(To the tune of The Monkee’s theme song) “Here they come, walking down the street, get the funniest looks from everyone they meet … Hey, Hey, it’s the FFA.”

This week the streets of Indianapolis will be filled with groups of young people in blue jackets as the 83rd National FFA Convention comes to town. While this is the fifth year the convention has been in the Circle City, for most residents of Indianapolis the FFA is still an enigma.

While the convention and its attendees enjoy a good reputation among the natives, there is a decided lack of understanding about what FFA is, what FFA does, and why all those teenagers are here.
Some local media outlets still mistakenly refer to the organization as the “Future Farmers of America,” adding to the misperception. Hotels, restaurants, merchants, and taxi drivers love to see the annual blue and gold invasion, but they are mystified by “official dress” and bewildered by polite, articulate, and well-mannered, young people.

While the National FFA organization is headquartered in Indianapolis, the organization remains a well-kept secret.
This is primarily because there are very few FFA chapters in the metro area. To my knowledge, there is only one in the city itself. Secondly, Indianapolis is not a very agri-centric community. That is, agriculture is not something that is part of the lives of those who live in Naptown.

While a significant percentage of FFA members do not come from farms, still the organization is at the heart an agricultural organization. A large number of FFA members are preparing for careers in some field related to agriculture. It is a fact of life that FFA chapters play a larger and more visible role in rural communities than in urban areas.

This is unfortunate because FFA and the students that fill its ranks have a story to tell, one that the folks in Indianapolis need to hear. I am not just talking about the story of agriculture, although the people of Indy certainly need to hear that story, I am talking about the other purpose of FFA: Leadership development.

The FFA is one of the most successful organizations when it comes to building leadership skills in young people. Whereas, only 30 percent of high school students in Indianapolis actually graduate from high school. The FFA is a powerful testimony to what hard work, teacher involvement, and strict discipline and order can achieve.

The FFA members who get to come to National Convention are the best of those leaders and are a powerful example of what FFA, with a required dress code, strictly structured meetings, advisor support, and student leadership, can achieve. The average FFA chapter stands in sharp contrast to the permissive, self-esteem-centered atmosphere of most public schools.

Each year as I interview bright enthusiastic young people in blue jackets at the FFA Convention, my hope is renewed that the next generation is more a bunch of texting, tweeting, iPhone-toting, Halo-playing dweebs. This year my faith in high-school-aged humanity was rekindled when I met Morgan Dawson.

A native of Scott County Ind., she did not grow up on a farm and had never considered agriculture as a career until her freshman year of high school she took an elective course called the Fundamentals of Agriculture. Today she is the Indiana FFA state president and her poise, confidence and maturity belie her age.
I would like to see FFA showcase some of its members to the Indianapolis community. It would help Hoosiers understand not only what FFA is but also the contribution it makes to our society.
The FFA Convention is more than just a bunch of “hayseed farm kids come to the big city to party.” These are the future leaders of industry and community. They have a lot to offer, even if they don’t know who The Monkees are.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Gary Truitt may write to him in care of this publication.