The small town in Florida where Hope Storter lives is known for its strawberry production. It provides more than three-quarters of the nation’s midwinter strawberries, making it the “Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.” Storter, however, doesn’t have an agriculture background, which she said “made me question if I had a seat at the table in agriculture and FFA.”
“But my amazing advisors changed that point of view for me, which is why I want to help others do the same,” said Storter. “FFA has completely shaped my life.”
Now vice president of the Strawberry Crest FFA Chapter, Storter discovered her passion for service during the 2023 National FFA Organization’s Washington Leadership Conference (WLC).
At the weeklong conference held each summer in Washington, D.C., FFA members learn about service, advocacy and discovery while immersed in our nation’s capital. Additionally, WLC attendees prepare to make a positive difference long after the conference concludes.
“The Washington Leadership Conference was an experience like no other. The WLC program helped shape my view on what it truly means when we say that we are ‘living to serve,’” said Storter.
During WLC, each FFA member is empowered to grow as an individual and, at the end of the week, goes home with a Living to Serve Plan. Students are encouraged to incorporate the plan — named after the last line of the FFA motto, “Living to Serve” — into their community.
For her service project, Storter instructs children at a local elementary school about where their food comes from and demonstrates the multifaceted opportunities in agriculture. Often, her lessons are interactive and hands-on — similar to what members experience in FFA.
Not only is Storter expanding the students’ knowledge of agriculture, but she is also encouraging them to give back and to grow emotionally.
“My main goal from the beginning was to show my students that no matter who they are, or where they come from — they matter,” Storter said.
The impact of Storter’s Living to Serve Plan is evident, and as a result, she hopes to expand to two more schools next year.
“I have seen a drastic shift in my students’ attitudes,” she said. “They are more open, kind to each other, respectful and, overall, they seem to be more joyful.”
