Feature
Growing Communities
FFA Members Put Agricultural Skills to Work
Across the country, agricultural education is helping students do far more than learn about crops, livestock, or the logistics behind our food supply.
In classrooms, greenhouses, school gardens, and more, FFA members are building practical agricultural skills, discovering career pathways, and strengthening the places they call home.
Today’ s FFA experience reflects the full scope of modern agriculture. For some students, that means learning about soil science or plant systems. For others, it means exploring leadership, education, mechanics, forestry, or agricultural communications. No matter the setting, the common thread is hands-on learning that helps students connect what they study in the classroom to the real world.
Golden Valley FFA
Members of Golden Valley FFA in California are learning turf and sports field management, gaining practical experience in lawn care and sports turf maintenance, and being introduced to career opportunities they may not have considered before.
This program is even more special for the way it brings agriculture into a familiar environment. Many of the students are athletes learning to care for the same types of fields they play on. Through the class, they begin to understand that a well-maintained playing surface is not just about appearance.
Golden Valley FFA
It involves soil health, irrigation, mowing, plant science, and long-term planning. And this lesson comes to life at places they recognize, including the Pebble Beach golf course, Oracle Park( home of the San Francisco Giants), and the University of Southern California football field, the Coliseum.
For students who haven’ t grown up around production agriculture, this kind of experience can be an important entry point.
It illustrates that agriculture is connected to their daily lives. A football field, baseball diamond, or soccer pitch can become
6 | 800-247-2000 | 515-955-1600 | September 2026