Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week. While traditionally associated with agricultural pursuits, the organization changed its name in 1988 to reflect its ever-expanding role in education across a number of career and technical fields.
According to FFA Program Advisor and Broken Bow teacher Caleb tenBensel, today the Broken Bow Chapter of the FFA conducts educational activities and competes in areas from range judging to flower arrangement, and from agricultural biotechnology to forestry and ag sales.
“Agriculture is historically rooted in production practices, raising livestock, growing row crops, and that is still absolutely true today, and we’ve got a lot of students that are interested in those things. But over time, even from a national perspective, agriculture education and FFA have really made the push that, hey, this isn’t just a place to learn about these production practices: It’s a place to learn leadership skills, to learn research skills, to do those other things that you might not traditionally expect.”
Originally charted as a group in 1936, tenBensel told KCNI/KBBN that the Broken Bow Chapter is one of the oldest programs in the state.
“There’s a lot of multi-generational FFA families even in the program today, said tenBensel. “I’ve taught several students who their parents were members, their grandparents were members. A lot of them have seen different versions of the classroom just within the different school versions that we’ve had through the years.”
The clearest illustration of changes in the program was completed in the last year. The recent wrap-up of construction at the Broken Bow Middle School/High School has brought with it expanded facilities and expanded opportunities for the Career and Technical Education groups, including FFA.
Among the new activities sponsored by the Broken Bow FFA is the start up of small business enterprises, including a group that sells freeze-dried candy and other items.
“We also have another team of students that sought out sponsorships and grants to purchase a laser engraver. We’ve been making all sorts of different things using that. I anticipate those things are going to continue to grow,” said tenBensel. “With the additions and renovations added to the school building, I think there’s a lot of excitement that is surrounding the program right now.”
While rooted in its farm and ranch traditions, this week, the FFA program at Broken Bow Public Schools will surely take some time during National FFA Week this week to consider its continued trajectory of growth to meet the demands of an ever more complicated agricultural landscape.
Hear our full Public Affairs interview with FFA Advisor Caleb tenBensel, along with student and FFA Chapter President Logan Bell, here:
