Ambra Tennery has experienced and witnessed just how quickly a blue corduroy FFA jacket can change someone’s life.
As a former FFA member, agriculture teacher and now a current employee of the National FFA Organization, she has seen thousands of young people experience the joy of receiving and wearing the jacket.
That joy is something she keeps in the back of her mind as an annual employee donor to the National FFA Foundation. Her support has helped put more than 25 blue jackets on the backs of FFA members through the Give the Gift of Blue program.
“Supporting FFA is really personal for me,” Tennery, the associate director of educational programs, says. “I picture the students who I saw struggling when I was a teacher. There were students who couldn’t afford a jacket and would offer to give me a dollar a week to pay for their jackets. Those memories and those faces stay with you.”
As a high school student, Tennery wasn’t introduced to FFA until her junior year. While her time in FFA might not have been long, she says she didn’t need much time to become hooked, mostly due to the inspiration of the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. She went on to graduate from Purdue University with a degree in agricultural education and fell in love with the organization all over again while student teaching.
After graduation, Tennery launched her career as an ag teacher and FFA advisor and taught in Indiana. After eight years of teaching, she made the move to National FFA.
“As a former teacher, I know the students we serve come from all walks of life,” Tennery says. “It broke my heart to know some students felt like they couldn’t pursue a passion because of finances. They taught me so much about not taking anything for granted, and I don’t take that lightly. That motivates me to continue supporting students even though I’m no longer directly interacting with them in a classroom.”
Tennery has also passed down her passion for FFA to her three children.
“Being able to experience FFA from the perspective as a member, teacher, alumnus and as a parent has been full circle,” Tennery says.
That full-circle experience has been rewarding for Tennery in a variety of ways, but the most rewarding of all is at home.
“FFA is a place where all students can succeed,” Tennery says. “Not too long ago, my oldest son told me, ‘It doesn’t matter how smart or fast or strong you are, every kid has a place in FFA.”
