Celebrating the future of farming in New Hampshire

The Granite State Association of FFA recently hosted its 96th annual State Convention. A total of 200 FFA members from nine New Hampshire schools traveled to the Mount Washington Hotel to celebrate their passion for agriculture. FFA is a program largely offered vocational schools in New Hampshire. Students participate in Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs like animal science, horticulture, forestry, veterinary science and more at their high schools, and then can additionally enroll as an FFA member of their school’s chapter. FFA has a deep legacy across the U.S. and gives students an opportunity to dive deeper into the ag industries and build leadership skills among like-minded students. A state FFA convention is considered one of the capstone events for members. In New Hampshire, the event is home to 17 Career Development Events (CDEs), including Prepared Public Speaking, Food Science & Technology, Environmental & Natural Resources, Milk Quality & Products and more. The CDEs are competitive in nature both at the individual level and with some friendly rivalry between chapters, but like the name implies, they are meant to help introduce FFA members to various sectors of the ag industry. Almost 70 people volunteered to help serve as judges or to facilitate the contests for the members. A tense atmosphere can be felt around the convention when the CDEs begin as students have been preparing for months. Many of the contests offered serve as qualifying events for members to compete at the National FFA Convention this autumn in Indianapolis. In addition to the contests, the state convention also serves as a place to recognize FFA members for their above and beyond work in the classrooms. Members are able to submit their Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) project work for recognition to earn proficiency awards, State Stars and eventually their chapter degree. There are several other awards including the Conner Outstanding Teacher Award, Outstanding Chapter Officer and memorial awards to recognize teachers and students for their dedication to the program. A true legacy of agriculture can be felt across the banquet hall as the awards begin as generations of agriculture leaders come together to celebrate their passions. The event was hosted by the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH, offering beautiful views and a serene atmosphere to make for a “mini getaway” for members and teachers. The hotel has proudly hosted the convention for more than 20 years. The staff happily welcome the FFA members and look forward to this event each year. To celebrate youth leadership one step further, the state FFA convention is largely planned by students themselves. State Officers are elected annually at the convention, and one of their key tasks is planning the following year’s convention. The team starts planning at their annual retreat in January, where they get to choose a theme, plan the session scripts and create presentations. They work together throughout the year with their advisor and Executive Director of the Granite State Association of FFA Maria Vanderwoude and her assistant, Dan Merritt, to finalize all the details of the convention. During the convention sessions, the officers are poised and professional, speaking with eloquence and passion. This is seen as one of the “side effects” of a program like FFA. While members are able to dive deeper into their passion for agriculture, the skills they learn along the way like public speaking help make them career ready. The new team of state officers – President Morrison Sawyer-Lemeris, Vice President Emily Peckham, Secretary Bridget Moses, Treasurer Kida Smith, Reporter Lydia Grant and Sentinel Millicent Taylor-Nici – have their work cut out for them already. FFA has made a lasting impact on youth and adults alike. In reflecting upon their experience, FFA members noted the importance of the event and how they felt leaving it. When asked what was one thing that made them smile at the state convention, students wrote “the feeling of accomplishment seeing my work pay off in competitions” and “how many people showed support and cared for the same things as me.” For Vanderwoude, these are some of the highlights of her career with the Granite State Association of FFA. She recounted that so many students tell her that FFA is a place where they belong and being surrounded by so many like-minded people makes it feel like home. Organizations like FFA are helping to prepare the next generation of community members and agriculture leaders. “With most Americans being so far removed from the farm, it’s essential that we have educated consumers of agriculture, and high school agriculture education programs provide that,” Vanderwoude noted. Thanks to FFA and events like the state convention, New Hampshire students know where their food comes from and are ready to tackle the life ahead of them. by Hannah Majewski