Leading others when planning an event teaches planning, critical thinking, and effective leadership. Participating in community service yields citizens conscious of their civic environment. Participating in large-scale events produces an open mind and a union with peers. The FFA element offers activities and projects no other student organization does. For a modest investment in local, state, and national dues, members are able to experience agriculture through a multitude of activities, including proficiency awards and career development events.
Members also participate in a degree program that advances from chapter to national level.
To attain a degree greenhand, chapter, state or national members develop public speaking skills, demonstrate appropriate use of parliamentary procedure, enhance goal setting and planning skills, and work to invest time and money through a supervised agricultural experience. Through FFA, students see different types of agriculture and new cultures through international experiences. Networking, leadership development, practical training, career exploration, international awareness, community service, self-worth, achievement, and recognition make the FFA part of a total educational program for 449,814 members in 7,241 chapters across the nation. Those teachers that make the biggest impact are the ones who care about students. When the teacher is unenthusiastic about the educational process, students mirror that same nonchalant attitude.