students in ffa

The Marietta FFA continues to grow this year with young leaders dedicating hundreds of hours to individualized projects, team competitions and camaraderie. 
"I believe that the future of agriculture starts with our FFA members," says Alexis White, a freshman bringing multiple years of livestock showing to her classroom work at the high school. "A majority of our year in FFA has been planned around our Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) which is a requirement for all FFA members and serves as a great way to apply classroom principles in the real world, both with SAE and Career Development Event (CDE) projects."


An SAE is a structured experiential and work-based learning opportunity in school-based agriculture, food and natural resources that extends beyond the classroom. These experiences take place outside of regular school hours to develop an individual student's industry. 
"The hours each of them put in varies, but is often several hundred. Whether they're raising animals for more than a year or they're growing a garden, they each have to document reports about how they complete their work," adds FFA Teacher Brian Welch, describing a diverse set of SAE projects from current and recently graduated students including a bearded dragon, breeding hogs, equine management, food plots, job placement, land management, market chickens, market goats, market hogs, market feeder calf, market lambs, market rabbits, market steers, tractor restoration and a vegetable garden. 


Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events focus on student success, including the most recent triumph of the Ag-Power Diagnostics team (previously known by alumni as Tractor Troubleshooting) where on Feb. 9 Sophomore Brett Bauerbach and Freshman Brady Barth advanced to state competition following success regionally.
"When we compete, we're in a large shop full of tools and equipment," describes Barth. "Right before we get there, our nerves are through the roof."
"The smell of diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid, oil, exhaust, grease and dirt are in the shop all around us as we get 20 minutes to diagnose problems with farm equipment, then work together to fix those problems, report back to the judge what was wrong with the equipment and ask for the part that might be missing," adds Bauerbach. "Then, we have to put it back together so that it runs again. We always have a great time, learn new things and get to meet new FFA members."
The Ag Power Diagnostics and Ag Mechanics Skills teams practice at least once weekly from October through March, committing time before and after school to perfect skills and efficiency before competition.


Classtime also offers students of the FFA program multiple opportunities to confront the fear of judgment by repeated public speaking requirements.
"We can struggle to memorize the information, keep eye contact or your voice can be shaky when you have to speak up," members describe in unison. "But to be taken seriously now and in our future professional lives, FFA teaches us to overcome that stress."
Growing in confidence as they describe internal animal systems, memorize essential information and teach it to each other also adds to the camaraderie built on the dance floor.
"FFA square dances are a great way to bring friends, family and the community together," describes Sophomore Grady Hartline. "With different experience levels together the more experienced not only teach the less experienced, but we also have to step outside our comfort zone to do something that may be uncomfortable at first. We show leadership by encouraging others to get off the wall and dance with us."
Hartline describes the pastime as an enjoyable hobby accessible to all ages.
"And since the Marietta FFA has been hosting FFA square dances with the Buckeye Travelers for approximately 17 years, the dances are everlasting and memorable experiences."


The Marietta FFA appreciates all of its alumni and partner support this year as the program grows its diverse SAE and CDE projects to individualize the experience and success of each Marietta Tiger. Thank you, too, for supporting the work and exposure of our students to Leadership Nights, Hockey games, Farm Science Review, Barnyard Olympics, Rodeos, National Convention, State Convention and FFA week activities.