BOZEMAN — Starting this Saturday more than 700,000 FFA members across the nation will participate in National FFA Week
FFA chapters across Montana are planning activities that promote agriculture education, leadership and ag advocacy.
“National FFA Week is a time to celebrate agriculture and FFA across the nation,” said Caroline Roeder, the Montana state FFA president. “A lot of chapters focus on service activities, staff appreciation at their schools and outreach. For example, visiting with elementary schools or middle school programs to recruit FFA members.”
Roeder is a freshman at MSU Bozeman and 2019 graduate of Chouteau High School. She added that FFA week is all about agriculture awareness.
“My favorite time at my home chapter was FFA Week,” Roeder said. “I felt like FFA was under recognized within my school and my community. We go and compete in contests and we do leadership activities, but not everybody sees that. So, this is a time during National FFA Week for everybody to see what FFA is about. That recognition is good, and it brings in new people and new energy to our organization.”
Tuesday, Feb. 25 is also National Give FFA Day. Gwynn Simeniuk is the executive director of the Montana FFA Foundation. She explained that Give FFA Day is one of the ways individuals can support the future of FFA in Montana.
“One of the ways that we're trying to support FFA is through Give FFA Day on Tuesday, February the 25th,” said Simeniuk. “This will be a huge social media awareness campaign where folks will be sharing their reasons for giving to FFA.
The tax-deductible donations to support Montana FFA members can be made through the National FFA Foundation website.
“The easiest way to donate will be through either online through Facebook or on the National FFA website,” Simeniuk said. “All of these online platforms are set up so folks can go online, read stories about FFA members and the impact that FFA has had on their lives. You can designate which state you would like your donation to go to.”
In 1988 The Future Farmers of America changed its name to the National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in agriculture. In Montana, there are 98 FFA Chapter and 5,103 members.
