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Idaho FFA officers describe leadership, career and scholarship opportunities for 6,000 members
Summary
State FFA officers told the House Committee on Education about the organization’s three-circle model (classroom, FFA activities, supervised agricultural experiences), leadership conferences, contests and scholarship programs that support career-ready skills for students across Idaho.
State FFA officers, including state president Will Brackett and state secretary Ashen King, told the House Committee on Education on Feb. 18 that Idaho FFA serves more than 6,000 student members and offers classroom instruction, competitive events and supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) to develop leadership and career skills.
Will Brackett, the Idaho FFA state president, described the organization’s three-circle model of agricultural education: classroom instruction, FFA contest participation and supervised agricultural experience projects. Brackett said the model gives students both technical knowledge and applied skills, including entrepreneurship and career-technical competencies.
Ashen King, the state FFA secretary, and other officers described statewide leadership programs such as the GEM State Leadership Conference and national opportunities including the Washington Leadership Conference and national grants and scholarships. Officers said state scholarships range from $2,000 to $5,000, and that chapter and national grants can support supervised agricultural experiences and travel.
Students described diverse SAE projects — from apiculture to crop production to dairy — and emphasized that students who do not come from farm backgrounds can still participate through advisor-supported arrangements. “Competitions help us become career ready, but also leadership ready,” Eliza Dugan, an officer, said.
Officers invited legislators to attend the 94th annual Idaho FFA state convention in April in Twin Falls. Committee members praised the students’ presentations and asked about individual education and career plans; several officers said they plan to continue study in agriculture-related fields and some named goals such as law school or military service after college.
No legislative requests or motions followed the FFA presentation.
