning as they serve beside each other as two current state officers.
Jorge Rivera Torres, Puerto Rico FFA state president, and Javier Rivera Torres, Puerto Rico FFA state secretary, are thrilled to serve together this year. They’ve been cheering for each other since they decided to run for office together.
“If even one of us wasn’t going to get to the state office, we could even give…each other a hand,” Jorge says.
“I definitely wanted us to be together,” Javier adds.
The duo says their motivation to join the organization came from their father, who served as a former Puerto Rico FFA state reporter. “He told us how much he learned,” Javier says.
The father and sons have used their FFA experiences to benefit their family farm, but it takes a balance. From milking cows to doing administrative work and learning about genetics, the brothers find ways to maintain the farm and their state officer duties.
As Javier and Jorge continue their year of service, they don’t take serving together for granted.
“I definitely wanted us to be together and it’s definitely a blessing that we are,” Javier says.
Article edited by newsroom reporter Adrian Schunk.
