Anna Mathis (far right) smiles with children in a Ugandan village. Photo courtesy of Anna Mathis.
Although Anna Mathis had never traveled abroad, that didn’t stop her from boarding a plane to Uganda to connect with women in rural agricultural communities. The 2020-21 National FFA secretary from Valley Springs, Ark., first learned about Extension education, a method of teaching aimed at providing practical information to people in urban and rural areas, while preparing to run for a National FFA office.
“I remember sitting in my dorm room, bursting into tears reading about Uganda and the role that agricultural education plays in food security,” says Mathis. “It was such a moving moment for me.”
Making a Difference
Mathis decided to incorporate her interest in international development into her honor’s thesis at the University of Arkansas. In 2022, the Valley Springs FFA Alumna connected with Her Mighty Hands, a nonprofit that aims to empower female farmers to end generational poverty and hunger through Extension education.
Spending time in the tiny African nation allowed Mathis to learn more about local agriculture and communities. With the help of a translator, she interviewed Ugandan women and took countless photos and videos. Mathis used these to develop a communications campaign that included a website as well as social media posts and stories.
Mathis (center) interviews a Ugandan woman for her honor’s thesis project. Photo courtesy of Anna Mathis.
As she traveled and visited different Ugandan communities to learn about their challenges, Mathis kept one thing in mind: “My main focus was preserving the dignity and respect of these women,” she says. “As a writer, photographer and videographer, it was very important to me to relay their stories in the most accurate way possible.”
It was hard work mixed with joyful connections, and Mathis considers this overseas adventure, “the most life-changing experience I will ever have.”
Today, Mathis works as a press assistant for the House Committee on Natural Resources in Washington, D.C., and serves as a board member for Her Mighty Hands. She credits FFA for helping her achieve success in agricultural communications, both at home and abroad.
Mathis continues to partner with Her Mighty Hands, a nonprofit focused on empowering female farmers. Photo courtesy of Anna Mathis.
“The work I did for Her Mighty Hands was at the exact intersection of agriculture, communications and education that FFA teaches so well, and it’s so relevant to what’s happening in the world today,” she says. “The FFA vision talks about transforming the world through agricultural education. If there’s something we cannot afford to ignore, it’s our friends and our neighbors across the ocean.”
