Kansas FFA officers highlight growth, career-readiness during committee visit for National FFA Week

Members of the Kansas FFA officer team visited the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources to mark National FFA Week and explain the organization’s role in agricultural education and leadership development.

Jory Ratliff, introduced by the committee chair as Kansas FFA State President, told the committee that Kansas FFA has “more than 13,700 members, a record,” and “over 232 chapters across the state,” and that “at least 1 FFA chapter is located in 103 of the a hundred 5 counties in Kansas.”

Ratliff described the organization’s three‑circle model: classroom and laboratory instruction, career and leadership development events, and supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). “FFA members in Kansas are developing their leadership skills through real world experiences,” Ratliff said, adding that members practice skills ranging from animal care to agricultural entrepreneurship and technology.

Haley Hines, State Vice President, and other officers offered personal examples. Hines described starting a student‑led food pantry and raising more than $14,000 in donations and partnering with an animal‑science class to produce protein for the pantry. She said the experience shaped her career plans; she is now studying nursing at Kansas State University.

Committee members thanked the officer team and encouraged continued legislative support for agricultural education. The committee chair noted a license‑plate proposal that would benefit the Kansas FFA Foundation and encouraged officers and supporters to advocate for that measure as it moves through other committees.

The officers left the committee after taking questions from members. No committee action was required for the presentation.