Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week, set this year for Feb. 21-28.
It’s a time to share what FFA is and the impact it has on members every day.
FFA is a dynamic youth organization that prepares members for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
FFA develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talents through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success.
Members are future farmers, chemists, veterinarians, government officials, entrepreneurs, bankers, international business leaders, teachers and professionals in many other career fields.
FFA is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It is one of the three components of agricultural education.
The official name of the organization is the National FFA Organization. The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America. These letters are a part of the group’s history and heritage.
Future Farmers of America was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting — it’s a science, a business and an art.
FFA is for students who want to engage in agriculture and aspire to be farmers, teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. For this reason, the name of the organization was updated in 1988 after a vote of national convention delegates to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture.
FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of agricultural career pathways.
Members are encouraged to live the motto “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve.”
FFA is structured on three levels: local chapters, state associations and the national organization.
The Gillett FFA 2025-26 officer team is, front row, from left, Hope Soper, president; Amanda Pate, sentinel; Caylee Bjelland, vice president; and Connor Engebretsen, reporter. In back, from left, are Riley Pensis, treasurer; Maison Blaskowksi, parliamentarian; Audrey Pate, secretary; and Jacob Timm, adviser.
More than 40 Gillett FFA members helped with the annual Elementary Ag Day event, where they taught about 250 K-5 students about various agricultural topics.
Gresham FFA officers for 2025-26 are, from left, Reporter Kailyanna Zaitz, Secretary Addison Fischer, Vice President Allie Cerveny, Vice President Jeffery Cerveny, Vice President Katie Goers, President Emily Jensen and student adviser Abigail Goers.Iin G
In Gresham, the middle school quiz bowl team placed second at the District LDE. Team members are, from left, Abigail Goers, Mea Buettner and Hailey Fischer. Pictured with them is 2024-25 Section 8 Wisconsin State FFA Officer Taylor Maroszek.
Jeff Zobeck, the Gresham FFA adviser, congratulates Addison Fischer after she was recognized at the Wisconsin State FFA Convention for winning the Dairy Handlers CDE.
Lena FFA member Macy Rakow shows the cake she entered in the cake auction at the Oconto County Youth Fair.
Lena FFA members Reece Windus, Harrison Koch, Grace Seefeldt and Riley Windus exhibited sheep at the Oconto County Youth Fair in 2025.
Lena FFA member Sam Peterson exhibited his dairy cow at the Oconto County Youth Fair in the summer of 2025.
From left, Lena FFA members Erik Kosh, Kyriana Bergevain and Noah Lasley attended the Washington Leadership Conference and posed in front of the nation’s Capitol.
Officers for the Lena FFA in 2025-26 are, front row, from left, Secretary Macy Rakow, President Kyriana Bergevain, student adviser Laila Collar and Vice President Adrena Rabas. In back, from left, are Vice President Riley Windus, Sentinel Nathan Imig, Vice President Kaelyn Cook, Parliamentarian Erik Kosch, Reporter Jacob Sellen and Treasurer Noah Lasley.
Marion FFA members attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. From left, are Brooklynn Ahlers, Payton Marquardt, Hailey Burmeister, Sienna Wernke, Ashlynn Kussman, Javen Prickette, Jeff Klingbeil, Kole Johnson and Payton Prickette.
Handing out cheese and yogurt tubes at the Colorama parade in October 2025 were Marion FFA members, from left, Landon Marquardt, Jeff Klingbeil, Hailey Burmesiter, Brystal Burr, Kara Brown, Emma Mielka, Jarren Faeling, Colin Brown, Xyrim Welch, Milo Matz, Dakota Dalmann, Faith Begrow, Aerabella Kropf, Kennedy Zurniga and Mara Schertz.
Distributing dairy goods at the annual Dairy Distribution Day were Marion FFA members, from left, Rhett Kussman, Brooklynn Ahlers, Ashlynn Kussman, Hailey Burmeister and Jeff Klingbeil.
Marion FFA members attended the State FFA Convention in Madison. From left, are Jeff Klingbeil, Hailey Burmeister, Evan Gleason, Jorja Karst, Coleen Malueg, Brooklynn Ahlers, Cameron Buss, Cheyanna Harper and Kole Johnson.
The Oconto Falls High School FFA 2025-26 officer team is, from left, Abigail Clausen, secretary; Rylan Macha, reporter/historian; Bailey Peterson, vice president of growing leaders; Megan Kesler, vice president of strengthening agriculture; Natalie Rieth, president; Jazmine Van Den Bogart, vice president of building communities; Riley Roskom, treasurer; and Kale Wallace, sentinel/parliamentarian.
Oconto Falls FFA members attending the 2025 Wisconsin FFA Convention at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison were, from left, Melanie Healy, Natalie Rieth, Bailey Peterson, Arline Klimpke, Jazmine Van Den Bogart, Abigail Roskom and Macy Magnin.
Oconto Falls’ 2025 Washington Leadership Conference attendees Kale Wallace, Jazmine Van Den Bogart, Jack Ermis and adviser Walter Taylor met with the National Farmers Union Vice President of Advocacy Mike Stranz on Capitol Hill to learn more about how members can advocate for agriculture and his journey from Oconto Falls to Washington, D.C.
Oconto Falls FFA member Ava Holtz showcases her haylage sample at the 2025 Oconto County Youth Fair.
The Lena FFA Chapter’s Noah Lasley completed his Living to Serve Plan in collaboration with The Nurses’ Nook and hosted a Meals of Hope event. During this time, Oconto Falls High School FFA Chapter adviser Walter Taylor and two executive officers, Riley Roskom and Rylan Macha, plus alumni members Cheryl Konitzer and Beth Rieth participated in the event. A total of 67 volunteers helped prepare 40,000 meals, contributing to the effort to support those in need in the local communities.
