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Indiana FFA members celebrate National FFA Week

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 23, 2022) ? National FFA Week is underway and FFA Chapters across the state and nation are celebrating by hosting events to educate, advocate and celebrate the agriculture industry and the FFA Organization.

Today, in honor of National FFA Week, 115 Indiana FFA members met in the Statehouse 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, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a proclamation to name this week FFA Week in recognition of all the work the Indiana FFA Organization, agriculture educators and FFA advisors do to cultivate the next generation of agriculturists for our 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 over 250 unique careers in the food, fiber and natural resource sectors.

Abby Stuckwisch, 2021-22 Indiana FFA Southern Region Vice President 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,? Stuckwisch 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.

?Advocacy day provides a unique opportunity to talk to legislators about agricultural issues that I am passionate about. I greatly appreciate this opportunity and am thankful for their support of FFA,? Jenna Kelsey, Whiteland FFA member said.?

Visit www.inffa.org to learn more about Indiana FFA.

Click here for audio of Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.

Click here for audio of ISDA Director Kettler.

Click here to view or download photos from National FFA Week at the Indiana Statehouse.

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Pictured above are Indiana FFA State Officers,?Abby Stuckwisch, Southern Region Vice President and Nicholas Newman, Secretary, with Senator Jean Leising who authored the FFA Week Resolution.?

ABOUT ISDA

The?Indiana State Department of Agriculture?(ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. Administratively, ISDA reports to?Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana?s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.

ABOUT INDIANA FFA

The Indiana FFA is the largest youth leadership development Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) in Indiana with almost 12,000 members as a part of 219 local FFA chapters across the state. The FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture provides leadership and direction for the Indiana FFA as a service to local agricultural education programs. For more information, visit the Indiana FFA webpage at inffa.org or follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.