Did you know Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in U.S. homes? Spanish is a vitally important language in U.S. agriculture because the industry relies heavily on a Spanish-speaking workforce. The National FFA Organization includes more than 100,000 Hispanic/Latino members, representing about 15% of its membership.
While English-speaking FFA members compete in the National FFA Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event (LDE), more states are now offering a Spanish FFA Creed Speaking Event, too. Ariana Rodriguez, a sophomore member of the Tollhouse-Sierra FFA Chapter in California, was proud to be her chapter’s first competitor in the Spanish FFA Creed Speaking Event for the San Joaquin Region in March 2023. In this event, 49 members gathered to recite the FFA Creed and answer three questions from the judges, all in Spanish. Rodriguez placed second overall and went on to compete in the California state finals in April, where she tied for eighth place.
“This is the first year California hosted this contest, and it’s becoming more widely known,” Rodriguez says. “Since there is so much diversity here, it’s important for Spanish speakers to feel included and have the opportunity to participate in the contest. This brings out the diversity of our state FFA program.”
Rodriguez plans to compete again during her junior year.
“It makes you get out of your comfort zone to participate, and some kids are embarrassed to do it in another language,” she says. “But I encourage them to embrace it and motivate others to participate, too. If your section offers this contest, go for it because it’s an experience where you meet other people who speak the same language as you.”
Rodriguez met one of her best friends through the Spanish Creed contest.
“We would FaceTime and coach each other on the Spanish Creed,” she says. “He told me his mom didn’t understand what FFA was about until she heard him say the Creed in Spanish.”
Miguel Ortiz, the national FFA website administrator, is a native Puerto Rican who helps Latino and Hispanic members by assisting with National FFA document translations. During the 2014 National FFA Convention & Expo, Ortiz met with members of Puerto Rico FFA and other Spanish-speaking members to create one version of the Spanish Creed, instead of the multiple versions in use at the time. The goal was to help unify the Latino/Hispanic community within the National FFA Organization with one Spanish Creed version for all.
“We shared the final approved version of the Spanish Creed with all state FFA associations,” Ortiz says. “Being able to assist my Latino peers is a passion of mine. By providing our members with the FFA Creed in Spanish, we are promoting inclusiveness by allowing more Latino members to compete in their native language. This way, Latino and Hispanic members can recite the Creed with the same passion as the English Creed speakers.”
Want to learn how to recite the official Spanish FFA Creed? Try reading it out loud and committing it to memory.
El Credo de FFA
Creo en el futuro de la agricultura, con una fe que no nace de las palabras sino de los hechos — logros conseguidos por las generaciones presentes y pasadas de agricultores; en la promesa de días mejores a través de mejores maneras, así como creo que las mejores cosas de las que gozamos hoy han llegado a nosotros como resultado de las luchas de años anteriores.
Creo que vivir y trabajar en una buena finca, o dedicarse a otras actividades agrícolas, es agradable, y al mismo tiempo es un reto, porque conozco las alegrías e inconvenientes de la vida agrícola y mantengo una afición innata por aquellas asociaciones que no le negaré ni siquiera en horas de desaliento.
Creo en nuestro propio liderazgo y en el respeto a los demás. Creo en mi propia capacidad de trabajar de manera eficiente y de pensar con claridad, con cuantos conocimientos y habilidades pueda adquirir, y en la capacidad de los agricultores progresistas para servir nuestros propios intereses y el interés público en la producción y la comercialización del producto de nuestro trabajo.
Creo en menos dependencia de la caridad y más poder en la negociación; en la vida abundante y en que haya suficiente riqueza honesta para ayudar a que así sea — tanto para los demás como para mí; sin necesidad de caridad y más de ella cuando sea necesario; creo en ser feliz y en ser más honesto con aquellos cuya felicidad depende de mí.
Creo que la agricultura de Estados Unidos puede y debe mantenerse fiel a las mejores tradiciones de nuestra vida nacional y que puedo ejercer influencia en mi hogar y en la comunidad, que se mantendrá firme por mi parte en esta inspiradora tarea.
Learn more about the FFA Creed Speaking Event at FFA.org/Participate/LDEs/Creed-Speaking.
