Stefonie Sebastian, education specialist at the National FFA Organization, explains the FFA: Food For All Grant program, which provides funds to FFA chapters for service-learning projects to fight hunger in their communities. Some examples of previous FFA: Food For All projects include chapters developing a community garden, raising laying hens and broilers, and hosting workshops on various aspects of agriculture.

This interview aired on the March 19, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we revisit an interview with Karlene Lindow Krueger, who made FFA history in 2002 when she became the first female to receive the American Star Farmer award. In 2014, when the Smithsonian was developing the “American Enterprise” exhibit for the National Museum of American History, Karlene donated her blue corduroy FFA jacket to the museum to commemorate her historic achievement.

This interview aired on the March 19, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Todd Biddle, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Bald Eagle High School in Wingate, Pa., had an experience of a lifetime when he was invited by his local congressman to attend the president’s State of the Union address. Todd says the recognition his chapter received as a result of his trip to Washington, D.C., gave his students new energy and motivated them to work harder.

This interview aired on the March 19, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Kerstin Christiansen and Caitlin Rose are FFA members in Winnemucca, Nev., where they help with an annual Ag Day event. Third-grade students are invited to visit twelve booths that represent different aspects of the industry of agriculture, from bees to veterinary science. Through hands-on experiences, the youngsters gain firsthand knowledge about agriculture.

This interview aired on the March 12, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Kaitlyn Elliott, an agricultural education student at the University of Kentucky and a former member of the Boyle County FFA Chapter, talks about her SAE project – sorghum production. Working with her grandfather, Kaitlyn grows sorghum from seed, then processes the cane to make sorghum molasses and barbecue sauce. By promoting Poorhouse Sorghum to local businesses, Kaitlyn has increased both the demand for her products as well as her profit margin.

This interview aired on the March 12, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Michael Suitor, FFA advisor at Alcona High School in Lincoln, Mich., describes his FFA chapter’s maple syrup operation. Each year during maple syrup season, Michael’s students run a sugar shack, doing everything from tapping the trees and gathering the sap to making and bottling the syrup. He says managing the sugar shack gives his students valuable hands-on business skills.

This interview aired on the March 12, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

February was a busy month for FFA members in Washington, D.C., as they participated in the first-ever Young Invincibles FarmNext National Youth Summit and the annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. The 2015-16 National FFA Officers came to town to visit with government officials, including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. And during National FFA Week, Pennsylvania state FFA officers Tyler Watkins and Elizabeth Winklosky and Maryland FFA member Joy Petersen were in the nation’s capital to advocate for FFA.

This interview aired on the March 5, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Western entertainer Juni Fisher has had a lifelong love of horses, and even though she now travels for weeks at a time, she still has two horses – one for trail riding and one in training. When she was a member of the Strathmore FFA Chapter in California, she formed a horse judging team that went to the state finals. Juni encourages all FFA members to learn practical skills that will carry them through their lives.

This interview aired on the March 5, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Cascade FFA member Becca Gerard talks with Ashley Finley, a former member of Cascade FFA who is now active in the Montana FFA Alumni. Ashley says FFA impacted her life in many ways, and she enjoys the opportunity to come back and help current FFA members. According to Ashley, you’re never fully out of FFA!

This interview aired on the March 5, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Rosa Sondag, FFA advisor at Central Decatur High School in Leon, Iowa, is a recipient of the Golden Apple Award for exceptional teachers. Rosa, an agriculture teacher for 16 years, says it is important for her students to understand that everything is related to agriculture; in fact, she challenges her students to “Stump Ms. Sondag” with what is not involved in agriculture. (From WHO-HD TV in Des Moines, Iowa.)

This interview aired on the March 5, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.