Future Farmers of America was founded in 1928 by young farmers with the mission to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population.
“The Azle FFA branch was created six years after the FFA organization was established,” junior and FFA president Drake Chavez said.
Now, its focus has shifted to helping develop individual students’ unique talents, allowing them to explore their interests in agricultural career pathways. FFA students have the opportunity to compete in agriculture and leadership events at District, Area, State and National Conventions throughout the school year.
“In the fall, I do Chapter Conducting Quiz and in the spring I do entomology,” Chavez said. “I have to study, and make sure I know my facts of the motions. Same thing with entomology, you have to know the bugs and what they do, if they’re pests or if they’re good.”
To encourage FFA students to become more involved with the community, Ag teacher and FFA sponsor Elizabeth Slough finds different volunteering opportunities in Azle for them to participate in.
“[The students and I] volunteer every week at the Community Caring Center where every Thursday, we are there from 4:00 to 6:30, helping food distribution,” Slough said. “And this year, I applied for a grant in June and July through the National FFA called the ‘Yearlong Living to Serve Grant.’ The max that they give any school is $3,000, and I received a grant for $3,000; we are going to be using the [money] in conjunction with the Community Caring Center for their weekly backpack program.”
Aside from volunteering opportunities and participating in events, some students use FFA as a way to network with others in the program.
“[FFA] provides me benefits and it helped me get out of my shell since I’m a very awkward person,” senior Daniel Villa said. “I was able to socialize more with people, and I find myself really liking the competitions too, it’s also good for team building.”
Over the years, the program has stayed strong with the help of alumni and supporters.
“Lots of people who are still in the community were a part of [FFA], and because of their involvement in the program, they believe in the program,” Slough said. “So they come back and they help. Most of our [alumni] board members don’t even have kids in the program anymore.”
