News

SpeakAg Pioneer program helping state officers strengthen communication skills

A nationwide leadership initiative is helping the next generation of leaders strengthen and advance their communication skills. 

Lauren Argotte with Indiana FFA says the Speak Ag Pioneer Program is teaching participants how to bridge the gap between producers and consumers.

“During a Farm to Pizza event, we were able to teach elementary school students about how food gets from the farm to the plate,” she says. “We saw not only how the younger elementary school kids were absorbing that information, but also their parents and chaperones too. You can share a message, and it can impact so many more people than you realize.”

Abbey Garland with Ohio FFA says being better communicators helps advance the ag industry. 

“Although I always had agriculture within arm’s reach of me,  I wasn’t able to take hold of my role in agriculture until I became an ag education student,” she says. “I saw the affect that effective and intentional communication efforts had on me.”

State officers from 13 states were selected for this year’s program.

Students selected to be SpeakAg Pioneers are leading the way among FFA’s more than one million members in promoting agricultural advocacy and literacy to FFA members and the general public by hosting workshops and creating content for social media. This year’s program is set to wrap up in 2026. 

AUDIO: Lauren Argotte, Indiana FFA State Secretary

AUDIO: Abbey Garland, Ohio FFA State Secretary