Go Inside the CSX Exhibit at the National FFA Convention & Expo

Now this is cool.

CSX exhibited at the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo last fall with a huge booth that took FFA members through every step of transporting agricultural goods in the U.S. From trains to trucks, the interactive setup showed FFA members how the whole process works — and what types of careers make the important journey possible.

Oh, and FFA members who completed the tour had a nice reward: some popcorn and chicken nuggets!

Be on the lookout this fall for CSX (a proud platinum-level FFA sponsor) at the 88th National FFA Convention & Expo!

Use Job Shadowing to Find Your Career

How do you know if your dream career is the right fit for you?

There are hundreds of tests and quizzes online to assure you. You can spend hours in the classroom and in college lecture halls filling your toolbox with information you hope to be able to put to use one day. There are even job descriptions available for job seekers that give a broad overview of the exact position you may wish to fulfill in the job market.

Love Ag? Teach Ag!

By Cassie Olson

LOUISVILLE — Want to share your passion for agriculture for the rest of your life? How about travel, not just within your own state, but nationally and internationally, as well? Agricultural educators never have the same day twice, and that is something the 2014-2015 National Teach Ag Ambassadors are happy to tell you about.

FFA has an “Electric” Image in Welding

By Cassie Olson

LOUISVILLE — Take a stroll through the National FFA Expo and you are bound to come across some interesting sights. A stop by the Lincoln Electric booth gives one the chance to test their skills at welding, now with a whole new wardrobe.

“This was the first year Lincoln Electric conducted the FFA Helmet Design Contest,” Bryan Davis of Lincoln Electric said.

National Ag Day: 8 agriculture facts you probably didn’t know

Happy National Ag Day!

Today, March 25, we’re celebrating along with the Agriculture Council of America a day geared to recognize the abundance provided by agriculture. National Ag Day is all about celebrating and recognizing the contributions agriculture makes to our everyday lives.

Why celebrate and recognize? Well, the organizers explain that pretty well:

Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis. But too few people truly understand this contribution. This is particularly the case in our schools, where students may only be exposed to agriculture if they enroll in related vocational training.

By building awareness, the Agriculture Council of America is encouraging young people to consider career opportunities in agriculture.

Obviously, these goals fit in perfectly with the mission of FFA to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

In the spirit of National Ag Day, we developed a list of agriculture facts that you may not know. Check them out:

Celebrate CTE Superheroes During 2014 CTE Month

2014 CTE Month

Happy 2014 CTE Month!

Spearheaded by the Association for Career & Technical Education, 2014 CTE Month encourages everyone to explore and learn the amazing accomplishments, achievements and contributions of those in career and technical education. Of course FFA — with our legions of members, former members, instructors and advisors involved in agricultural education — is large part of CTE in the U.S.

CTE celebrates cutting-edge, rigorous and relevant education — agricultural education is just one example — that is designed to prepare youth and adults for high-wage, high-skill and high-demand careers. Naturally, we’re proud to be considered one of ACTE’s Career and Technical Student Organizations.

2014 CTE Month is celebrating “CTE Superheroes” and looking to spread stories about those who made a difference in the area. Find more info about that here.

Looking for an easier way to understand and explain what CTE is? You’re in luck, thanks to the this great ACTE infographic:

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Talks Farming Future With National Officers

Continuing a week full of impressive meetings and amazing experiences, the 2013-14 National FFA Officer Team met another member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet this week: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The meeting, at the USDA Whitten Building in Washington, D.C., followed time that the team spent with Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Vilsack asked the national officers to “keep farming on the front burner” during the visit, according to the official USDA Blog:

“We are excited by the challenges you presented to us,” said FFA National Secretary Mitch Baker at the conclusion of a half-hour meeting of National FFA officers with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the USDA Whitten Building earlier this week.

Lindsey Anderson: “Pleasant as well as challenging”

Credit: Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association

In September I got a fresh reminder of the values illustrated by the FFA creed, specifically in the second paragraph:

“To live and work on a good farm or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits can be pleasant as well as challenging.”

I was fortunate to spend a few days with the Wisconsin State FFA Officers on tour throughout their state, visiting agriculture businesses as well as a sectional leadership workshop each evening. We enjoyed seeing industries ranging from equipment manufacturing, to food processing and more.

Top 5 Reasons to Teach Agriculture

Thinking about becoming an agriculture teacher? Here are the Top 5 reasons:

5. Ag teachers never have the same day twice

Ag teachers never have the same day twice. One day they might be in a classroom or laboratory, the next visiting students in the field, preparing teams for a FFA Career Development Event, or leading a community service activity with their FFA Chapter.

Teach Ag Day 2013: A Letter to FFA Advisors

The following is a letter from the staff of the National FFA Organization to FFA advisors and agricultural educators.

Dear FFA Advisors,

Good morning. As you all know, today is National Teach Ag Day. It’s a special day for all of us involved in agricultural education as we shine the spotlight on you.

We at the National FFA Organization want you to know that you are highly appreciated, valued and deeply respected for all that you do to teach, mentor and support our future leaders. We applaud your dedication as an educator, the hours that you invest to shape the lives of our students and your commitment to helping students achieve their maximum potential.

Our students are our future and we honor your work to prepare students to take on the challenges of the next generation.