FFA

"Future Farmers of America" was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting - it's a science, it's a business and it's an art.

FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways.

Today, our members live the motto Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve. FFA members rise to the challenge of service embracing members of all walks of life united through FFA. We Are FFA.

While there are several worthy and impressive youth organizations in this country, it is certainly safe to say that no other group can boast the diversity, longevity and prestige of our collective alumni. They include a former president and Nobel Prize winner Jimmy Carter, Heisman Trophy winner and pro football/baseball player Bo Jackson, Two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin, Iconic actor Tom Wopat (Luke Duke), Living Legends Willie Nelson and Don Henley (The Eagles)and Garfield creator Jim Davis to name a few of the “old school”.

More contemporary alumni include Grammy winner Taylor Swift, Singer-Actor Tim McGraw, Singer Trace Adkins, actor Lucas Black (Fast and Furious and NCIS New Orleans), Fox News Anchor Steve Doocy, NFL player Jordy Nelson, front man Zac Brown, Mr. Everything Toby Keith , the incomparable Reba McIntyre and Olympic Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner.

Even here in our Hamilton County School System, we have several FFA Alumni. Mrs. Carol Milton, Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, Coach Seth Stebbins, Coach Ruben Perez , School Board Chairman Mr. Gary Godwin, Mr. David Law, Mr. Charlie Shaw and Mr. Doug Clayton are all proud alumni. I am sure we missed some, so stay tuned.

When we look at the diverse careers that the above mentioned people have chosen to excel in, it becomes immediately clear that while they may have learned about sows, cows and plows, there were definitely other skills acquired through agriculture education that translates in some universal way to their success.

“As for my personal FFA experience, I was honored to be able to serve as Hamilton County President in 1984-85. I also competed on several judging teams, parliamentary procedure, and speech contests. With the help of Mr. Gene Starr, who came to HCHS immediately after I graduated, I was able to achieve my State FFA Degree and State Swine Production Proficiency.” - Doug