In his new memoir, FFA alumnus Orion Samuelson says that his high school agriculture teacher/FFA advisor made an incredible impact on his life, his attitude and his career.

We want to know from you: How has your FFA advisor impacted your life? Describe your advisor below in the comments, and your message may be included in an upcoming issue of FFA New Horizons print magazine. Be sure to include your name, FFA chapter and state.

The post Tell Us About Your FFA Advisor appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

The National FFA Organization’s initiative to fight hunger became a lot more personal for 29 chapters in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Louisiana and North Carolina this year. Each chapter received a $2,000 grant in fall 2012 as part of the Invest 2 Fight Hunger (I2FH) Pilot Program, and they used the money to educate their communities about hunger issues in their own back yards.

“Our overall strategy, ‘Feeding the World–Starting at Home,’ has three pillars – Educate, Engage and Communicate or Advocate,” says Marilyn Ross, program director for FFA Global and Hunger Initiatives. “Like the FFA Food For All grants, the Invest 2 Fight Hunger grant incorporates education – not just doing something about hunger, but also educating people about it. The program is meant to help members learn more about hunger and the issues hungry families face, and then help bust hunger myths. These aren’t just lazy people looking for a handout – they might be unemployed or stuck in a low-paying job and don’t have enough money to pay for their rent and utilities and buy food.”

I2FH grant recipients were asked to host at least four hunger presentations or workshops for their communities. The chapters had to speak to at least one school and at least one group that included farmers.

“Chapters have become very creative in telling the story of hunger,” Ross says. “For example, the Central Hardin FFA in Kentucky educated Kentucky National Guardsmen about gardening so they could take that knowledge to Afghanistan, where they are doing agricultural development work. Other chapters have hosted canning workshops to help people can fresh tomatoes when their gardens grew more than they needed.”

The Rantoul Township FFA chapter in Illinois caught the attention of their fellow students by staging a poverty lunch presentation. About 100 students from their high school participated, and each was given a playing card that determined whether he or she would be in the lower, middle or upper economic class.

Fifty of the students represented the lower class, or poverty, and had to sit on the floor and share 10 plates of rice and beans. Thirty-five students represented the middle class and sat at a table where they ate fried chicken lunches. And 15 students received upper class cards, which allowed them to sit at a round table where they were served an appetizer, steak, potatoes and dessert. Rantoul FFA then gave an eye-opening presentation about hunger with statistics, both globaland local.

“The Live Oak chapter in Louisiana is developing hunger lesson plans for elementary students that will be distributed to all the teachers. The teachers are very open and welcoming to the idea of teaching a hunger lesson,” says Kayla Lumpford-Mitchell, intern for the FFA Invest 2 Fight Hunger program. “And the Overhills FFA chapter in North Carolina did a sweet potato gleaning and donated the sweet potatoes to a food bank and Martha’s Kitchen. They have also built a kiosk to conduct food drives at their school, and each class has their own side of the kiosk in which they can insert canned foods.”

Mitchell says the best way to learn about hunger in your community is to get in touch with your regional food bank and local food pantries. Another great resource is www.feedingamerica.org, where you can learn about hunger facts and hunger in your county.

“Food banks have vast amounts of statistics and resources to jump-start your knowledge of hunger in your area,” she says. “My biggest suggestion to spread the word is to rally with all the leadership organizations in your school or community and get everyone on the same page about hunger and your goal. Create an awareness campaign everyone can help spread. Bringing everyone together makes the impact of your efforts much more effective.”

The Invest 2 Fight Hunger program is sponsored by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The “Feeding the World–Starting at Home” initiative is funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Farmers Feeding the World, Land O’Lakes, RAM and Nationwide Insurance.

Learn more about how you can join in the fight against hunger. 

