Blue jacket salute

The blue jackets are iconic, especially here in the heartland of America.
Young men and women wearing the symbolic dark blue FFA emblem represent the future of our state’s leading industry, thus our community tips its hat this week to an organization devoted to developing the next generation of leaders through agricultural education. Local chapters are among some 8,700 chapters across the country now, offering youth leadership development to more than 760,000 student members.
This week’s edition emphasizes just how important FFA is to Hamilton County. Numerous businesses, many with no direct ties to agriculture, joined the national celebration of FFA Week because they understand how important ag is to the local economy, and how vital it is to fill the talent pipeline across our nation’s food systems. The support and appreciation for what FFA stands for is widespread and genuine.
This week’s edition also features profiles on officers in the three local FFA chapters — Aurora, Hampton and High Plains — which confirms yet again that while the name touts “Future Farmers of America,” this organization is about so much more than plows and cows. 
Many of the local participants grew up on the farm and hope to continue the family legacy as perhaps the third or fourth generation of farmers, but many did not. Some of the stories and perspective shared by “city kids” who found their way into FFA are not only interesting, but enlightening.
For example, Brooke Lubke and Kyleigh Farley, officers with the Hampton and High Plains FFA chapters, both shared how exposure to animals and all things agriculture broadened their view of the world. Though they don’t plan to pursue careers in the industry, they say the life lessons they’ve learned wearing that blue jacket are invaluable.
We’ve heard that tale told time and again over the years. FFA participants, especially upperclassmen and officers, talk about lessons in leadership, parliamentary procedure and public speaking as much as the ag-based curriculum. Those are life skills that will help them in all facets of life, regardless of what they do or where they live.
And then of course you see many true blue future farmers involved in FFA who live and breathe agriculture even at a young age. This organization helps grow their understanding of an industry and way of life they know well, while perhaps also opening new doors of opportunity for ag-based study and careers they had not previously considered.
It’s also worth noting that Aurora has a long, proud history with FFA, as hundreds of youth spend time at the Leadership Center each spring and summer focused on leadership development COLT training. That tradition has carried on for decades and remains a badge of honor for this community, anchoring an ag-based campus on the east edge of town.
FFA plays such a critical role in student development, fostering bright young minds to meet the global challenges of today, as well as tomorrow. Sharing the stories and perspective of local FFA leaders offers proof positive that our future is in good hands.
Kurt Johnson