What The FFA Taught Me. A Rant.

 Dear FFA,
You should be happy that I didn't know shit about agriculture in High School or you would have had a MUCH bigger problem on your hands.
Love from, a very peeved past FFA member.


When I was in high school I was part of the largest youth organization in the nation. The FFA or, Future Farmers of America helps create leadership opportunities for individuals in high school. It is a great way to meet new people and helps to create leaders in chapters and schools around the United States. I was the president of our chapter, attended national conventions, state conventions and conferences around the state. I met new people and gained confidence in my speaking skills. In my small high school it is one of the only clubs available and continues to be popular among most of the students. Although I learned many valuable lessons about myself and feel more confident in front of large crowds because of the FFA activities I was involved in, I also have many complaints about this organization and because I didn't notice these as much while I was involved in the program... I am going to rant a bit and tell you some of the lessons I learned that now make my blood boil.

You see, while the FFA is an organization full of great leaders and strong individuals it also goes against most of my morals when it comes to ANYTHING to do with farming. This organization is supported and backed by companies that can control the information that the student leaders are taught, and then repeat to chapters all over the United States as the "truth" about agriculture and farming. This goes for agriculture teachers as well, although I was very fortunate to have open minded agriculture teachers in high school, I know that is not the case in most places around the nation. With large companies such as Monsanto and Bayers Environmental Science giving the students "plugs" on the great deeds that their companies are responsible for, it is only natural that students involved in the FFA only see large scale farming as the future of food.

While I grew up hearing my parents stance on subjects such as Genetically Modified Organisms and pest and weed control, in high school I never had the valuable information that would allow me to voice my own opinions. I want to make it clear now, that I do not take my views on these subjects from my parents. While some individuals follow their parents stances on politics and religion blindly from a young age, I knew that I wanted to have the resources and information in front of me before I came to any conclusions about what I believed. To this day, my religious views differ from my parents an enormous amount and I can safely say that my stand on farming hot topics are now backed with knowledge and my own personal beliefs.

So now,
In short blurb form because it's more fun and because this has been an extremely long post already...

THINGS THAT THE FFA TAUGHT ME. (THAT I NOW UNDERSTAND TO BE... DUMB)

You taught me that what my parents do, would not work to feed the hungry.

You told me that it is our responsibility as a great nation to feed the rest of the world.

You taught me that availability trumps sustainability.

You taught me that environmentalism and agricultural-ism can NEVER co-exist.

You taught me that bigger is better.

You told me that my families work was a joke.

You told me that animals were born to be slaughtered.

You taught me that the future of food could be thought up in a test tube.

You taught me that what you eat is not necessarily what you teach.

You taught me that to grow, government subsidies are the way to go.

You taught me that our farm workers are illegal.

You told me that rice, corn, and soy are the way to GrOw.

You taught me that feedlots are fine.

You taught me that pests need -isides.

You told me that seeds can be controlled, and owned.

You told me that THEY were the enemy.

You taught me that we need to inform the public.

Well- that's what I am doing. I am informing the public that there is another way.
Because, dearest FFA, as much as I am thankful for you, and for where you have gotten me...

I fear for the future of agriculture in your hands.