–Jessica Mozo

The post FFA Chapters Advocate for Hunger appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

Whether paired with bacon and lettuce, or diced fresh in a spicy salsa, tomatoes are a summertime staple. The vegetable is important for the U.S., the world’s second leading producer, behind China. Fresh-market tomatoes contributed $863.982 million to the economy in 2012. That same year, the U.S. harvested 94,700 acres of fresh-market tomatoes. Tomatoes used for processing (for juice, paste, sauce, etc.) brought a staggering $1.01 billion to the economy in 2012.

Top Tomato States
California takes the top spot in the country for both fresh-market and processing tomato production, producing more than 95 percent of U.S. tomatoes. In the fresh-market category, Florida comes in second, followed by Virginia, Georgia and Ohio. In tomato processing, the Golden State is followed by Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

Tasty Types of Tomatoes
Tomatoes come in many shapes, colors and sizes. Here’s a breakdown of tomato types:
1. Standard Globe – The standard globe is the tomato most often found in grocery stores. Globes are smooth, round and medium to large in size, but can vary in color from red to yellow.
2. Cherry – Cherries are the smallest tomatoes, and are round in shape, similar to cherries. They can range in size from one to two inches in diameter and come in a variety of colors.
3. Beefsteak – Beefsteak tomatoes are usually very large and wider than they are tall. They can also be very flat and irregularly shaped compared to other varieties.
4. Plum – Like the fruit of the same name, plum tomatoes are oval in shape and a little larger than cherry tomatoes, though still small. They are very popular for processing.
source: growgardentomatoes.com

$2 billion: Fresh and processed tomatoes account for more than $2 billion in annual U.S. farm cash receipts. The two industries target different markets in the country, but are equally important in contributing to the economy.

Source: www.ers.usda.gov, www.tomatonet.org

–Rachel Bertone

The post Ag 101: Must-Know Agriculture Facts About Tomatoes appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

Two thirds of the earth is covered by water. However, less than one percent is fresh water, usable by humans. This is why the allocation of water is one of the most important issues facing agriculture today. Something as simple as water for a farmer’s crops is complicated when issues such as who was there first, who needs it most and who is using it efficiently are considered. Agriculture students at Cove School in Oregon recently got an up-close look at this during a field trip to Rudd Farms, where owner Brett Rudd is drilling what may be the deepest irrigation well in the state. Students learned about the history of water usage in the region, soil type impact and potential yield increases from the new irrigation system.

The post Drilling Down Information in Oregon appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

Mr. Justin Firks, principal of the Fort Loramie Junior/Senior High School in Ohio, is a good sport. As part of the Fort Loramie FFA efforts to raise money for the CROP charity, a world hunger organization, he agreed to be duct-taped to the wall.

FFA members sold pieces of duct tape to other students, and on the big day Firks stood on a chair against the wall and had over 300 pieces of tape applied to him. Once all the tape was applied, the chair was removed, and he was truly “stuck” to the wall. The event was a success! FFA members raised $200 and made a lot of great memories!

Submitted by Amanda Seger, Fort Loramie FFA reporter

The post Principal Duct-Taped to Wall for FFA Fundraiser appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

The National FFA Organization presented its first-ever “chapter of the year” award at the 85th Annual National FFA Convention in October 2012 to Spencer County High School FFA from Taylorsville, Ky.

“It felt awesome. My friend Drew and I got to go on stage and accept it, and hearing our names called out was amazing,” says Tyler Goodlett, a Spencer County FFA junior. “Being able to represent our chapter, our state and even National FFA felt so great.”

Spencer County FFA advisor Darryl Matherly echoes that sentiment.

“Our members were excited, and our community was too,” Matherly says. “By the time we got back from Indy, it was already on the school marquee sign in front of the building, and the newspaper wanted to run a front page story about it. It was a great honor for our program and entire community.”

The prestigious National Model of Excellence Chapter award consisted of a plaque and $500. Spencer County was among 10 finalists, including chapters from Ponchatoula, La.; Marysville, Ohio; Eldon, Mo.; Southmont (Crawfordsville), Ind.; Ridgemont, Ohio; Versailles, Ohio; Lawrence County, Ala.; Marshall, Mo.; and Aiken, S.C.

