Program teaches FFA members community leadership
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
simmet@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 05/06/2010 9:25 AM
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SPENCER, Iowa —Twenty-four northwest Iowa FFA members recently graduated from Learners to Leaders, a two-year leadership program.
The program is an initiative of Smithfield Foods Inc. and is designed to strengthen communities by giving young people opportunities to learn and then lead.
The recent graduation ceremony at the Clay County Events Center in Spencer marked the first time Smithfield has teamed up with the National FFA Foundation to offer the course.
Participating FFA Chapters were Laurens-Marathon, North Kossuth-Sentral, Sibley Ocheyedan, Graettinger-Terrill, Rock Valley Community and Sioux-Central.
Support and financial sponsorship was provided by Smithfield Foods and Murphy Brown. The National FFA provided administrative assistance and support.
Don and Marylou Ahrens taught the course. The couple farms near Osage. Marylou is also a registered dietitian, and Don has a doctoral degree and taught prior to returning to Osage to farm. Their daughter, Lisa Peterson, was National FFA president from 1998 to 1999.
"They were looking for a couple with backgrounds in agriculture, education and foods, who were also involved in the community and willing to work with young adults," Marylou Ahrens said. "They approached us, and we said, 'Yes.' "
The Ahrens developed the curriculum, which they based on the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development program and adapted it for teenagers.
Group members met once a month except when they traveled. They attended the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference and the National FFA Convention for two years, and they went to the Washington Leadership Conference.
During their Saturday sessions, they learned about agriculture around the country. Courses were offered on finance, etiquette, job interviews and applying for college scholarships. Community service was emphasized, and FFA chapters were encouraged to develop service projects.
Alan Witt, an Osage farmer and Murphy Brown Midwest environmental coordinator, said Murphy Brown deals with the live hog production side of Smithfield Foods. A large part of that business is in northwest Iowa.
Witt, who met the young people when they started, said it was amazing to see them grow during the course.
He urged FFA members to find a mentor who will "give you honest feed back," and to get involved in their communities.
"Companies hire attitude," Witt said. "Technology is key, but don't forget the little things."
"We taught them things to make them good responsible citizens," Marylou Ahrens said. "We're in awe of what these kids have done, and we can't wait to see what they're going to do in the future."
Don Ahrens said the class will be a success if members are sitting in a meeting some day, and they realize that something they learned is being put to use.
Marylou said FFA advisors are the unsung heroes of the program.
"They were there every step of the way, and we wouldn't have been successful without them," she said.
North Kossuth-Sentral FFA advisor Jason Holt said that the students he selected for Learners to Leaders were pretty quiet and reserved when they started.
"They have really opened up and taken charge," he said.
Clyde Johnson, FFA advisor at Laurens- Marathon, said the program was awesome.
"It gave students the opportunity to do things they wouldn't have been able to do without the program," he said. "It was great to see them grow and mature.