FFA, The Next Crop!

MEMBERSHIP​

Today, there are 579,678 FFA members, aged 12‒21, in 7,570 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• 44% of FFA members are female; women hold approximately 50% of state leadership positions.
• 67% of our membership is White; 22% is Hispanic/Latino; 8% is Black/African-American or American Indian; and 3% Asian, Pacific Islander or two or more races.
• 5% of FFA members are currently enrolled in grades 7-8; 91% of FFA members are currently enrolled in grades 9-12; 4% have already graduated from high school and may be engaged in postsecondary studies.
• FFA chapters are in 18 of the 20 largest U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.
• The top five membership states are Texas, California, Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma.
• The 2012 National FFA Convention was host to 56,167 members, FFA advisors and FFA supporters.
• 2012-13 National FFA Organization membership by states: (English) (Spanish)

EDUCATION

More than 11,000 FFA advisors and agriculture teachers deliver an integrated model of agricultural education providing students with innovative and leading-edge education, enabling them to grow into competent leaders.

• 92% offer agriscience; 71% offer advanced agriscience and biotechnology; 59% offer agricultural mechanics; 49% offer horticulture; 43% offer animal science; and 24% offer environment-related
• 23% of teachers have five or fewer years of teaching experience
• The shortage of qualified agriculture teachers is the greatest challenge facing FFA and agricultural education

CAREER EXPLORATION

FFA classroom activities include math and science as well as hands-on work experience and the development of life skills, helping members discover their career path and realize success.

• Collectively, FFA members earn more than $4 billion annually through their hands-on work experience.
• Members participate and learn advanced career skills in 49 national proficiency areas based on their hands-on work experiences ranging from agricultural communications and food science and technology to turf grass management and wildlife production and management.
• According to the student magazine readership study, 87% of our students are interested in learning about career exploration, 81% about college preparation and 81% about technology.
• Through 24 national career development events and one activity, FFA members are challenged to real-life, hands-on tests of skills used to prepare them for more than 300 careers in the agriculture industry.

FFA got good publicity this week on RFD Rural TV and radio thanks to Dodge Trucks.  Chrysler has donated $1.5 million to the National FFA since October. 

FFA is "the next crop" of agriculturalists and HyMark High Spots salutes the FFA!

Thank you Becky and the Peter's family for my father's day gift of The Farmer In All Of Us!

Ed Winkle