“The National Chapter Award Program recognizes chapters that successfully complete an annual Program of Activities with a series of activities designed to encourage members to grow as individuals, to work as part of a team and to serve others,” says Dr. Dwight Armstrong, chief executive officer of National FFA. “Being selected as a Model of Excellence finalist is an honor bestowed each year on only 10 chapters that exude excellence in their day-to-day activities. Spencer County FFA rose to the top in 2012. After being selected as a finalist in the summer of 2012, they competed against nine other outstanding chapters and have earned the title of 2012 Model of Excellence Winner.”

Because Spencer County High School is located in a fast-growing, urban community near Louisville, Ky., the chapter has limited access to agriculture and has had to be creative in planning activities.

“When we plan, it is always a matter of keeping in mind our community and audience. Planning toward our audience has been a key element of being successful,” Matherly says. “Our Ag-Arithmetic Day is a great example. We bring all the eighth-graders to the high school for one-hour ag math rotations, which promotes our program and shows the eighth-graders that our ag-ed program is about high-level instruction that connects to high-level academic skills.”

Spencer County FFA junior Caleb Fulkerson has helped with Ag-Arithmetic Day since his freshman year.

“It helps us recruit non-traditional members. We send a bus to the middle school with FFA members on it who talk with the eighth-graders and explain what the day will be about,” Fulkerson says. “We use our aquaculture center and have the eightth-graders determine the probability of getting a certain kind of koi color and let them see if their calculation is true. It lets us show off our facilities and shows them FFA produces high-level thinkers.”

Spencer County FFA also holds an annual Ag Commodity Breakfast featuring Kentucky-grown products. It is always held the Monday of FFA Week, and the chapter invites local community leaders and FFA alumni.

“We serve local ag products like eggs, Purnell’s Sausage, gravy, hashbrown casserole and milk from local dairies,” Tyler says. “We teach our local leaders about agriculture in our county and about our ag program. It’s a great way to give back to our community, and it has helped me get to know a lot of our community members.”

During the 2012-2013 school year, Spencer County FFA had more than 250 members on its roster. Matherly says the reason for the chapter’s growth has been moving away from teaching traditional agriculture.

“When I was a student, we were learning about tobacco production. Now you would never have a class that involved that aspect, because there is a limited amount even produced in our county today,” he explains. “We have done well trying to focus on the leadership aspect of ag-ed and what a student can get from the program as a whole.”

Caleb says what makes Spencer County FFA unusual is its focus on each individual’s experience growing and learning.

“At our school, FFA lets you be surrounded by like-minded people who want to be contributors to society,” he says. “FFA inspires us to succeed, much like you’d get at a private school. Our teachers, Mr. Matherly and Mr. Baird, are so supportive, always making sure we succeed at whatever we do.”

For Goodlett, FFA has been a valuable tool for meeting people and developing communication skills.

“FFA has helped me branch out. Anywhere I go now, I know people through FFA,” he says. “I’ve met great people in our school, our community and all over the state.”

–Jessica Mozo

The post Kentucky FFA Chapter Receives National Model of Excellence Award appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

Want to join in the fight against hunger? See how other FFA members across the country are helping to end hunger and get inspired.

Discover Ways Your FFA Chapter Can Fight Hunger in Your Community

One in six Americans is experiencing food insecurity, so there’s no time to waste. It’s time to act, and there are countless ways you can incorporate hunger awareness into your chapter activities. [Ways You Can Help.]

FFA Members Focus on World Hunger at 2012 National FFA Convention

FFA members who attended the 2012 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis last October didn’t just talk about world hunger – they did something about it. [FFA Members Focus on Hunger.]

Woodbury FFA Squashes Hunger

The Woodbury FFA chapter planted vegetables like potatoes and squash, and donated all of them to the Connecticut Food Bank. [Read Their Story.]

