Illinois FFA president urges Farm Bureau members to see — and be seen

CHICAGO — Whether it’s the familiar blue and gold corduroy jackets of FFA, the green 4-H shamrock or just that certain “something,” those who work in agriculture are visible.

That was the message that Rachel Hood, Illinois FFA president, shared with guests at the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting.

“They see you,” said Hood, a student from Rushville-Industry High School in McDonough County.

Hood and fellow members of the Illinois FFA leadership team, including Derek Sample, Levi Maierhofer, Haley Bode and Kate Colgan, along with representatives from the Illinois 4-H leadership teams, presented the colors at the Saturday evening session of the IFB annual meeting.

Hood reminded the IFB members and their families that even on Chicago’s streets, they are representing — their farms, their business, their community and, ultimately, their industry.

“Whether you are in a blue jacket or not, people recognize your involvement in agriculture. They see you as producers, animal caretakers and ground cultivators. As we step out in our communities, local businesses and even the city of Chicago, we are advocating for agriculture,” she said.

The theme of the 108th annual meeting was “Progress Starts Here.” Hood highlighted a major point of progress for Illinois FFA — an increase in membership in young people participating in Illinois FFA.

“I am ecstatic to announce that our membership has grown from 23,000 to 36,000 FFA members. This spike in membership comes from Illinois FFA becoming a fully-affiliated state with National FFA, meaning every student enrolled in an agricultural education course is automatically an FFA member in Illinois,” she said.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture pays $550,000 to cover the FFA dues for every student taking an agriculture class in the state.

That removes the burden from individual FFA chapters and from students and their families.

“As FFA members, we understand any time we wear our blue corduroy jackets, we are advocating for something larger than ourselves. We are representing the FFA brand, the brand of agriculture as a whole,” Hood said.

She said guests can carry the “progress” theme to their homes, farms and communities.

“I asked myself where progress starts. I believe that, for both Illinois FFA and Illinois Farm Bureau, progress starts with advocacy. As agriculturalists, we all, in one way or another, are advocates for agriculture,” she said.

Hood also reminded guests that progress starts with action.

“In the quickly changing world we live in, progress and change is a constant. If we, as agriculturalists, want to see progress move in our favor, we have to take action in advocating,” she said.

That means continuing to connect with people who are not involved in agriculture.

“We are responsible for tearing down barriers and misconceptions, serving as reliable sources of information, sharing our stories and being our own best advocates. Progress starts with all of us and it starts with advocacy in action,” Hood said.