Inside FFA and 4-H

Editor's note: This story appeared in the fall 2026 edition of Roots magazine. Students meet agriculture and community service — that's what organizations like FFA and 4-H offer to young learners. Here is a look into both organizations, which have chapters all over, beginning with 4-H: A foreword on 4-H Even though Erie County isn't as rural as some of its neighboring counties, agriculture and 4-H are still important to the people who live there. Dawn Thayer has been an advisor for the County Conquerors — one of Erie County's 4-H clubs — for about 19 years. She's been involved with the program her whole life. She grew up in Seneca County and started taking 4-H projects in third grade. Now, Thayer is mentoring others in the program. Members take a variety of projects to the Erie County Fair each year, including horses, sheep, cattle, pigs and more. There are also still projects like shooting sports, cake decorating, money management and fun with flight. The 4-H program allows children to keep learning during the summer, Thayer said. "In a season when kids take a break from learning, the 4H kids are learning by doing," she added. "They are taking care of animals on the early mornings, walking, feeding, bedding, washing, and paying attention to the animal's health. These kids start the summer with a project." Thayer emphasized the significance of agriculture. "It's important because everyone eats," she said. "Erie County is very urban with fewer and fewer farms due to urban encroachment. People have no idea how the food they eat got there or where it started. We are very fortunate to have grocery stores to have access to fresh food. But we are generations away from going to the farm to get eggs, milk and meat. Once you lose the idea that an actual family has produced the food in front of you, you loose the backbone of America." Amy Walden is one of the advisors for the Berlin Busy Bees club. She said it's one of the oldest 4-H clubs still around in Erie County, and she was a member back when she was a child. The group took on a mix of projects. Many showed rabbits and other livestock. They also completed still projects that ranged from quilting to cooking to fishing. During the club's demonstrations, the kids talked about their project. "It's rewarding as an advisor to see what they've learned," Walden said. There are so many projects to pick from, and the kids can find a subject that interests them. It's not just about farm animals. Throughout the projects, life lessons are instilled in the kids. Whether they're in charge of an animal's welfare, completing an interview, speaking in public, or finishing a still project, they're learning responsibility and accountability. "All of these things they can take and apply to real life. I know this because I did," Walden said. "When I budget my household, I look at my income and expenses — just like I did in my 4-H projects years ago. When I stand up in front of a group of people, I am able to talk and be confident — years of demonstrations, years on the royalty court or being a club officer prepared me." Walden noted how 4-H teaches hard work but it sometimes teaches how some things are out of your control. "Some years you have a cow that drags you across the grass or maybe your rabbit passes away from the heat a week before fair," Walden said. "It can be heartbreaking, but it shows those kids that even when you do your absolute best we don't always get what we deserve." They learn to keep going and to try again. It builds resilience. "4-H is teaching and creating better members for our society and community," Walden added. The Country Cousins club started in 2001 with Sue Galloway and Heather Kromer as advisors. Brett Wilson was in the club at its founding. Now, she has been an advisor for the club the past couple of years. "The club started with two families of cousins, and I don't know that there was a time when no one in the club was related," Wilson said. "That being said, it's not a requirement. We love all of our members and everyone gets treated like family." County Cousins is also a large club year-to-year with about 40-50 members, including 10-15 cloverbuds. Members complete still projects like sewing, physics, welding as well as livestock projects involving poultry, rabbits, sheep and cattle. In addition to learning from their projects, kids also understand how to win and lose gracefully. They can help one another even though they're competing against each other. "There are opportunities for skill building everywhere you look," Wilson said. There have been members who traveled overseas for 4-H immersion trips to work with other 4-H kids abroad and some who have participated in leadership camps across the nation, Wilson said. "We've also had kids who just went from not being able to speak in front of the club to winning the public speaking contest," she added. "Skill building looks different for everyone but the opportunities are in 4-H." Maggie Kromer, 19, has been involved in 4-H for more than 13 years. She's a part of the Margaretta Livestock club. This past fair, Kromer took a market hog, a dairy beef feeder and two dairy market steers. She was born into a farming family, so she's been around livestock her whole life. "Throughout all of these years, 4-H has impacted me in more ways than I ever thought it could have," Kromer said. "I have gained a passion for raising livestock, gained life skills and found so many amazing friendships along the way." Kromer can attest to the struggles of raising livestock, but what can result from that. There can be mistakes, disappointment and failing. However, through those moments, Kromer has learned to be better, more efficient and how to overcome hardships. The 4-H program shaped her into the