Fort Loramie FFA Fundraises for Hunger

Members of the Fort Loramie FFA chapter duct-taped their principal to the wall to raise money for the CROP charity. [Read Their Story.]

The post The Fight Against Hunger appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

Each year, the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) invites ninth- to 12th-grade students to enter its Ag Day essay contest. Entrants write an original, 450-word essay or a two-minute video essay about the importance of agriculture.

In 2013, the top written essay was by Whitney Bowman from Mount Jackson, Va. Whitney is a member of the Stonewall Jackson FFA chapter. Congratulations, Whitney!

She received a $1,000 prize and round-trip ticket to Washington, D.C., where she read her essay during the Celebration of Ag Dinner on National Ag Day, March 19.

We invite you to read Whitney’s winning essay, entitled “American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities” below.

The wind often rustles the leaves of a huge maple tree standing sentry by my house. Over the years its roots sank deep, its branches stretched outward and its trunk grew firm. Now reaching above my roof, it shields against heat in the summer and wind in the winter.  Likewise, American agriculture must grow to continue to provide America and the world a safe, economical, and abundant food supply. It must sink its roots into Mother Nature’s solid foundation, reach outward toward new technologies, and remain true to the solid support of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance that have made it the most productive in the world.

American agriculture nurtures the environment. As the population increases and houses cover arable land, the importance of environmental stewardship will skyrocket in the future. Unseen opportunities will arise as American farmers increase production with fewer resources and pollution. In the mid-1800s, this meant simply planting trees on new prairie homesteads.  Today, farmers plant fields without tilling and plant buffers to naturally filter pollution from water. As fossil fuels are depleted, agriculture could hold the key to America’s energy sustainability, producing resources such as ethanol, methane and even wind energy on agricultural lands. Farmers hold a deep, unique connection with the earth, nurturing it to produce food for themselves and the world.

American agriculture nurtures technology. With the world population expected to reach nine billion by the year 2050, America will need to revolutionize agricultural production. Biotechnology enables farmers to produce crops that are drought-tolerant, fortified with vitamins and resistant to pests. Farmers are utilizing technology to pinpoint areas in fields needing fertilizer or irrigation, replacing manpower with robotics, and utilizing airplanes to spray and plant fields. Advances in processing help reduce disease outbreaks, improve worker safety and make food products economical. As American agriculture nurtures technology, it is becoming more efficient.

American agriculture nurtures relationships. With farmers comprising less than two percent of Americans, connecting with consumers is both a huge challenge and exhilarating opportunity. Uninformed consumers block agriculture’s progress, but educated consumers are agriculture’s most valuable cheerleader. The resurgence of locally grown foods and farmers’ markets has opened dialogue between producers and consumers and nurtured relationships. Agriculturalists must continue the conversation by contacting their representatives, inviting the public to their farms, and telling their story with social media and other forms of mass communication.

Through the centuries, American agriculture has grown and overcome the challenges in its way. Even more opportunities for growth lie ahead. As American agriculture addresses issues such as environmental stewardship, the growing population, and a lack of consumer understanding, its roots will sink deep, its branches grow upward, and its trunk remain firm.

TELL US: What does American agriculture mean to you? Comment below! 

The post Virginia FFA Member Celebrates American Agriculture in Winning Essay appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

Justin, a recent high school graduate, served as a chapter officer for three years, including president. While in high school, he attended monthly FFA meetings, participated in the environmental speech competition and was part of many CDE teams. One of Justin’s top goals as an FFA chapter officer was to help its membership grow even more.

The post FFA Featured Face – Justin Dailey, Fleming County FFA appeared first on FFA New Horizons.

Bryanna is a high school senior and treasurer of her FFA chapter. She has planned and executed multiple recruitment activities for the chapter, in hopes of continuing to grow membership. Bryanna enjoys trying new CDEs and is planning to pursue a career as a high school agriculture teacher.

The post FFA Featured Face – Bryanna Nelson, Chisago Lakes FFA appeared first on FFA New Horizons.