Claire Baney
Claire Baney
National FFA Week is just around the corner
National FFA week begins Feb. 17 and runs until Feb. 24.
The week gives FFA members the opportunity to spread awareness about what the organization is all about, as well as teach members of the community how much agriculture is involved in our daily lives and agriculture education in general.
Throughout the week, members will participate in different activities and service projects within their chapters.
The National FFA organization posts a list of suggested activities that each chapter can do throughout National FFA week on their website.
The seven Indiana state officers will be visiting different communities and schools throughout the state to talk to members and their communities.
Nationwide, FFA has 8,568 chapters with more than 653,000 members. In Indiana there are 212 chapters with more than 12,500 members involved.
Claire Baney, Indiana FFA State President and a Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, encourages everyone to join FFA.
“You don’t have to come from an AG background to become a member of FFA,” Baney said. “It’s easy for people to just think that.”
There is only one requirement to become a member of the FFA.
“To be an FFA member, you have to take an agriculture education class,” Kristy Meyer, FFA communications manager said.
FFA is an intercurricular organization. Members are required to take an agriculture education class. Anyone can join FFA as long as they take the AG education class, then the member can be as involved as they would like. FFA offers students an opportunity to learn about servant leadership and agricultural education.
Hamilton Southeastern schools, Sheridan schools, and Hamilton Heights schools are the only schools within the area that have FFA and AG programs.
Baney said she believes FFA is relevant to students today.
“It is relevant because it is a part of a career and technical education and there is a huge opportunity for agricultural positions,” Baney said. “It is also important to be an informed consumer.”
You can show your support to FFA on Give FFA Day Feb. 20th or by wearing blue on Feb. 23 for Wear Blue Day.
Claire Baney became a 2017 graduate from Hamilton Southeastern High School last spring. Now she is the 2017-2018 Indiana FFA State President.
Baney and her fellow Indiana state officers are currently living in the leadership center together, then all plan to head to Purdue University next year. Baney plans to double major in AG econ and animal sciences.
Baney joined Hamilton Southeastern’s FFA organization during her freshman year of high school. Baney had no agricultural background before she joined FFA.
Tom Younts, Hamilton Southeastern FFA chapter advisor, noticed the commitment and excitement Baney had for the organization from the start.
“She went to it like a duck to water,” Younts said. “She wanted to be involved in everything.”
Baney competed in multiple FFA contests, specifically speaking competitions, throughout her high school FFA career and earned second and third place awards a few times throughout her time in the organization.
Now she enjoys her duties as president and informing people about agriculture.
“People don’t always recognize that agriculture is so important.” Baney said. “It wouldn’t be possible to do what we do everyday without agriculture.”
Baney wanted to become a state officer for more than one reason.
“I became really passionate about educating people about agriculture.” Baney said. “I also wanted to continue to build relationships with FFA members too.”
Baney and her fellow officers attend chapter events and conferences throughout the state during the year. Each officer will be visiting a different section of Indiana during National FFA week coming up on February 17-24.
“I will be attending an FFA Olympics, bowling, breakfasts, and petting zoos when I travel during FFA week,” Baney said.
Baney only has a few more months before her time as president comes to an end, but has impressed her peers and colleagues so far.
“She’s about half way through her duty,” Younts said. “I think she’s done an outstanding job.”
Baney will introduce Gov. Eric Holcomb at the 2018 Indiana Leadership Prayer Breakfast Feb. 22.