FFA Resume

TThe Michigan FFA Association is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The Michigan FFA consists of over 8,800 members from 124 active chapters. FFA is a diverse organization, operating in rural, urban, and suburban schools. Students aged 12-21 enrolled in agriculture, food, and natural resources education programs are eligible for membership.

The organization changed its name in 1988 from Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization to reflect its evolution in response to expanded agricultural opportunities encompassing science, business, and technology in addition to production farming. FFA members, who may enter the workforce directly or pursue higher degrees through technical schools and universities, are preparing for careers in agricultural marketing, processing, communications, education, horticulture, production, natural resources, forestry, agribusiness, and other diverse agricultural fields.

The FFA was organized nationally in 1928 in Kansas City, MO. In 1950, congress granted the FFA a federal charter, making it an integral, intra-curricular part of public agricultural instruction under the National Vocational Education Acts.

The FFA operates on local, state, and national levels. Student members belong to chapters organized at the local level. AFNR education instructors serve as chapter advisors. Michigan chapters are organized under the state association headed by an advisor, an executive secretary, and project consultant. The state association conducts programs and hosts annual conventions run by the state officer team. The Michigan FFA Association charters new chapters; provides direction, programmatic materials and support; and hosts the State FFA Convention, which draws over 2500 attendees each March. The Michigan FFA Alumni Association has more than 900 members from approximately 50 affiliates. They assist in the continued growth and development of active FFA programs.

The AFNR education program provides a well-rounded, practical approach to learning through three components: 1) classroom education in agricultural and natural resource topics, such as plant and animal sciences, horticulture, forestry, agri-marketing, etc.; 2) hands-on supervised agricultural career experience such as starting a business or working for an established company; and 3) FFA, which provides leadership opportunities and develops and evaluates students’ agricultural skills.

FFA’s local, state, and national programs and activities help members develop public speaking skills, conduct and participate in meetings, manage financial matters, strengthen problem-solving abilities and assume civic responsibility. Degrees earned at local, state, and national levels recognize members’ increasing accomplishments. Competitive events and award programs in areas such as public speaking, commodity marketing, and agriscience recognize students’ achievements, encourage them to excel beyond the classroom and develop career skills. Community service programs help students contribute to society.

FFA members elect their own officers and plan and conduct activities with supervision from their chapter advisor. A team of twelve state officers, typically college students enrolled in an agriculturally related discipline, play a key role in planning the state convention and other events, and travel more than 20,000 miles during their year of service representing the FFA.

The Michigan FFA Association has its own office in the Natural Resources Building on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing and works closely with our agricultural-based organizations: the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Association of Agriscience Educators, Michigan Horticulture Teachers Association, Michigan Farm Bureau, and the Department of Community Sustainability.