For entrepreneur Alyssa Walsh, FFA wasn’t just an organization — it was the spark that ignited her passion for agriculture and set her on the path to launching two successful businesses.
“FFA truly was transformative — not just because of the material I was learning, but, perhaps more importantly, because of the teachers who guided me and the community members who supported the program,” Walsh says.
Growing up in Muscatine, Iowa, Walsh was a generation removed from farming. Her involvement in FFA during high school, however, provided a foundation for her future with experiences such as competing as her chapter’s FFA Creed speaker, showing livestock and discovering a talent for public speaking.
As a Muscatine FFA member, Alyssa Walsh (middle) competed in the National FFA Agricultural Sales Career Development Event in 2015.
After graduating in 2017, Walsh pursued an agricultural communications degree at Iowa State University with minors in general business and animal science.
“FFA taught me how to solve problems quickly, take action toward goals and trust myself — especially through livestock judging,” she says. “I also figured out that I really like communicating about what I’m learning.”
Passion Projects Are Born
During an entrepreneurship class at Iowa State University, Walsh learned how to create business plans and develop fundamental skills. This inspiration led to the launch of Sweet Briar Creative, an agency specializing in providing graphic design and videography for agriculture-focused brands.
“I formalized my skills into a business and named it after a flower in a gardening book my mom had,” Walsh says.
Since its 2020 launch, Sweet Briar Creative has helped clients tell their stories through services including logo design, livestock sketches, promotional videos and consulting. Walsh aims to empower her clients by providing tools to efficiently manage their creative needs.
In 2023, Walsh and her husband, Daniel, took their entrepreneurial spirit to the next level by founding Regal Cattle, a cow-calf operation they built from scratch. “We’ve always wanted to create something that was entirely our own,” she adds.
Inspired by their own experiences showing cattle, Walsh and her husband, Daniel, are investing in future generations of livestock exhibitors through Regal Cattle.
The couple’s vision includes securing land and expanding their operation to offer educational opportunities for others in agriculture.
Through it all, Walsh credits FFA for instilling critical skills, such as problem-solving, quick thinking and the ability to stay proactive in achieving goals. “It’s easy to get derailed by comparison, so I focus on my own path and what I need to do to achieve my goals,” she says.
She also encourages young entrepreneurs to prioritize making connections and keep moving forward. “There’s no better time than the present to start your business, so take one small step every day and watch how far you go,” Walsh says.
Build Your Business
Looking to bring your ideas to life? Becoming an entrepreneur might be easier than you think. Check out these three FFA members who used their skills to start a small business.
