Over 2000 middle and high school students are in Lexington this week for the annual State FFA Convention.
The statewide meeting will include sessions beyond issues on the farm.
Chapters of FAA, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, numbering 150 across the Commonwealth, are youth organizations based in schools.
Although having roots in traditional farming, State FFA Treasurer Gracie Furnish says the agricultural education program has grown into so much more, “Moving more into getting non-traditional students involved as well through research and FFA is so much more than that cows, sows, and plows that a lot of people believe it to be."
State Vice president Cody Burke says FFA classes expand beyond traditional instruction into life, contests, and competition.
“It’s not something that happens outside of school or after school. The learning really happens, the magic happens inside the classroom, which is something really unique about our organization,” noted Burke.
Furnish sees herself in agricultural education or economics, possibly in the classroom and Burke says he likes an entrepreneurial focus, maybe running a farm to table restaurant.
