National FFA President Visits District 5

Urging students to find their passion in or outside of agriculture, National FFA President Clay Sapp visited Lexington-Richland School District Five FFA officers and agricultural studies students at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies (The Center) on Sept. 25.

The visit was part of a weeklong visit to South Carolina and Sapp’s nationwide tour of FFA chapters in 41 states. South Carolina was his last stop, leading to the National FFA conference in Louisville, Ky. in October. Sapp, a University of Florida student, said the National FFA Organization (formerly Future Farmers of America) is all about helping students define their goals and find solutions to the world’s food challenges.

“The passions of FFA members are so diverse. It can range from students who are really interested in Ag Mechanics and see the value in going to a technical career institution to students who want to be biologists or scientists and come up with new ways to feed the world,” said Sapp, who joined the FFA in 7th grade. “By 2050, there will be 9 billion people in the world … and that means that someone has to feed them. FFA members are more than ready to do that.”

Sapp’s visit included a breakfast meeting with school officials and agriculture leaders in South Carolina. He also gave a “motivational presentation” to District Five agricultural science students, using interactive games and crowd participation to urge students to strive to reach their full potentials.

“You’ve got to risk it to get the biscuit,” Sapp told the crowd of nearly 40.

Students like Adam Miller, a District Five FFA Chapter officer, said having the National FFA president visit The Center was an honor and encouragement to continue to grow The Center’s chapter. 

“I think it speaks volumes to the FAA and to Clay, and it’s been great to have him here,” Miller said. “I feel at The Center, we’re doing a good job. We’re growing steadily. This is our second year, and last year we had 30 something members. This year we have over 60 …Clay’s visit will help us continue to make our chapter great.” 

Housed at The Center, District Five’s FFA chapter signed its official charter last February with the National FFA Organization and has already received high honors. Two students from the District Five group were among the 38 top students from around the state selected for this summer’s South Carolina Commissioner’s School for Agriculture, an academic summer program coordinated by the state Department of Agriculture and Clemson University. District Five FFA members have also been awarded summer internships and three students traveled to Clemson in June for the state FFA’s three-day convention.