Plant a garden to feed the community. Order banquet supplies. Prep for state convention. With tasks like these and more on a chapter’s to-do list, spring is a busy season. Here are some of the important and exciting FFA happenings submitted by state officers and chapter reporters from around the country.
Alabama: Giddy up! The Pell City FFA uses the spring months to plan its two-day Bulls on the Lake Rodeo, which takes place on the shores of Lake Logan Martin in July.
Alaska: This April, during a day of service at their state FFA convention, members will work side by side with other organizations to spread the word about suicide awareness.
Arizona: The state association will host its annual Spring Conference, where FFA members compete in career and leadership development events, attend workshops and learn how to become more involved in FFA.
Arkansas: In February, members from across the state will gather at the University of Arkansas to compete in the World Food Prize program. Students will write a paper about a food crisis in the world and present their research.
California: Dreams do come true! Members attending the 91st California State FFA Leadership Conference in Anaheim this April will also get passes to visit Disneyland for an evening.
Colorado: During the Bennet FFA Chapter’s Farm Day, members show off their livestock SAEs to elementary students and help them plant plastic cup gardens to take home.
Connecticut: To build up excitement for their state FFA convention, last year’s state officers started the Road to Convention Tour, when they travel to as many chapters in the state as they can in a week. Delaware Sussex Central FFA will host its annual Thank a Farmer Dinner this spring to showcase the hard work of local farmers.
Florida: Along with Easter Seals of Southwest Florida, Palmetto FFA will travel to Sarasota to spend the day with special needs students for its Kids Day Out program. Members help students dye Easter eggs and teach them about livestock.
Georgia: Newton College and Career Academy FFA hires out its herd of five goats, called the Chew Crew, to community members who want to chomp out vegetation in unwanted areas.
Idaho: Got milk? Chapters will partner with Dairy West to hand out milk at several state sport tournaments throughout the spring.
Illinois: Mount Vernon FFA hosts an annual Safety Day Camp, where young students visit a local farm to learn agricultural safety tips on everything from PTO shafts to animal care.
Indiana: In March, members representing 12 state districts compete in LDEs and gain skills in various contests, from agricultural sales presentation and job interview to Q¬uiz Bowl and scrapbook.
Iowa: The Lone Tree FFA Chapter and community hold a Hunger Service Day. Students gather to package up to 30,000 meals to build a service-oriented culture within the district.
Kansas: This spring, the Kansas FFA Association will partner with alumni and supporters and agriculture educators to grade and offer feedback to every Kansas FFA member who submits a proficiency award application.
Kentucky: Each March, regional FFA Day contests take place in the state’s 12 regions. Members participate in parliamentary procedure; public, extemporaneous, Creed and impromptu speaking; record-keeping; and other events.
Louisiana: Pearl River FFA is partnering with Kohl’s to build and plant raised garden beds at the homes of low income families in the community to promote the farm-to-table movement.
Maine: FFA members will volunteer at Orono Community Garden during the Maine FFA State Convention to grow fresh produce for the elderly in the community.
Maryland: New digs! Maryland is moving its state FFA convention to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where the state will partner with various community supporters to give more service and recreation opportunities to members.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts will celebrate the addition of a new chapter at its state FFA convention in March, bringing the total number of chapters to 17.
Michigan: Maple syrup is a huge income source for FFA members in the state. In early spring, chapters will head to the woods to begin tapping trees and learning how to process sap to create delicious maple syrup.
Minnesota: During a Day at the Capitol, members will get a feel for the legislative process through committee hearings, congressional visits and a tour of the department of agriculture.
Mississippi: Clarkdale FFA has united with the state’s department of human services for the No Child Sleeps on the Floor project to build beds for less-fortunate families.
Missouri: To empower members, the state hosts Public Speaking Institutes where members work with specialists, including past national FFA officers, to learn the fundamentals of speeches and speaking contests.
Montana: Missoula FFA is finishing work on a USDA-inspected meat-processing facility at the chapter’s ag center. All products will be produced, processed, packaged and sold by FFA members.
Nebraska: The state just wrapped up its Pathways to Careers Conference. More than 450 members engaged with more than 40 industry professionals to learn about agricultural careers and career-readiness skills.
Nevada: During National Reading Week in March, Moapa Valley FFA will read agriculture-related picture books to elementary students.
New Hampshire: From April 11-13, more than 300 members will travel to the beautiful Mount Washington Hotel in the White Mountains for their state FFA convention.
New Jersey: As part of its agricultural engineering class, Penns Grove FFA builds energy windmills from items around the classroom.
New Mexico: New Mexico FFA members are defining what makes them “ag strong.” Participate and stay up-to-date with the campaign using #AgStrong.
North Dakota: Rolla FFA and local third graders annually volunteer at the International Peace Gardens, a monument located on the border of the U.S. and Canada.
Ohio: To help members and the community understand the important role bees play in agriculture, Federal Hocking FFA maintains several hives through the spring season.
Oklahoma: From March 13-22, FFA members from around the state will participate in the Oklahoma Youth Expo, the world’s largest junior livestock show that features more than 7,000 exhibitors annually.
Oregon: Oregon FFA partners with the biology organization Envirothon for its environmental and natural resources CDE. FFA members have the opportunity to compete nationally twice while learning about other student organizations.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania FFA holds four regional state FFA officer candidacy school evenings where members across the state learn what being a state officer is like.
Rhode Island: In March, Rhode Island FFA hosts the state’s floriculture competition at Carbones, a local floral distributor. Members make beautiful arrangements and showcase their floral knowledge.
South Carolina: During a three-day camp each spring, members learn about forestry through workshops and other camp activities.
Tennessee: Ten chapters in West Tennessee attend the Mid- South Farm and Gin Show in March. The chapters pack 50,000 meals for the Mid-South Food Bank during the event.
Texas: Hundreds of members will “learn to do” at the annual Day at the Capitol in Austin and see where Texas history has been made since 1889.
Utah: In April, FFA members partner with local farmers and the Farm Bureau to host a Farm Field Day where they teach nearly 3,700 second-graders about agriculture.
Vermont: During National FFA Week, the state officers read agricultural storybooks to children in elementary schools and day cares throughout the state.
Virginia: Each spring, FFA members develop unique ways to fundraise for their chapters. Many horticulture students create beautiful corsages and bouquets to sell for prom and graduation.
Washington: The Davenport FFA Chapter has an annual Cupcake Wars, where members compete to see who can make the best cupcakes using an unusual secret ingredient inspired by the state’s agriculture. Wisconsin In March, the Cooperative Network partners with Wisconsin FFA to host a Co-ops Yes! Conference, which teaches about the cooperative model of business.
Thank you, state officers, for providing news and events for your states. Members, submit your chapter updates at FFA.org/submit-Your-Story.
