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FFA students: the next talent pipeline

The National FFA President says the organization is developing the next generation of talent in the workforce.

Amara Jackson is the first National FFA President from Michigan in more than 70 years.

“Our students are gaining skills that are realistic, tangible,” she says. “They’re going to be prepared to be teachers or lawyers or farmers or anything in our world. And because of FFA, because of agricultural education, our students are ready to be that next talent pipeline.”

She tells Brownfield the youth leadership program has the most room for growth with students still finding their footing.

“There’s 20 percent of students who are just bought in 100 percent, maybe being in FFA is generational for them,” she says. “Then there’s another 20 percent that are just not really sure, they’re just like here in the ag room.” “But then there’s 60 percent who are in the middle and those are the students that you can target towards to buy in and get them engaged and help them to see their potential.”

Originally a member of the Corunna FFA Chapter, Jackson is spending her year of national service traveling more than 100,000 miles to engage with FFA members across the country.

Jackson is also part of Oklahoma State University’s McKnight Scholars Leadership Program majoring in Agricultural Communications and Agri-Business.  She tells Brownfield after graduation she’d like to become an agricultural lawyer with a focus on succession planning.

Brownfield interviewed Jackson during the recent Michigan FFA State Convention.