by Brad Michael
The Berkeley Springs FFA Alumni and Supporters organization was established one year ago to provide technical and financial assistance and support to the local Berkeley Springs FFA Chapter. FFA, also known as Future Farmers of America, is a national agriculture education organization.
The FFA is for students enrolled in the agricultural education program at their high school that provides a path for students to develop their talents and explore career opportunities in agriculture, agribusiness, and other related fields.
FFA has 1 million middle and high school students representing all 50 states. Their 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 Berkeley Springs FFA Alumni consists of six board members and 30 at-large members.
Over the last year, not only was the alumni organization chartered and established, it also successfully hosted membership drives, supported the local FFA chapter with activities, led professional development trips, assisted with and supported hosting a regional meeting at Berkeley Springs High School which consisted of 200 students from the West Virginia East region of FFA. It also supported efforts to send students to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana in both 2023 and 2024.
National FFA convention is an event that aims to help students develop leadership skills for college, careers and growing the next generation of leaders. Every year 60,000 FFA students from across the country embark on this opportunity to compete, learn, collaborate, and network.
Last year’s trip was the first in 25 years for Berkeley Springs FFA Chapter.
Join the chapter
The Alumni Chapter is growing and looking for interested members of the community to join the effort.
Members do not have to be an agricultural professional or have participated in FFA in the past, they just have to have an interest in helping youth and the local chapter grow and develop through vocational programs and opportunities that FFA provides.
Annual Dinner Nov. 2
The local Alumni Chapter will be hosting our annual benefit dinner and auction on November 2 at the American Legion in Berkeley Springs. A spaghetti dinner will be served from 4-7 p.m., with a benefit auction to follow from 7 to 8 p.m..
All proceeds from dinner and auction will go to the Berkeley Springs FFA Alumni and Supporters to be utilized to support the local High School Chapter of FFA.
Numerous ingredients offered at the dinner come from local producers from Morgan County and numerous businesses have donated items for auction. Join the FFA for a night of fun and supporting local youth as they grow and follow the FFA Motto of Learning to DO, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.