Three Oconto Falls FFA freshmen — Hailey Paschen, Danica Moody and Ella Allen — attended the Foundations in Reaching Excellence Conference at Fox Valley Technical College. State officers presented on all things members can do to get involved in FFA. Evan Retzlaff, left, is the local state FFA officer.
At the National FFA Convention & Expo are, from left, alumni officer Ken Harter; Oconto Falls members members Natalie Rieth, Riley Roskom, Remington Ackerman, Jazmine Van Den Bogart, Macy Magnin, Margaret Rieth and Abi Clausen; and advisers Hallie Rehn and Walter Taylor.
Local 2026 Halftime FFA Conference attendees Megan Kesler and Jazmine Van Den Bogart went to Stevens Point to help learn new ways to improve chapter participation. They also learned how to work on their program of activities, how to fill out applications and how to leave a legacy.
Pulaski FFA members, from left, Amelia Sikorski, Bella Sireno, Hadley Thomas, Alex Bodart, Miranda Seitz, Jenna Posbrig, Evelyn Mihalski and Blake Bodart participated in the Winter Wonderland Trail.
Pulaski FFA members, from left, Jenna Posbrig, Miranda Seitz, Wyatt Kolodziej, Alex Bodart, Bella Sireno and Lydia Gwidt attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Shawano FFA members Kyera Williams and Harper Rettke are part of a huge FFA crew from across the area that pack and distribute dairy product bags in their communities.
Shawano FFA members traveled to Wisconsin Dells to participate in the Mission & Impact Leadership Conferences this past fall.
Shawano Nursery Landscape Team members Aiden Kern, Camden Kern, Tucker Reinke and Levi Wendorff took top honors in the state and competed at Nationals in October.
Shawano FFA adviser Steve Stomberg, left, and adviser Melissa Goers, right, pose with the FFA officer team of President Mallory Braun, Secretary Harper Rettke, Treasurer Kenley Kelliher and Reporter Kevin Kroenke.
Shawano FFA advisers Melissa Goers, far left, and Steve Stomberg, right, congratulate local FFA State Degree recipients Madisyn Weinig, Kendra Strebel and Hannah Yeager.
Shawano FFA members enjoyed a night of pumpkin carving as a social event. The pumpkins were then taken to a local nursing home to share with the residents.
Members of the Shawano FFA Milk Quality CDE Team enjoyed a visit to World Dairy Expo to practice their skills and explore the dairy industry.
From left are the 2025-26 Suring FFA officers: Grace Lally, treasurer; Chloe Schroeder, vice president; Kyler Kempka, secretary; Aliya Cox, sentinel; Avery Whisman, reporter; Alexa Nicola, parliamentarian; and Ginger Gerndt, president.
Wisconsin FFA State Degree recipient Tessa Losurdo is pictured with her mother, Sarah Losurdo.
Suring FFA members attended the National FFA Convention and toured the Indiana Mounted Police Department’s headquarters. In front, from left, are Abigail McCourt, EmilyAnn Madison, Hannah Ponton, Grace Lally and Avery Whisman. In back, from left, are Colin Frank, Gavin Staszak, Zander Lensmire, Garret Peters and Damon Otto.
Tigerton FFA members, from left, Cohen Buss, Tanner Dent, Myah Dent and Grace Laatsch participated in the Wisconsin FFA Impact Conference as part of the National FFA Leadership Series. It was held Nov. 13-14 at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.
Members of the Tigerton FFA assembled more than 350 Sweet Hunting Reminders during a November FFA meeting and later distributed them to five local businesses during the 2025 gun deer hunting season.
Future Tigerton FFA members Jude and Jona Laatsch assisted FFA members Aiden and Gavin Laatsch by throwing string cheese sticks during the 2025 Tigerton Lumberjack Days parade in late August.
Tigerton's Rae Ann Strehlow and Tanner Dent performed with the 2025 Wisconsin FFA Honors Chorus at the Wisconsin FFA Convention in June and the Wisconsin State Fair in August.
Members of the Tigerton FFA Chapter include, front row, from left, Jaelyn Brady, reporter; Cohen Buss, treasurer; Tanner Dent, president; Grace Laatsch, vice president; Myah Dent, secretary; and Aiden Laatsch, sentinel. Middle row, from left, are Khloe Wadzinski, Addi Miller, Mia Grunewald, Faith Eckardt, Annie Call and adviser Lori Rowe. Back row, from left, are Zaeva Stemper, Danika Tiller, Cole Erdmann, Jaxson Brady, Esther Laatsch, Jacob Suehring and Andrew Suehring. Not pictured are Jessica Burayi, Rae Ann Strehlow, Lakota Murray-Turcotte and Shaylan Nitzke.
From left are Wittenberg-Birnamwood FFA members Lillian Fisher, Ava Medo, Vivian Resch and Jonas Bushman with their sectional winning proficiency awards at state convention.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood's Ava Medo won her Goat Production Proficiency Award at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
From left, Carson Meronk, Jamie Buchkowski and Kim Crews delivered Thanksgiving dinners to the Wittenberg food Pantry after the FFA Chapter’s Gobbler Gallop 5K.
Posing after the completion of the Nov. 8 Gobbler Gallop 5K are, from left, Wittenberg-Birnamwood FFA members Danica Tomson, Nora Bushman, Layton Sobieski (state sentinel), Kyten Brauer (winner), Evan Retzlaff (state parliamentarian), Jonas Bushman, Carson Meronk, Jamie Buchkowski, Kim Crews and Lillian Fischer.
