By Matt de Simone
This year marks a historic milestone for agricultural education across the Commonwealth: 100 years of the Future Farmers of America in Virginia. From its earliest beginnings at Virginia Tech to today’s diverse and far-reaching programs, FFA has shaped generations of students through leadership, service, and hands-on learning— values still deeply rooted in Botetourt County schools.
The story of Virginia FFA began in September 1925, when four individuals— Henry Groseclose, Edmund C. Magill, Walter Newan, and Harry Sanders— came together at Virginia Tech to form what would become one of the largest student organizations in the country. Just months later, the Future Farmers of Virginia (FFV) was born. For two years, the organization grew within the state, bringing together students who shared a passion for agriculture and farm life.
In 1928, FFV became the Future Farmers of America (FFA), expanding into a national organization that connected students from across the country. From the beginning, FFA was forward thinking for its time. The organization promoted integration during the civil rights movement, welcomed women as members in 1969, and in 1988 adopted the name National FFA Organization to better reflect the diversity of modern agriculture.
Today, the National FFA Organization includes more than 800,000 students across all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its mission remains focused on agricultural education “from the field to the classroom and all things in between,” offering students opportunities to build skills, friendships, and a lifelong connection to agriculture.
Photos courtesy of RMMS FFA
That mission is alive and well in Botetourt County, where four FFA chapters serve students at Lord Botetourt High School, James River High School, Read Mountain Middle School, and Central Academy Middle School.
At Lord Botetourt High School, FFA has been part of the school’s identity since it opened in 1959. According to agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor Stuart Byrd, the chapter transferred its charter from Troutville High School, which was originally granted on March 11, 1935.
The FFA has a motto, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve,” Byrd said. “FFA members throughout history have strived to live up to this motto by learning through hands-on experiences to gain the experience needed.”
Students at Lord Botetourt participate in Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, which Byrd described as opportunities to gain “real world work experience and better prepare them to proceed to higher education.” Those experiences span agricultural mechanics, plant science, food preservation, and livestock care, with students actively involved in everything from welding and woodworking to raising crops and caring for beef cattle and poultry.
Community service has long been central to the chapter’s work. Over the years, Lord Botetourt FFA members have supported local organizations through chicken barbecues, food donations, and service projects, including Toys 4 Bot-E-Tots, Limestone Park Ministries, school athletic programs, and the Bonsack-Blue Ridge Ruritan Club. The chapter has also developed a scholarship fund to support members continuing their education.
In competition, Lord Botetourt students have earned state champion titles in events including Public Speaking, Forestry, Livestock, Soils, Small Engines, Agricultural Mechanics, and Tractor Troubleshooting.
“The 100-year milestone mark means a lot to our chapter because it shows that the FFA is a important part of our community,” Byrd said. “It provides members an opportunity to look back and meet individuals that are now community leaders that wore ‘the Blue Jacket’ that has remained pretty much the same since the FFA was founded.”
At Read Mountain Middle School, FFA introduces students to agriculture at a formative age. Agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor Hope Kuczmarski emphasized that the middle school program focuses on leadership, personal growth, and career exploration.
“The main goals of an FFA chapter are to promote premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education,” Kuczmarski said. “Middle school can be a hard time for many students, and FFA creates a support environment where students can find their sense of belonging.”
Read Mountain FFA members participate in leadership conferences, career development events such as Meats Judging, Plant Science, and Ag Mechanics, and attend both the Virginia State FFA Convention and the National FFA Convention. Community service projects and hands-on activities— like maintaining garden beds and participating in the chapter’s wreath sale— connect classroom learning to real-world applications.
“One thing to note is that agricultural education is comprised of the three-circle model consisting of FFA, Classroom/Lab, and Supervised Agricultural Experiences,” Kuczmarski said. “In order to have a strong agricultural education program, all three components have to work together.”
For Kuczmarski, the most powerful impact of FFA at the middle school level comes down to connection and confidence.
“I really think it all boils down to one major point: a sense of belonging,” she said. “There is no one way to be in FFA. Students have the freedom to be who they are and pursue what types of things they enjoy without pressures to act like or be someone they aren’t.”
She described a recent FFA Day at the Capitol trip as especially meaningful, watching students interact professionally with state leaders. “I was awestruck at how professionally my students interacted with everyone we met,” she said.
Looking ahead, Botetourt County FFA students are finding fun ways to mix tradition, service, and a little friendly competition. During National FFA Week, Read Mountain Middle School FFA will host a “Kiss the Cow” fundraiser to help send students to the State FFA Convention this summer. From Monday through Thursday, Feb. 23-26, students will vote for various staff members, with the winning vote-getter puckering up during lunches on Friday, Feb. 27. The same week, students will also put their hands-on skills to work by making dog leashes in their agriculture classes to donate to RCACP, turning FFA Week into a blend of laughter, learning, and community service.
Additionally, both chapters at James River High School and Central Academy Middle School remain an important part of agricultural education in Botetourt County. Their work is led by sponsors Kate Chilcott at James River and Susan Shultz at Central Academy, who continue to support students through FFA programming and leadership development.
Behind the student-led work in Botetourt County is a strong network of community support. The Botetourt County FFA Alumni and Supporters organization, formed in 2012, helps strengthen local FFA programs through financial, logistical, and educational assistance. Originally created to support the county’s four FFA chapters, the organization later expanded its efforts to include Botetourt’s 4-H programs as well.
Today, the organization includes more than 70 members and provides funding for camps, competitions, conferences, and other needs. Alumni also assist with transportation, mentorship, and real-world learning opportunities by connecting students with community members.
As a nonprofit, the group hosts several fundraisers each year, including a silent auction at the annual Youth Ag Expo and a 50/50 raffle at the county fair, ensuring continued support for both FFA and 4-H members.
One hundred years after its founding in Virginia, FFA continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. In Botetourt County, that legacy lives on through classrooms, competitions, service projects, and the unmistakable blue jackets worn proudly by its members— past, present, and future.
