Learning to be a leader
Hi, I’m Sarah Henderson. When I was 15 years old going into my freshman year of high school, I had no idea what I was getting into when I signed up for an Ag class. The Pea Ridge FFA was an affiliated chapter, which meant that by being in an Ag class I would be a member of the FFA at Pea Ridge.
I didn’t have a big interest in FFA, nor did I know a lot about it, and I also had no idea that over the next few years I would fall in love with FFA and everything that it has to offer. This year, I’m the president of the Pea Ridge FFA!
These past few years that I have spent in FFA have been full of learning and growing as a leader. I have formed relationships with my fellow officers that I will hold in my heart for a very long time. My involvement in FFA has taken me to multiple different competitions, leadership events, workshops, state and national conventions where I have learned so many things. I have learned how to plan and put together events and get people excited about agriculture. FFA has taught me how to interact with people, and has given me connections and friendships all over the state of Arkansas, and even across the country. Going to these leadership events and conventions have given me friendships with people who share the same passion for agriculture that I have today. I have gone places that would have never been possible without FFA.
I have had experiences like floating across the Caddo River with 80 other FFA members; I have toured Purina Mills; I have visited the backside of Churchill Downs; visited the state capital and had many more fun experiences. Without FFA, I would have never decided to study agriculture and pursue a career in it. The national FFA organization is forming kids like me all over the country into future leaders and advocates for agriculture, and I am very thankful to be able to be a part of it. Thanks to FFA I have been able to obtain skills and memories that I will cherish and use for the rest of my life.