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FFA helps prepare students for workforce

Wisconsin’s FFA Executive Director says young people are more prepared for the workforce after being involved in ag education.

Cheryl Zimmerman tells Brownfield not every FFA member comes from a farm, and FFA gives many students their first exposure to ag careers. “There’s so many careers involved in agriculture that that’s what our teachers are doing, they’re exposing our students to all of these opportunities, and even if they don’t go into an agricultural career, just again, helping them understand the importance of the ag industry to our society.”

Zimmerman says along with agricultural knowledge, FFA teaches the leadership and teamwork skills all employers are looking for. “We know that the ag industry needs people. We know that, and so when they go out there and employers are able to see that they were part of FFA, I say that gives them a cutting edge because they know what kind of training and experience they had.”

Zimmerman encourages students and their parents to ask about their school’s agricultural education and FFA opportunities as early as middle school, because they will probably find interesting opportunities they didn’t know FFA could provide.

AUDIO: Wisconsin FFA Executive Director Cheryl Zimmerman discusses ag education, the growth of FFA, and this year’s FFA Convention with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.