Led by its Hispanic-majority officer team, American Falls FFA did not want to single out any one ethnicity during National Hispanic Heritage Month, so it decided to dedicate one week each to various cultures, including Hispanic culture, Native American culture, Multiracial culture and American culture. Learn more about the 330-member chapter’s efforts and perspectives.
American Falls FFA in Idaho excels at giving its members opportunities to lead, grow and work toward career success. Since 2006, the chapter has been recognized nationally each year for achieving the three-star rating in the National Chapter Award Program.
It’s also a very diverse chapter, with 45 percent of members identifying as Hispanic, 10 percent as Native American and 45 percent as Caucasian. Its diversity reflects that of its community, which is active in both agricultural production (including a major Wagyu beef feed yard) and processing industries.
Pictured here, from left to right: Jelly Oseguera, Yasmin Gonzalez, Sherlyn Lopez and Ixchel Fonseca
Marc Beitia (pictured here, second row, far right, with the winning 2022 Idaho Ag Issues team), who has advised the chapter since starting it in 1990, has tried to build a “culture of trust” in which Hispanic — and all — students feel valued, secure, safe and appreciated in the FFA building, knowing they won’t be treated differently from peers.
The chapter today has more than 330 members and three advisors.
American Falls FFA is an affiliated chapter, meaning all students enrolled in agriculture courses are automatically FFA members. This has reduced financial barriers for economically disadvantaged students, says advisor Savannah Stroebel, as individual dues are not collected.
The chapter also celebrates all students by publicizing their individual and team achievements on social media (Instagram, Facebook and TikTok) and in the local newspaper.
Pictured here, from left to right: Javier Vasquez, Patryck Martinez Lopez, Martin Hernandez and Gabby Balkowitsch
For the first time, American Falls FFA will formally celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month this year. The national observance runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and is themed “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”
However, the chapter, led by its Hispanic-majority officer team (pictured here), did not want to single out any one ethnicity during the month, so it decided to dedicate one week each to:
• Hispanic culture
• Native American culture (specifically Shoshone-Bannock Tribes)
• Multiracial culture
• American culture (not defined by a particular ethnicity)
The officer team and a committee of members are planning activities that revolve around dance and food. “We feel this is going to best represent who we are as a chapter,” Beitia says.
Across the following slides, American Falls FFA members and alumni share their agricultural and FFA experiences and provide suggestions for observing National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Pictured here, from left to right: Damaris Ortiz Cruz, Jessica Hernandez-Gaona and Leila Jackson
Jasmin Hernandez is a senior American Falls FFA member and serves as chairperson of the chapter’s Strengthening Agriculture Committee. She joined FFA at the encouragement of cousins and because she had heard it was a good way to get college scholarships.
“I stayed in FFA because I enjoy doing CDEs, like food science, and because of the bond I have with the members and officers in my chapter,” says Hernandez, who was first-high individual on last year’s food science team. “It has helped me get out of my comfort zone and to meet new people, which I enjoy a lot!”
Hernandez (pictured here, center, with her winning 2022 Idaho Food Science team) says it’s important to talk about the contributions of Hispanic people to agriculture.
For example, 64 percent of all U.S. farm laborers were of Hispanic heritage (57 percent Mexican and 7 percent other) in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Half of all wage and salary workers in agriculture were Hispanic.
According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the United States had 112,451 producers (or 3.3 percent) who identified as Hispanic, Latino or of Spanish origin. Hispanic-operated farms accounted for 5.6 percent of U.S. agriculture sales and 3.6 percent of U.S. farmland.
Angelica Hernandez competed nationally in the FFA Ag Issues Leadership Development Event (LDE) before graduating from American Falls High School in 2018. She now works in the medical field.
“Before I was in FFA, I was very shy, with social anxiety,” Hernandez says. “Through FFA, I built up my confidence along with my ability to lead and talk to people. I am able to speak easily and confidently to doctors, case managers, families, etc., and can lead meetings with ease because of FFA.”
Hernandez comes from a long line of agriculturalists, including her parents who, from a young age, worked in potato and sugar beet (among other crop) fields as contract farm laborers.
“I remember my parents coming home from work aching and tired from the long hours they had spent doing backbreaking work,” Hernandez says. “They would just eat, shower and go to bed, not spending time with family because they had to wake up early the next day and do it all over again.”
Fernando Montelongo is a senior American Falls FFA member. He serves as president for both the chapter and the East Magic Valley District FFA Chapter and will be competing nationally in the employment skills LDE this fall. He joined the agricultural issues forum LDE team his freshman year and has stayed active in FFA since because it has helped him develop life skills and make new friends from across the nation.
“I want FFA members to understand that our nation’s agriculture business is highly supported by members of the Hispanic community,” says Montelongo (pictured here with his 2022 FFA State Employment Skills award).
He suggests FFA members make connections with Hispanic/Latino members. If your chapter does not have any, reach out to a neighboring chapter, he says. Ask them questions about why they enjoy FFA and what it means for them to be a Hispanic/Latino FFA member.
Abby Rowe is a local farmer who grows potatoes. She earned a plant science degree from the University of Idaho in 2020 after graduating from American Falls High School in 2016. She served as chapter reporter and competed in the ag issues LDE.
“FFA has had a huge impact in my career,” Rowe says. “The most important thing I gained in FFA was the ability to communicate. Not only did I learn how to deliver a presentation with evidence, but I also learned how to connect with folks and organize toward a common goal. I do this every day on the farm, collaborating with employees, crop advisors and others to produce the best spud crop possible.”
Her advice to FFA members: “Get involved and find your passion, even when it seems uncomfortable and especially when it seems difficult. Your participation and success breaks down barriers and can change people’s perceptions of you.”
