In recognition of National FFA Week, we asked some GreenStone team members how their FFA experience guided their career path. Watch for their stories here this week.
I grew up on a 2,800 acre cash crop farm in central Michigan and the FFA was a huge part of my high school education. I knew how to plant and harvest crops from the education that I received first hand on the farm, but the knowledge and understanding of the meaning of agriculture and its impact beyond the farm came from my involvement with FFA.
We had an outstanding teacher and advisor, Van Varner. We gained knowledge through him that led us to state winning teams in Agricultural Forum, Parliamentary Procedure, Crop Production Proficiency, Crop Judging, Soil judging and classification and more!
I took the opportunities I had through FFA like serving as an officer, holding the American Farmer degree, the Washington Leadership Conference, and utilize them to this day by getting involved in not only the ag community with projects like Gratiot County Rural Urban Day, Breakfast on the Farm, and the local FFA Alumni chapter. I am also involved with volunteering as a certified Hunter Safety Instructor and coordinator of our local Whitetails Unlimited Chapter for the past 23 years.
Joining the local FFA Alumni has given me the opportunity to see firsthand the skills and knowledge of the youth in agriculture today and I am very pleased knowing that the future of the agriculture industry is in great hands because of the opportunities and knowledge this group of young people are gaining through the FFA organization today!
Everything that I have done can be directly linked to the development of my ideals and character through experiences not only on the farm, but also through my involvement with the FFA.
Mike Fisher is a Crop Insurance Specialist in the Alma branch.
