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FFA is the largest student organization in the country with half a million members and 7,500 chapters.
The FFA teaches students Premier Leadership, Personal Growth, and Career Success. The members par-
ticipate in Career Development Events (CDE'S) which are competitions that focus on careers in the agri-
cultural field. These events range anywhere from Public Speaking to Agricultural Mechanics. Columbia
FFA participates in many of these contests. We have also seen top five state finishes from our Horse Judg-
ing, Nursery and Landscape, and Vegetable Judging teams. Around the country each state association
holds various leadership conferences each year.
This year Columbia FFA started their leadership training off by sending two members down to Day-
tona Beach for a weekend to the Chapter Presidents' Conference. There Amanda Richards and Lauren
Townsend worked together along with about two hundred other chapter officers from around the state to
learn leadership and teamwork skills. "This is my favorite conference. I love to be able to stay the night
down here and have extra time to meet and socialize with other officers from all over the state. Last year
was my first year going to CPC and I loved it and couldn't wait to go back, too bad this was my last year."-
Lauren Townsend. The next conference that Columbia participated in was the Chapter Officer Leader-
ship Training conference. Ms. Starnes sent her senior chapter officer team and a few prospective junior
members over to Lake City Community College to partake in this conference.
In the FFA, our members learn to reach out and help others who are in need. Every year in June when
Columbia FFA travels down to Orlando to the State Convention our members participate in the Florida
Day of Service. With about 3,000 other FFA members, they work
at food banks, clean up parks, and clean up neighborhoods. In
October, members from all over the country travel to Indianapo-
lis for The National FFA Convention. Here the members partici-
pate in the National Day of Service. The members help work with
Habitat for Humanity, various food banks around the city, help
clean-up environmental areas, and even help the locals clean and
restore their homes, yards, and farms. This year Columbia FFA
celebrates its 75th anniversary in hopes of lasting another good
75 years. They've came this far, not just by luck, but by hard work
and dedication. As long as the members of Columbia FFA work
together and strive to be the best they will last and they don't
plan on backing down.
- Lauren Townsend, FFA President (12)
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