Feature Future Farmers of America
Marcellus FFA
FFA advisor Lexi Mueller Golden Valley FFA
teacher and FFA advisor this past school year. She is one of many students who are inspired by FFA and go on to become teachers, advisors, and mentors, connecting students with hands-on learning experiences, career development events, service projects, and leadership opportunities that can shape their futures well beyond high school.
Mueller’ s story also shows that leadership in FFA does not end when a student takes off the iconic blue jacket. The skills students gain, including public speaking, problem-solving, teamwork, and service, can carry them into careers where they continue to give back.
Marcellus FFA Opens Doors to Modern Agriculture
In New York, west of Syracuse, the Marcellus FFA chapter is taking another approach to building agricultural awareness by creating spaces where students can experience agriculture firsthand. Their handson learning environment includes a sawmill, greenhouse, maple production facility, orchard, and community garden.
What makes this chapter unique is that people do not need a background in agriculture to participate. They can plant, observe, harvest, enjoy the
AcreageLife. com space, and ask questions. The older students have opportunities to lead by teaching and working alongside others, helping them develop leadership and communication skills as they guide others through the experience.
Hands-On Learning Becomes Lifelong Impact
These examples all look different, but they point to the same thing: agricultural education is one of the most practical and community-centered forms of learning available to students today. FFA members are not simply preparing for life on a farm. They are learning how to think critically, work with their hands, communicate with others, and understand the systems that support everyday life.
Some FFA members will go into careers on farms or ranches. Others may become teachers, turf managers, business owners, mechanics, scientists, natural resource professionals, food industry leaders, or community advocates. Regardless of the path they choose, agricultural education gives students a sense of belonging and a reason to contribute. It helps them understand where their food, fiber, and natural resources come from. It teaches them that leadership often begins with service. And it shows them that agriculture is not limited to one
background, one career path, or one kind of student.
From a sports field in California to a classroom in Illinois to an agriculture building in New York, FFA members and advisors are proving that the future of agriculture is being shaped by students who are willing to learn, teachers who are willing to lead, and communities that understand the value of hands-on education.
Together, they are growing more than crops. They are growing skills, confidence, opportunity, and a stronger future for agriculture and beyond.
About the Author:
Kristy Meyer is the communications manager for the National FFA Organization, where she helps share the stories of FFA members, agricultural educators, and communities across the country. A journalist by training, she studied journalism and political science at Franklin College and has been telling the FFA story for more than 24 years. She is passionate about agriculture and using storytelling to showcase its impact.
October 2026 AcreageLife 13