NOT JUST FOR FARMERS
"FFA?" I looked at Tabby doubtfully, "What is that? Future Freaks of America?"
Tabby laughed,"No! Its Future Farmers of America."
"Oh." I said "I see." But I didn't. I had spent the first 9 years of my life in Sterling Hieghts and the surrounding area. Every thing about me said "city." Oh yeah, I was city alright. To me Lapeer was just a code name for Hicksville.
I wasn't Happy about moving here. Anyone could tell you that. I almost refused to talk to any one on the account they wouldn't know what I was talking about. My vocab tended to vary slightly from theirs.
All through in elementary my favorite thing to do was to go back to Sterling Heights. I loved seeing the things Lapeer doesn't have, nor would Lapeer even consider having. And so I continued to go to Sterling Heights not once thinking about what was in Lapeer.
But when Tabby said "FFA" I was interested. I realized then why I always felt separate and like an outcast. I had lived and gone to school in Lapeer for 6 Years and I still didn't know how to find my way around. Now I understood, or sort of.
I asked more about FFA. It sounded ok, besides the fact that farmers would be there. So I decided to go.
My first night I saw guys in tight jeans. I saw people in muddy clothes. I saw weird hair that wasn't spiked. And I saw people who were having fun! When class started I was lost, completely. Drainage? Rye? Help? Could anyone speak english?
Having my friend, Tabby, around really helped. But I still need a farmer to city girl translating dictionary. After that first night I talked to my Grandma and Grandpa Friedli, who use to be farmers back in the day. I read up a bit on agriculture. And my problem was that I still wasn't into this. I had to try. I browsed, furrowed, and hunkered down to study FFA. Then it all fell into place. I understood.
FFA opened my eyes and I realized that Lapeer was not just "Hicksville." The night I understood everything was the night I came home with a feeling that I had never obtained here. I felt like I BELONGED. And the outcast became part of the acting cast. There are other ways of life besides, music, hanging around, and playing roller hockey in the Suburb Streets. I needed FFA to show me that. And it did.
By: Shanna Freidli

What is FFA?
The FFA Mission-
FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

the benifits of joining ffa-

Make new friends
Helps you become a leader
Many Traveling oppertunities
Earn many awards and even a few cash prizes
get to be part of a team
have fun
helps to make positive choices
good oppertunity to serve your community
helps target career success

FFA is a National Organization that Reaches from the state of Maine to Hawii, and from the state of Alaska to Puerto Rico. It is the largest youth organtization in the world and was started 74 years ago in the city of Kansas City, Missouri. At the first convention there were 64 delegates from 33 states, now days there are around 4,000 delegates from 50 states plus the US taritories. The FFA colors of Corn gold and National blue were adopted in 1929.The official creed was adopted in 1930 and the jacket was adopted in 1933.
When first started FFA stood for Future Farmers of America. However, in 1988 the name was changed to The National FFA Organization, because FFA wasn't only for farming anymore. There is a wide range of topics included in FFA. Such as Landscape, Forestry, or even ag-Diesal Mechanics.

Links to Other FFA Sites
My Links