WAITSBURG-Future Farmers of America (FFA) is one of the largest student-led organizations in the U.S. According to the National FFA website, there are almost 950,000 middle and high school students and 9,163 chapters across America, including Waitsburg's Student Chapter (WA0126). To every student, FFA is a unique experience.

"FFA created a second family for me," said Alyssa Hollingsworth, vice president of the local chapter. "I've learned how to just be normal again, if that makes sense, like just having normal conversations with people. It's helped to boost my confidence. I'm not very 'agricultury' at home, so joining FFA was, like, a shock to my family. They were very surprised. But in competitions, I've learned so many things, like ag mechanics, which I never thought I'd do. It's just so unlike me, but it's pretty cool, and I've learned different skills that I wouldn't have at home."

President Makenna Barron, a senior this year, agreed, "To me, FFA is about building life skills, whether in the classroom with public speaking and business skills or out in the shop with mechanical and building things."

"She keeps us on track," said Secretary Marion Duncan, acknowledging Barron's leadership.

Senior Bailey Standring, the chapter's reporter, touted FFA's social impact: "It's the opportunity to meet so many different people from different places, that it brings so many different people together."

Chapter advisor Nicole Abel is Waitsburg High School's FFA Career and Technical Educator (CTE). Over her career, she has provided classroom instruction, hands-on shop experience, fieldwork opportunities, and life-skills mentoring for hundreds of students.

"I've been here for 18 years now," Abel said, adding that Waitsburg averages around 45 members yearly.

First established in 1928, FFA, like other organizations, has adapted to changes in society, culture, and agricultural practices. Students have opportunities through the program to travel and participate in annual regional, state, and national competitions and conferences. Last year, Abel accompanied Waitsburg's officers to the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, stopping in Nashville, Tennessee, to visit the Corteva Agriscience plant.

Senior Quinn Benavides, the group's Honorary Parliamentarian, summed it up this way: "All the experiences we get to do and things we get to create, the places we get to go and really do something instead of just stay here in the little town."

FFA students must be enrolled in agricultural classes and complete at least ten hours of Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) outside the classroom. These hours can be used for anything from raising animals, gardening, and truck building.

You read that right. Treasurer Jackson Karl has logged 300 hours working on his farm truck, which he has built from the ground up.

"It just needs an engine," he said.

Karl is working towards a state degree that requires 500 project hours to earn the special FFA award. This effort reflects the wide range of practical, technical, and trade skills embraced by FFA since its inception.

Cedar Stegall, chapter sentinel, raises chickens and sheep. Effective management is a focus of the program and necessary for Stegall's role as an officer.

"I welcome members, maintain order, set up for meetings," Stegall said.

"And provides snacks," added Barron.

Much of Duncan's practical experience comes from working with her family at their business, Waitsburg Wool Works, raising sheep and producing wool for sale.

Benavides earned hours building cornhole boards for Waitsburg Celebration Days last year. Other community work opportunities include setting up the little Christmas trees along Main Street for businesses and organizations to sponsor and decorate. It all adds up.

The local chapter meets monthly with various activities during the school year. The group's annual Harvest Ball dance is scheduled for February 22. First, they will work on team building, community service plans, and committee goals on January 27 at a "lock-in" overnight retreat.

One of the most visible FFA fundraisers involves a migrating flock of faux pink flamingos. Jumping overnight from one yard to the next, residents who have been "flocked" help support the costs of attending the state convention on May 12 in Pullman.

Local committee work is based on the three-fold FFA plan: growing leaders, building committees, and strengthening agriculture. Committees provide members with focused areas of interest and experience. Topics include agronomy, veterinary science, Ag mechanics, prepared public speaking, and food science.

The chapter is preparing to participate in this year's Ag Expo in Spokane on February 8. Members do all this while keeping up with family and friends and, for the seniors, preparing for graduation. Barron and Bailey both plan to study agriculture education in college. Benavides wants to be a journeyman lineman.

All in all, the Waitsburg FFA Chapter is a busy group. Asked about slogans that are key to FFA's principles and mission, the group chorused "Learning to give, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve," and "Premiere leadership, personal growth, career success."

The legacy of FFA in Waitsburg will live on in freshly sprouted expressions starting this year. According to Abel, FFA alum Kim Hamann is spearheading efforts to form an FFA Alumni chapter in Waitsburg. The family of long-term resident Barbara Danforth and son David have generously initiated funding for a Waitsburg FFA Scholarship to be awarded this spring for the first time.