person she is today, Kromer said. It's an opportunity for everyone, no matter what their background is. "Over the years, I have met many amazing people who come from an agriculture background but also don't," she said. "4-H is an amazing organization that is open to everybody." What is FFA Whether they are registering for the first time at their county fair or continuing their connection to the industry after high school, FFA students keep agriculture at their center. FFA, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is one of the largest youth organizations in the nation with over 1 million members nationwide. But FFA is more than just a school club. As described by three local FFA advisors and agriculture teachers, FFA is: • A student organization focused on agriculture and leadership, according to Robert Selvey, Clyde's FFA advisor. Its members gain experience in agriculture while building personal skills like leadership and communication. • An organization that promotes leadership in personal growth and career success through classrooms, career development competitions and agricultural experiences, according to Scott Bauer, Monroeville Schools FFA chapter advisor. • An organization that helps students develop skills for work in agriculture and other careers, college and becoming community leaders, according to Sarah Lucha, South Central Schools FFA chapter advisor. "You don't have to live on a farm to be in FFA or even pursue a career in agriculture," Lucha said. "FFA's mission is to promote premier leadership, personal growth and career success using agricultural education as the vessel to help aid students to become active citizens and lifelong learners." What does FFA do? Unlike most student organizations, FFA is a year-round commitment to the chapter itself and the community. It is difficult to list all the events an FFA member participates in, but these local FFA advisors and agriculture teachers weighed in on what comes with being a member. Career Development Events All three advisors mentioned their students' participation in what is known as Career Development Events. These are competitions against other FFA chapters that students participate in. There are a range of events from soil judging and ag sales to parliamentary procedure where students must run a professional meeting. These competitions take place throughout the year. Bauer said there is something every month from September through May, and many contests allow students to compete at the national level. Supervised Agricultural Experiences Students also work on Supervised Agricultural Experience where "members can really put their agricultural experiences into action," according to Lucha. This is when students can log time they spend working on tasks like raising livestock and working on agriculture jobs and projects. Fair Fair season in the summer is a "very busy" time for FFA students, according to Selvey. The same can be said for other FFA chapters participating in their local fairs. "The work doesn't begin when the fair starts," Lucha said. "Work begins months earlier with selecting a project, setting goals, budgeting, caring for the project, keeping records and developing agricultural skills." Not only are students busy, but advisors are too. They are responsible for staying connected with students — Lucha does home visits — and making sure members and families know what to expect and the responsibilities they have at fair. During fair, students care for their animals, prepare for shows and other competitions, participate in FFA activities, represent their chapter and talk to the public and participate in Jr. Fair Board, which is responsible for running fair events. Specifically, for Clyde's FFA, Selvey's students displayed a trailer restoration project this year. With new shelves and a fresh coat of paint, the trailer fits the FFA's needs to best support the chapter, and the programs students participate in. "The best part (of fair) is watching the FFA members mentor the younger showmen in the county and setting such good examples for the next showing generations," Lucha said. Bauer believes all of his members participating in fair excel in some way. "Over the years Monroeville FFA has had numerous members exhibit grand champion animals and compete in the Showman of Showmen contest, which highlight the animal portion of the fair," Bauer said. "This year Lilly Stein was in the Showman of Showmen contest; she serves on the officer team." Other activities Throughout the year, chapters participate in miscellaneous agriculture-focused projects like: • Hosting agriculture activities for Ag Day • Picking up trash on the side of the road • Helping run "SCRAP" auction event • Hosting and participating in fishing tournaments inviting other local chapters • Participating in Greenhand Camp where first-year members learn about the opportunities they have • Hosting farmer feeding events • Participating in food drives • Ringing bells for Salvation Army fundraisers • Organizing and hosting recognition banquets for hundreds of members, alumni and community members • Learning about and completing classroom projects in electricity, woodwork, metallurgy and concrete • Attending the leadership conferences • Running fundraisers like citrus fruit sales and strawberry sales. Monroeville's FFA chapter also did a donut sale. • Hosting a petting zoo for full school participation Degrees Everything a student does in FFA goes toward them earning recognition for the work they put in. Students can earn American and State FFA Degrees. Only 2% of state membership earn state degrees while less than half a percent earn American, according to Lucha. Members also complete Proficiency Awards, which require students to compete against other FFA members across