Hunter Lawson and Gus Mushinski representing Texas FFA in the Houston Thanksgiving Day parade.
Upon joining FFA, members familiarize themselves with texts that serve as the organization’s foundation, such as the FFA Creed, the Official FFA Manual and the FFA motto. The motto states, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, and Living to Serve.” To help us understand what “Living to Serve” truly means, I recently interviewed Texas FFA President Hunter Lawson and Texas FFA Vice President Gus Mushinski.
Throughout a state officer’s year of service, they travel within their state, meeting FFA members and connecting with chapters. When asked what living to serve truly looks like, Lawson said, “Every day, I am on the road serving the membership of Texas FFA. From presenting workshops to having dinners with chapter officers, my year is enriched with service.
“However, it is what we do when no one is looking that defines living to serve for myself, he added. “It is the smallest of actions that define a life of service. The way in which we carry ourselves is what defines a servant leader. Living to serve for myself is not actions; rather, a way of life.”
Agriculture is an industry revolving around both leadership and service. Still, only a few recognize that even when we may be the ones serving others, we, too, can find great fulfillment in that service. When asked about how service affects both sides, Mushinski responds, “Service is one of those special things that in the sense it benefits both the servant and the served. When you are served, you feel loved and appreciated for what you’re receiving. On the other end, the servant is left with a feeling of accomplishment and gratitude. When you serve others, you find yourself wanting to pursue it more.”
When considering how FFA members can be the next generation of leaders, we can look at the opportunities that grow our leadership abilities in FFA. Opportunities like joining an officer team, staying connected in your chapter community service events, and participating in career and leadership development events are all invaluable ways to strengthen leadership.
When asked how FFA members can serve one another, Lawson shared, “Members can serve one another more by fostering a sense of community, collaboration, and support within our chapters and states. When we do this, we offer everyone a platform to experience the lessons FFA has to offer. We can serve one another by being a mentor to one another, encouraging our fellow FFA members, and sharing our passion with them, too. Service is made of the small actions which result in big change. By doing many small actions within our chapters and states driven toward service, we foster a sense of service in the entirety of our organization.”
Service is a selfless act that FFA continues to encourage members to engage in. When we take a step back to reflect on our strengths, we can find endless opportunities living to serve.
