Members of four Kosciusko County high schools’ FFAs spoke at the Barn and Breakfast event on Tuesday, March 5. From left are: Libby Haab, Justine Ocken, Issiac Ramsey and Riley Cooper.

Text and Photos
By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation CEO Scott Stump and four members of local FFA chapters spoke at the 2024 Barn and Breakfast event. 

Those from local nonprofits and businesses attended the eighth annual Barn and Breakfast event hosted by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation on Tuesday, March 5, at the Winona Heritage Room.

“The next generation of (agriculture) is sitting in this room,” said Kosciusko County Farm Bureau’s Ryan Millett, while introducing the speakers. “They are the next generation who hopefully want to come back to our community and find ways to thrive.”

The student FFA panelists and members of the audience came from Warsaw Community Schools, Whitko Community Schools, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. and Wawasee Community Schools.

Stump, who grew up in Stroh, said he originally went to Purdue University to study biochemical engineering, but decided “building people was where I needed to be.”

He said part of his career is trying to answer the question, “How do we, as a community, as an education system, as a society, prepare the next generation for where the economy needs today?”

National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation CEO Scott Stump speaks at the eighth annual Barn and Breakfast event on Tuesday, March 5.

That was why the group was hearing from four FFA members, Stump said. Part of the FFA’s goal is to help students prepare for “career leadership, personal growth and career success,” he said.

Warsaw FFA member Riley Cooper said his experience with the FFA changed how he interacted with others.

“Growing up, I’ve always been a shy kid, I never usually talked to people at all,” Cooper said. “But ever since I started FFA, I started going to more opportunities and leadership roles that I took on. And that’s really helped me step outside of my comfort zone and enjoy new experiences.”

Whitko FFA member Justine Ocken shared a similar story. “I couldn’t have talked to a stranger, let alone come up here in front of a bunch of people. Being in FFA has just given me the confidence that I need to gain career success or just go out on my own.”

“FFA has given me many opportunities to expand my confidence,” said Wawasee FFA member Libby Haab. Haab listed speaking at the panel as an example of opportunities provided to her and fellow members by participating in FFA.

Tippecanoe FFA member Issiac Ramsey said that participating in the FFA’s parliamentary procedure competition helped him to grow as a leader and “really relate with other people.”

Members of the panel discussed students’ concerns in terms of their careers. Several panelists said they would like to stay in Kosciusko County, but had to consider factors such as competitive wages and where work was.

“I’m not opposed to coming back to Kosciusko, all of my family and friends are here, so I don’t really see a reason not to,” said Haab. She added that she was also open to job opportunities outside of Kosciusko County, including if it was “too good to not take.”

Another factor was employers’ values. Stump said that prospective employees are interviewing potential employers and looking to work at places with shared core values.

Haab said several things she looks for in a company are respect, communication and constructive criticism. Haab and Ramsey both mentioned having growth opportunities.

The FFA encourages its members to participate in jobs outside of class or pursue entrepreneurship or research projects, Stump said.

“According to the Department of Labor, only one in three high school students truly has a work experience before they graduate from high school,” Stump said.

Members of the panel shared their plans for after graduation. Ramsey said he wants to go to trade school to become an electrician, following his experience with a trade program.

“Currently I’m working at an electric business in Rochester and really enjoyed my time there,” said Ramsey.

“After high school I’m planning to attend Huntington University,” said Haab. “I will be majoring in animal science and (agriculture business) focused on economics and finance.”

Cooper said he plans to run for Indiana FFA state office and go to Purdue University to study agricultural economics with a concentration in agriculture policy.

“I would like to go to a state school to study both art and business,” said Ocken. She added she hopes to become a professional artist and own her own studio.

According to the FFA’s website, the organization is a “dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

The FFA has chapters in U.S. states and territories, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, said Stump. Last year the FFA had around 945,000 members, and expects to pass one million for 2024.

Local business and nonprofit leaders spoke with FFA members during a discussion period at the 2024 Barn and Breakfast event.