the state. Members are recognized for these degrees at state and national conventions. Bauer highlighted student opportunities also offered at conventions like meeting industry professionals, hearing motivational speakers, competing at the national level and going on agriculture tours. Despite their similarities, each FFA chapter finds its way to stand out. For Clyde, Selvey believes in his students' relationship with those who support the chapter. "I think our chapter stands out from many other FFA because of our involvement in our community," Selvey said. "We are always doing some type of community servicing event." Lucha believes her students stand out through the chapter's ranks. She said South Central is among the top 10% in the nation and is a Top 10 Chapter in the State of Ohio in Strengthening Agriculture. "The chapter has a long-standing history of success in Career Development Events, community service projects and high expectations in member participation," Lucha said. For Monroeville, Bauer said his students stand out in their competitions, specifically in soil judging over the years. The chapter members have qualified for national competitions three times. Bauer also noted the number of students who receive degrees. Despite their success in competitions and recognition, Bauer said his members look forward to conventions, banquets, their farmer feeding events and the petting zoo the most. Staying involved Even after graduation, FFA students keep ties to the organization. Several, like Caleb Martin from Bellevue's FFA Chapter, have stepped up to serve FFA at the state level. While attending Bellevue Schools, Martin took chickens and woodwork projects to the Huron County Fair. "My agriculture teacher, Mr. Karcher, encouraged me to try (chickens) and has been a huge help these last four years," Martin said. "I had Grand Champion Market Birds last year. This will be my last year taking both projects." At the fair, Martin has also helped at the Bellevue FFA Alumni Pork Chop Stand. Money from the stand funds Bellevue FFA's alumni association which then supports chapter activities. Martin graduated from Bellevue High School this past spring and is now a student at Ohio State University studying agriculture communications. Graduation makes him an alumnus of his chapter but still an FFA member. Membership does not expire until the age of 21, so students can earn their American Degrees, which Martin is working on. Before his senior year of high school, Martin said he had not considered running for a state position. He was busy with other activities and did not think he had the time for it. But after reflecting on the impact FFA had on his life and leadership skills, he looked into what it takes to be a state officer and "the more I learned about it, the more I knew it was something I had to do," Martin said. "I knew that by being in this position, I would be able to give back to FFA and help members grow the same way I did," Martin said. "My 'Why' for being a state officer is to give back to FFA and help members learn that while we will all stumble on our way towards success, those stumbles are what teach us the lessons we need to be successful." Becoming an officer Before starting the five part application process, Martin had to earn his State Degree and be an upperclassmen in high school or a first-year student in college. The five parts process of become an officer includes: • Gathering information on himself and his FFA involvement • Submitting a "why I Desire" speech on why he wants the position • Submitting a thank-you letter to an Ohio FFA sponsor • An in-person interview with a panel of judges • An impromptu scenario to gauge a candidates visit with industry professionals. He was given a summary of a person then had to have a 4-6 minute conversation with them. Officers are announced at state conventions. Martin is State Vice President at Large. "It truly did feel amazing to become a state officer and was one of the most memorable events of my life," Martin said. "However, in terms of recognition, I'm still working to earn it." Martin quoted his FFA program manager, Katy Endsley who said the team is standing "on the shoulders of giants." The noise from the audience at state convetion was for the previous officer team and the impact Martin's team is believed to have on the organization. "It's a very humbling experience to have that many people put their faith in you and trust you with as big a role as the State Office," Martin said. "While going about my year of service, I have continuously reminded myself of this." What does an officer do? Officers have a long list of duties including learning and presenting workshops to FFA members across the state. They do this while interacting with chapters at Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum in Carrollton, Ohio in the summer and visiting chapters at their schools for Chapter Visits, Greenhand Nights and Leadership Nights. Martin and his team have to also represent themselves at the national level. They attended a State Officer Summit in Washington, D.C. where they learn about advocacy and their national duties. In October, they also attend national convention in their officer positions and will prepare and run state convention in the spring. Throughout the year theire are a variety of other activities in the industry he is asked to to participate in to promote and represent the organization and agriculture field. Throughout his responsibilities, collaboration is a big part of the officer position. For example, when creating workshops, officers must revise, edit, and listen to each other's ideas and offer guidance. They also collaborated on speech writing for FFA camp events and must collaborate on all other events throughout the year.