by Brenda Gorseth
This is national FFA Week across the nation, and I have a sneaky suspicion many successful women in the agriculture (and private sector) industry once wore the blue and gold jacket. It’s not an easy jacket to wear; with it come responsibilities, contests, activities and meetings, many taking up precious weekends in high school and college. The rewards, though, are great, and I don’t mean monetary, but intrinsic.
How many are asked to speak in public as an adult and do it with ease? Organize an event for the community and encounter few problems securing what’s needed? Start a business and go into it fearlessly? Ok, not fearlessly, but confident in your abilities because you learned all of these skills while in FFA. If you are a female ag instructor, chances are high you were heavily involved in the organization and are sharing the love of FFA with your students today.
My eldest sister was one of the first girls allowed to join FFA in the late '70s in Minnesota. She paved the way for the three sisters behind her; all of us were not just local officers, but district as well in the early/mid '80s. FFA instilled in ‘the Mahoney girls’ our love of plants and all things agriculture. More importantly, it showed us we have a voice and taught us to use it for the greater good in being stewards of the soil. In this day of misinformation regarding GMOs, organic, red meat phobia and nut milk (I still can’t find a teat on the almond!), it is important we take the skills learned through organizations like FFA and educate the public.
Several of us sisters had the privilege to work at the Minnesota State Fair FFA Children’s Barnyard in the ‘80s and if you want to see why educating the public is important, work at a place where the majority of people going through the barnyard have never seen a farm animal close up, a live birth or touched a wiry pig (I love that feeling, by the way). It was the most exhausting, exciting two weeks of my high school life and would do it again…ok, cleaning the stalls is something I could do without, but to share the love of agriculture with both young and old imprinted upon me the need to continue this work.
If you want to see the future leaders of the ag industry, attend an FFA contest; better yet, volunteer to work at it as a judge, helper, or in the kitchen. Not only will you have a great day, but you will see first-hand how hard these students work to earn high individual or a trip to the state convention with their team. The students are dedicated, diligent, and always smiling; our local Foster County Farm Bureau along with vanBedaf Dairy in Carrington sponsors the milk and ice cream bars annually at the Carrington FFA District meet and when those students go through line, one hears a chorus of “thank you,” smiles, and laughter.
For those who wore the jacket back in the day, congratulations on being a part of something important; for those now wearing it, wear it with pride knowing one day the jacket will help you in more ways than you can imagine.
Brenda Gorseth is the District 5 representative on the NDFB Promotion and Education Committee.