Everyone Plays in FFA

As too often happens in sports, the emphasis is solely on "winning".  At my 6th grade son's soccer game tonight, several kids played very, very little.  Even though the kids on the opposing team were substituted in and out like clockwork.  Of course, and unfortunately, my son's team won because the coaches focused solely on winning...rather than letting every kid play, grow, and improve...the coaches just wanted to win. 

In FFA, I have always felt that "picking the team before we practice" is the beauty of FFA.  With over 600 FFA programs, there is an almost unlimited opportunity to be "first string" in something.  Too often, kids that show up to practice every night rarely play on game night.

ALL kids want to be successful at something.  I hope that all FFA advisors work to find something in which every kid can be a a "starter".  With over 600 FFA programs, no student that wants to be involved should have to sit on the bench.

In the right context, hard, challenging, rigorous work can be FUN.  Used properly, FFA is the tool that makes the Ag Ed classroom fun.  (ie., FFA is the dangling carrot that tricks rabbits into learning more)