Cassandra Hyder, pictured above (right), joined the United States Air Force because she wanted to go places.
That’s not unlike her FFA journey. In 2019, soon after she began military training as a member of the Air Force, the then 19-year-old earned the American FFA Degree, which “is definitely not where I thought I’d end up when I started FFA,” she says. “It was kind of unreal. I honestly never thought I’d be able to meet the requirements.”
She achieved the honor after four years with the Yelm FFA Chapter in Washington, which she joined on the heels of her older sister, Samantha, pictured above (left).
“I thought everything she was doing looked so fun,” Hyder says. “I wanted to do that!”
Together, they bred and raised livestock for their supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs, turning their one-horse family into a small hobby farm of goats, pigs, rabbits, chicken and sheep. Showing the animals was her favorite part of FFA, and her favorite memory belongs to the sister who introduced her.
“I loved watching her win grand champion in her pig-showing class,” Hyder says. “I felt so much joy for her when she finally accomplished her biggest goal.”
The two share another goal of owning a joint veterinary practice one day.
“I’ve always wanted to be a vet or join the military,” says Hyder, who’s on her way to achieving both. She chose to pursue a career with the Air Force after high school to take advantage of the education benefits for the veterinary training she hopes to begin soon.
For now, she’s stationed in Clearfield, Utah, as an Air Force fighter jet mechanic after training stops in Texas and Florida. This, too, mirrors her time in FFA.
“My favorite classes in high school were the shop classes,” she says. “I’ve always loved fixing things.” Those skills not only benefit her new career, but also put her ahead of some peers. “I went through training with someone who’d never touched a tool before,” she says.
Where she’ll go next or whether she’ll fulfill 20 years of service in the Air Force remains unknown. She’s taking each opportunity day by day — and she encourages current FFA members to seize the opportunities in front of them.
“Try to go to state convention at least once,” she says. “I regret not going all four years. It’s an amazing experience, and I wish I could’ve gone more.”
She adds: “Don’t be discouraged if you don’t win an event. Hard work pays off.”
