EDWARDSVILLE - To some, the National FFA Organization (FFA) may not stand out, but to Edwardsville High School seniors Brady Maher, Ellie Dungan and Kolson Bruhn, has meant a lot to their confidence and leadership skills.
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FFA, formerly known as the “Future Farmers of America,” is an organization for middle and high school students interested in leadership and agriculture, according to FFA’s website. Their name was officially changed from “Future Farmers of America” to the “National FFA Organization” in 1988 to reflect the growing opportunities in the agricultural field.
As president of Edwardsville High School’s FFA chapter, Maher has been heavily involved in the program. He joined his freshman year after friends invited him to participate and stayed after discovering how much he enjoyed the program.
To Maher, the best part of FFA has been meeting new people, making new friends and being surrounded by people with the same interests.
“[FFA] has taught me how to be responsible and confident, and how to be a leader,” Maher said.
Dungan said she also gained confidence through the program. Unlike Maher, Dungan joined during her final year of high school.
“I didn’t intend to join,” Dungan said. “I was automatically in FFA because of [my] agriculture class and ended up being the best part of my year.”
Dungan attended the National FFA Convention & Expo this past fall and said the experience, along with meeting a variety of people, was one of her favorite parts of the program. Bruhn also joined the group at the National FFA Convention & Expo.
“My favorite event for sure was National Convention. We got to meet so many new people and have a fun time while we were there,” Bruhn said.
This year’s FFA theme was “Growth,” and all three seniors said they believe the chapter has embraced the theme and improved under first-year teacher and adviser Joseph Birrittier.
“The program has been struggling for a few years, but it [is] finally getting back on its feet and growing to be bigger and better every year,” Maher said.
Growth in membership isn’t the only way the program has reflected its theme. Bruhn said there has also been a shift in the chapter’s mentality, especially in member maturity and involvement since Birrittier became adviser.
“I think Mr. [Birrittier] is so great for this program and will continue to help us grow,” said Dungan. “This program has changed so much, because, in the past, it was just a class you can blow off and was easy like a study hall. Now we as a chapter are involved in lots of things in the section and state and are doing really well.”
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