My Experience in the National FFA Organization

“I am a Future Farmer of America adventurous of life and living is my challenge.” That is a phrase, used by the members of the FFA Puerto Rico Association to show their pride for being part of this organization. This is a huge part of my life because it has influence on my character and leadership. This organization has done a lot of things for me and now is time for me to return the favor. This organization has existed for 82 years in the USA and the Puerto Rico Association is celebrating its 75 year, our Diamond Anniversary and I'm proud for being part of it for seven years unfortunately I have until the age of twenty one to be part of the organization but after that I could be part of the collegiate chapter in the UPR of Mayaguez and the FFA Alumni Organization that is made for former members who want to support our agricultural education.

The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. This organization, founded in 1928 as Future Farmers of America, now has over 507,763 members in 7,439 chapters throughout all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. In 1988 the name of the organization was changed to the National FFA Organization to reflect the expanding career field of Agricultural Education. Our mission is to make a positive influence in the life of the students by contributing on the development of their capabilities for the excellence of leadership, the personal development and the professional success through agricultural education.

Like I mentioned earlier I have been part of this organization for seven years that I won’t forget. I entered to this organization when I was in the seventh grade practically as a mistake. I entered when I was taking the agricultural education class and the teacher talked to the group about this organization and I figured what I have to lose by giving it a chance I mean the only requirement to be a member is take or have taken the vocational agriculture course. So I entered and I was elected Vice President of my chapter. That same year I receive the Star Green Hand Degree which you receive when you get officially initiate in the organization and you’re the most successful student from the new members. Now they're also various events called Career Development Events (CDEs) some examples of these are: vegetable production, pig farming, coffee, dairy cattle, starchy foods, citrus and much others. They also have other events called Leadership Development Events (LDEs) like parliamentarian procedure, Spanish and English prepared and spontaneous public speaking and much others, and my advisor (another name for the teacher) wanted me to compete in vegetable producer in the CDEs and Spanish Public Speaking in the LDEs. I have no problem with the Vegetable Producer part but I kind of struggle with the Public Speaking. At the end he convinced me and I participated winning the Second Prize at the Southern Region Convention. After this amazing year I decided to keep growing in this organization.

After that year I became Chapter President for the next 4 years. In those years I have the opportunity to assist to the FFA Puerto Rico Association State Convention and it was an amazing experience. That same year I won my first First Prize at a State Convention in vegetable production. But there was something I couldn't do. I wanted to enter the regional directive team but I never had the chance of doing it because I didn't have transportation to assist the reunions and activities so I decided to continue in the organization hoping some other year the opportunity would present itself again. In my fifth year in the organization; I won the First Prize at the Southern Region Convention and went on to win a Second Prize at the State Convention. After receiving my prize the opportunity presented itself again. So I took it and I was elected to be in the Southern Region Directive Board as the Treasurer and what a year it was. I met some good friends that were part of my directive board like: Julio, Jaznely, Jaime, Diamaris, Yair, Yolimar and my best friend in the organization Jorge. Also I met some awesome friends in the ex State President Gabriela and the former Western Region Reporter Lorraine. But nothing was more amazing than making the Southern Region Regional Convention and helping in the making of the State Convention. That was an experience I will never forget and I’ll have the chance of doing it again now that I'm the new Southern Region Second Vice President and future candidate for the State Officer Team. I can't wait until March for that to happen.

The National FFA Organization has made a huge influence in my life. To me this organization is not just another club, organization or hobby. It’s much more than that. It’s a lifestyle. My lifestyle, a lifestyle of agricultural education, the life on the farm and the leadership that the organization itself has to offer. Better yet, the philosophy of my life. This organization has made me a better person, leader, student and citizen by showing me the importance of agriculture in our lives and making me love and takes care of the environment and agriculture. It’s like the FFA motto says: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve. I already did the first three parts of the motto, now it’s time that I return the favor to the organization by managing the Southern Region and making it one of the best in the Nation and hopefully I’ll get the opportunity of doing that all over again but this time as an State Officer and making Puerto Rico the best Association in the Organization.