How FFA Shaped My Path to the Future

By: Kyndal King, Photo and Video Specialist

As we approach National FFA week, I am reminded of both my personal experiences in the organization and the stories I have heard throughout my life from countless individuals from all walks of life. I grew up unaware that FFA existed beyond the small, rural town I called home and the ones that mirrored it. I thought being in FFA was the natural path for students in rural towns with long driveways and animals roaming their backyards. 

However, as I grew and expanded my network in high school and into college, I realized that FFA was so much more than an “I have livestock” club. It’s an “I want to be part of change” club. An “I want to serve others” club. An “I want to be part of STEM” club. An “I want to learn life skills” club. An “I want to nurture the earth and its creatures that God has given us” club. 

FFA is far more than just cows and plows; it’s the next generation of leaders in agriculture and our country. We come from farms, suburbs, apartments and townhomes from every corner of America. FFA prepared me to join a world bigger than my rural community and to be ready for far more than just high school.

Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Growth 

I have what you would call a “typical” FFA background. I grew up showing goats and steers, competing in CDEs and LDEs, speaking on the local radio, competing in archery and shotgun sports, and eventually serving as my local chapter’s president. However, I would be lying if I said I did all of this with a happy heart, servant attitude and a joyful smile. 

Yep, I just said that. I hated getting up at 3 a.m. to go to shows, sitting silently for hours for judging contests, rehearsing my speech a million times, shooting until my shoulder ached and making decisions that I knew weren't going to make everyone happy. Some days, I struggled with pride, frustration, self-esteem, resentment and impatience—not due to any fault of my parents, advisors, peers or FFA, but because of the mental battles we all went through as high schoolers. 

But FFA taught me the ability to persevere, love people, love myself, accept failure, give and accept grace, and that I’m capable of hard work and being part of a great team. I’m capable of more than I ever imagined.

Life Lessons from FFA: Confidence, Perseverance and Purpose

It taught me how to choose positivity in a world full of chaos and negativity. FFA showed me how to think critically and solve problems in challenging situations. I learned how to speak with confidence and enter a room where I knew no one. Those 3 a.m. mornings became easier with the right preparation. FFA taught me to control my emotions when I walked out of an arena without a ribbon. It gave me the strength to lift my head high as the only girl when walking up to the trap shoot, lined up against all the boys. It showed me that I have a place—at the table, in my community and in agriculture. 

FFA guided me through high school, but it prepared me for life beyond it. FFA taught me to be confident in the face of the unknown and taught me the power of reflection. 

The Lasting Impact of FFA on My Career and Life

Looking at where I am now in my career and reflecting on my first job out of college, I still see the lasting impact of being a part of FFA. During high school, when attending conferences and events on behalf of my chapter, I fell in love with the speakers, more specifically, their stories. 

I was fascinated by the structure of their speeches and the choices they made to communicate their messages effectively. You could credit this as being one of the starting points for my interest in communication and mindset. 

At these events, I also discovered the power of storytelling through videography and photography. Watching awards or recap videos slowly inspired me to pursue the same. FFA introduced me to the impact of a good photograph, a well-planned event and the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of a jackpot flyer. With all of these experiences and ideas compiled together with the help of some guidance counselors, I was able to decide that a degree in agricultural communications was right for me. 

While FFA didn’t provide me with the technical skills I use in my job today, it exposed me to new ideas and career opportunities within the agricultural industry. On a day-to-day basis, I tap into many of the lessons learned through my years in the blue and gold. 

The main point of FFA isn’t to be the best steer showperson in the ring, the best shot at the tournament, the best radio team or to achieve the highest position in the room. The purpose of FFA is to grow, learn and experience more than life down your dirt road or city street has to offer. It’s about becoming a productive member of society who treats people and animals with respect and kindness, a person who isn’t afraid to let their voice be heard, someone who serves their community and passes on the knowledge they’ve gained. 

Thank you, FFA, for all you do and all you have allowed me to be.