Indiana FFA Secretary Nicholas Newman, left, and Southern Region Vice President Abby Stuckwisch, right, flank Sen. Jean Leising, who authored the FFA Week resolution.
Submitted photo
National FFA Week is underway, and chapters across the state and nation are celebrating by hosting events to educate, advocate and celebrate the agriculture industry and the FFA Organization.
On Wednesday, in honor of National FFA Week, 115 Indiana FFA members met in the Statehouse in Indianapolis to speak with legislators and promote the student-led organization. The members were able to meet and hear from their elected leaders and statewide officials, including Gov. Eric Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.
“It is always a pleasure to meet FFA members from across the state and hear about the passion they have for the FFA Organization and skills and knowledge they gain from being a part of it,” Crouch said. “Filling the Statehouse with blue and gold is such an incredible way to celebrate this exciting week.”
Earlier this week, Holcomb signed a proclamation to name this week FFA Week in recognition of all of the work the Indiana FFA Organization, agriculture educators and FFA advisers do to cultivate the next generation of agriculturists for the state.
“Each year during National FFA Week, I am reminded how powerful this organization is in securing our agricultural workforce by equipping students with the knowledge as well as the personal and professional skills they need for success,” said Bruce Kettler, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “Throughout this week, I encourage everyone to find a way to support a chapter in their area who is laying the foundation for our future leaders.”
This year, the Indiana FFA Association received a House concurrent resolution highlighting the impact of the FFA Organization, which is preparing more than 11,500 members in 91 of Indiana’s 92 counties for the more than 250 unique careers in the food, fiber and natural resource sectors.
Indiana FFA Southern Region Vice President Abby Stuckwisch, a 2021 graduate of Brownstown Central High School, shared what this resolution means to her and the FFA Organization.
“Indiana FFA is honored to have a legislature that supports and promotes agriculture education and the experiential learning provided by Indiana FFA,” she said. “I feel truly blessed to be able to witness this proclamation of support.”
FFA Advocacy Day is one of many events that will be taking place this week to raise awareness about the importance of the organization, the agriculture industry and agricultural education. Local chapters will be hosting community service projects and workshops and will be joined by the Indiana FFA state officers, who will be traveling around the state to promote the organization.
The state president is Kourtney Otte, a 2021 graduate of Seymour High School.
For information about Indiana FFA, visit inffa.org.