There are more than 13,000 FFA advisors in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands who teach more than 700,000 FFA members about agriscience, biotechnology, mechanics, horticulture, animal science, environmental science and more. Is a future in agricultural education right for you? Here, eight FFA advisors share what drew them to the ag classroom and what keeps them there.
“I decided to teach ag because I wanted to be able to make a positive difference in those around me. An ag teacher is a person who has the opportunity to make a difference, whether it’s with the kids that are just in the classroom, the kids that are in FFA or those people around them in the community, as well.”
– Kayley Liddiard, Spanish Fork FFA, Utah
“I get excited when I see my students working hard. It inspires me to work harder.”
– Megan Moorman, Westfall FFA, Ohio
“I decided to teach ag because I grew up in a rural location where I had those opportunities available to me. I love working with the students on a day-to-day basis, and exposing them to education they would not normally be able to get in high school.”
– Megan Purpera, Iberville MSA West FFA, La.
“I love working with kids, making a difference in their lives and helping them accomplish goals. Sometimes you don’t see that until they are out of high school and they come back.”
– Ryan Pieniazek, Krum FFA, Texas
“I had a really good ag teacher. I had two really good at teachers, in fact, and both were really strong and encouraging to me. They were very intentional and said, ‘Mason, I think that’s something you would be really good at.’ At that point, I knew I wanted to get into agriculture.”
– Mason Jones, Edmond FFA, Okla.
“It it takes a lot of dedication setting your standards, holding your students to those standards and not wavering on what is acceptable. When your kids buy in and develop that same passion for agriculture, it becomes an easy process.”
– Mandy Delaune, St. Amant FFA, La.
“It’s the drive and dedication. The rest will come as long as you keep working at it. It’s going to work out in your favor because everything can be learned. But you’ve got to want to get there.”
– Aaron Sobba, Udall FFA, Kan.
“I’m very strict and I like to push my students a lot. Some of these kids have never had someone push them. It isn’t necessarily winning awards. It’s seeing a kid that never would have even thought they could have gone to college or entered to the military achieve the goal that they felt was impossible.”
– Lana Meyers, Elton FFA, La.
Learn more about a career in agricultural education at AgExplorer.FFA.org.
