To the Editor:

I have been a member of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Future Farmers of America since I was in sixth grade; I am now a junior in high school. FFA has become a huge part of my life and has truly given me a second family.

This program is extremely important to me because of all of the opportunities that it has provided me, and the lifelong skills that I will bring with me everywhere I go. I know that many other people have also not only benefited from this program, but the ag program as a whole.

There are so many reasons as to why this program is important to me and many others. FFA is not just for the “farm kids” and is not “only about farming.” The true value and importance of this program is not realized by many.

FFA provides people with opportunities to become stronger leaders and for them to step out of their comfort zone. Throughout the years that I have been a part of this program I have learned so much, and gained so many skills that are extremely valuable.

I have gained very strong communication skills and have been able to experience opportunities that I would not have without this program. In February, another FFA member and myself were able to attend a leadership event at the State Capitol.

During this event we were able to have conversations with state congressmen and senators about issues in agriculture and different ideas that were trying to be pushed into Congress. This opportunity allowed me to converse in a professional manner, which is not something most kids get to experience at a young age.

I have also participated in FFA leadership development competitions where I have had to work with a team to propose an issue in agriculture, and be able to accurately defend this issue and act it out in front of a panel of judges.

This has greatly helped me with my public speaking skills and the importance of being able to work with others. The skills learned through FFA are skills that I will carry with me no matter where I go or what I do.

FFA has given me a place where I feel accepted. Mrs. [Michaela] Kehrer and Mrs. [Michelle] Case have been extremely supportive of me and have pushed me to do things that I normally would not do.

Mrs. Kehrer’s ag classes have a significant number of students who participate in them and enjoy them. These classes also provide students with the opportunity to receive college-in-the-high-school credits, which can add up to having almost one semester of college done.

FFA also is not strictly made up of one group of kids; many people with many different priorities, goals, and interests have been a part of FFA.

Being in school is something that I personally struggle with; I don’t share the enjoyment of the social aspect of school that many other students do. The reason that I am able to push through school is because of Mrs. Kehrer and her classes.

I am in Mrs. Kehrer’s room with her as much as I can be; it is the one place in the school that I always feel welcomed and that I truly enjoy being in.

FFA has truly given me something that I feel I belong in, and is something that others should view as important. The school has built an excellent agriculture education program complemented by great agricultural after-school programs and we need to support the budget so that these programs can keep growing 

Lexie Malanga

BKW junior