CROOKSTON, Minn. - Liz Fisher wanted to expand her horizons. A relatively new FFA program helped her do that.
"I wanted to see more of the world than my own little home town. This program is helping me do that. And I've met people who will be my friends my entire FFA career and longer," said Fisher, a resident of Trimont, Minn., who begins her junior year of high school this year.
Fisher is one of 25 participants in the 2018 Minnesota FFA InTENse program. It seeks to help students beginning or exiting the 10th grade - reflected in the program's name - to explore college and career options. The week-long program, which began July 16, visited the campuses of seven colleges across Minnesota, where the 25 student-participants met with college officials and examined potential ag careers.
Minnesota high school students, even ones interested in agriculture, may not realize everything the state has to offer, said Julie Tolosky, Minnesota FFA executive secretary.
"We want to give these students opportunities to help them decide for themselves what they like and what's important to them. In a perfect world, this experience will allow all these kids to come away knowing that whatever they like and whatever they enjoy, they can do that job in Minnesota agriculture and that they can prepare for that career in a Minnesota state college," Tolosky said.
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The 10th grade was selected because it gives students at least two and possibly three more years to take the high school classes - particularly math and science - needed to prepare themselves for college classes connected to the career, such as veterinary medicine, that they're considering.
Agweek visited with Fisher and Tolosky July 17 when the program visited the University of Minnesota Crookston.
The stop in Crookston allowed students to learn more about what UMC offers, as well as ag career opportunities in general, said Richard Johnson, an assistant professor of ag education at UMC.
Though geared primarily for FFA members, several of the 25 student-participants are not FFA members but have other ties to agriculture, such as 4-H membership. Organizers of the week-long program wanted to make it available to young people who might not live in an area with an FFA chapter, Tolosky said.
FFA serves people interested in agriculture and leadership. Founded in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, the organization changed its name to FFA in 1988 to reflect the growing diversity of the agricultural industry.
Today, FFA's emphasis on leadership, personal growth and career success through ag education is boosting membership nationwide, with much of the growth coming in inner-city chapters in places such as Chicago and New York City. FFA's national membership now stands at about 665,000.
Minnesota FFA has about 11,000 members, a number that's also growing, Tolosky said.
FFA InTENse was developed in New York. Tolosky, who once worked for New York FFA, brought the program with her to Minnesota. This is the second year the program has been offered in Minnesota.
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Broader perspective
Trimont, a town of about 750 in extreme south-central Minnesota, was once two different towns, Triumph and Monterey. The two eventually joined, taking the first letters in their name to form Trimont.
"I don't see a lot of my diversity in my hometown," Fisher said. "And I feel strongly the need to understand other people," which the FFA InTENse program helps her do,
Fisher, who lives on a cattle and grain farm, has a passion for music and wants to pursue that in college and beyond.
"But I also love ag and I need to find something ag-related (for a future career). So coming on this trip, I can learn more about what's out there," she said.
Fisher encouraged other Minnesota high school students to consider applying for the InTENse program next year.
"If you don't know yet what you want to do, if you want to get out there and explore, this is the best way I've ever been introduced to more places," he said.
To learn about FFA InTENse in Minnesota, go to www.mnffa.org .
