Agricultural Youth Opportunities: A Journey to Future Career Success

From ages nine to 99, the opportunities available in agriculture are endless – and ageless.

As student leaders of the National FFA Organization, there are few people who know that better than our fellow 650,000+ members and us. In a few years, we’ll fill some of the most challenging and critically important jobs that keep America fed, fueled, clothed and competitive.

Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS)

FFA, or formerly known as Future Farmers of America, helps the next generation meet those challenges by helping our members to develop their unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of agricultural career pathways. We started as a simple farm organization in 1928 but our organization has changed and evolved over time. We now represent future farmers, researchers, chemists, veterinarians, engineers, entrepreneurs and everyone in between, because agriculture today is so much more than farming alone.

As a result, from collectively earning more than $4 billion every year through hands-on work experiences FFA members are doing some really cool things – all before the age of 18. From soil moisture mapping and precision agriculture using drones and other technology to cutting-edge research to inventing brand-new products that improve people’s everyday lives to wildlife conservation at an FFA chapter at a zoo (really), FFA members are making a difference in agriculture.

In honor of National Ag Day, we’ve partnered with organizations from A to Z – literally, from AgriCorps to Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences to Alpha Zeta Fraternity and everyone in between – to gather a comprehensive roadmap of the diverse array of career, personal and professional development opportunities agriculture and natural resources offers.

Check out our Agricultural Youth Opportunities roadmap below and be sure to visit www.ffa.org/agyouth for more information.

Participating organizations include 4-H; AgriCorps; Agriculture Future of America; Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity; Alpha Zeta Fraternity; American Agri-Women; American Farm Bureau Federation; American National CattleWomen, Inc.; American Poultry Association; American Soybean Association; American Sugarbeet Growers Association; FarmHouse Fraternity; Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS); National Association of Wheat Growers; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; National Corn Growers Association; National Cotton Council of America; National Farmers Union; National FFA Organization; National Junior Swine Association; National Milk Producers Federation; National Pork Producers Council; National Potato Council; National Teach Ag Campaign; National Young Farmers Coalition; Pork Checkoff; Sigma Alpha Sorority; Sigma Kappa Sorority; The Block and Bridle Club; The National Agri-Marketing Association; U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance; and USA Rice Farmers.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and FFA 2017 State Presidents’ Conference officers.

Whether you are brand new to or have deep roots in agriculture and natural resources, we’re sure that you’ll learn something new from this roadmap. We’ll keep it updated as new opportunities arise, so be sure to keep checking back in. Discover where you best fit in these organizations and start making a difference today!