Having autism didn’t stop Patrick Guizar from receiving his American FFA Degree. From the Kerman FFA chapter in California, his supervised agriculture experience (SAE) has grown from taking care of a goat to now working at a grocery store.
Hear more about his experiences and how he’s overcame them with Broadcast Desk Intern Michelle Stangler.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Iowa FFA member Isabelle Rouse is a trumpet player in the National FFA Band. She shares her experiences in while in the band, and her FFA story with Broadcast Desk Intern John Ching.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
What it takes to build a culture of belonging and inclusion was Keynote Speaker Corey Flourney’s message to FFA members, but it expands upon action for students to take past the annual National FFA Convention & Expo.
Flourney served as the National FFA organization’s first urban and African-American national president and now serves as the executive in residence for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) for the organization creating and moderating safe spaces for honest and practical dialogue around diversity and inclusion while challenging conventional wisdom and developing and delivering EDI training, tools and resources to FFA stakeholder groups. He is also the co-founder and principal of Creative Outreach Consulting.
Hear what Flourney’s message was to FFA members and how they can embrace it year-round in addition to more about his role with National FFA in an interview with Broadcast Desk Intern Michelle Stangler.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Spencer White, Director of the National FFA Band tells about his experience working with students from around the country. “Saturday they all arrive, we have our first rehearsal and almost instantly the music starts happening, music is 0ne of those things that connect people,” White said.
Spencer shares more with Broadcast Desk Intern John Ching.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Audrey Pinger
Audrey Pinger of Felicity-Franklin FFA in Ohio is a finalist for the American Star in Agriscience.
Audrey shared her FFA story with Broadcast Desk Intern Hannah Whetstone.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
A member of the Streator FFA Chapter in Illinois, Lance Mortiz works for his family farm and his family’s landscaping services. He’s overcome the challenges of receiving a kidney transplant in college and now looks forward to contributing to his family’s operation in the future.
Learn more about Mortiz’s daily responsibilities and his aspirations to bring knowledge from his education at Illinois Valley Community College to improve the family operation in an interview with Broadcast Desk Intern, Lydia Johnson.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Jasmyn Hoeger
Jasmyn Hoeger of the Beckman Catholic FFA in Iowa is a finalist for the American Star in Agriscience at the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo.
Jasmyn shared her FFA story, her research experience, and her impressive career goals with Broadcast Desk Intern Hannah Whetstone.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Santa Rosa California FFA member was selected as the winner of the National FFA Talent Show.
Soto learned mariachi from his family at a very age, and currently plays in the family mariachi band. Adrian said he was not only representing his home chapter and California, but also his Mexican Heritage.
Adrian Soto was able to combine his passion for FFA and mariachi music in front of thousands of fellow FFA members. He was sporting a national blue mariachi outfit emblazoned with FFA emblems that he ordered the day he won the California FFA talent contest. ” The day I was announced the winner in California, I ordered a personalized mariachi outfit, knowing even if I didn’t win, I would be representing California and Mexico.”
Adrian shares more of his story with Broadcast Desk Intern John Ching.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Star Finalists
From finalist to winner Lainey Hutchinson of Crockett County FFA in Tennessee was named the 2023 Star in Agribusiness.
Horses have been a staple of agriculture for centuries,
and people like Hutchison are educating the next generation of cowboys and cowgirls.
She has been riding horses since she was 3 years old and competing in rodeos since she was 7, she says. Horses are just one part of her life, however — Hutchison comes from a cattle ranching
family, and she has also worked with goats for many years.
The American Star Awards are presented to FFA members who demonstrate outstanding agriculture skills and competencies through completion of a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) among many other qualifications.
Hear more about how she rose to the top in an interview with Broadcast Desk Intern Michelle Stangler.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
