Burlington FFA reflects on its first year

Burlington High School celebrated a landmark decision in the fall of 2024. After strong lobbying by parents, the high school added an agriculture program and an FFA chapter to the school class roster. What was it like to be the groundbreakers during that time?

Burlington ag teacher and FFA advisor Kylie Carson looked at it this way: “It was really fun, a little scary, kind of different. It took some time to figure out what worked for our chapter.”

Carson, a first year teacher herself, started from ground zero to build the program and the chapter. “We are an affiliated chapter, which means that every student in the agriculture program in the school is also basically a member of the FFA chapter if they want to be involved. It was exciting to see the students getting involved. We will have four steers at fair this year and some of the chapter showing horses.”

Not all the members are showing stock. Not that they aren’t involved in livestock, they are involved in a different way. 

Joe Bassett isn’t taking any animals to fair, but does have them on the family farm, and his goal is to have a small herd of beef cattle soon. 

“I was more involved in livestock judging and farm business management,” Joe said. “I enjoyed the opportunities that FFA gave me to expand my knowledge and experience.” 

Joe, who was the sentinel this last year, saw a lot of growth in the chapter as well as himself. “It was exciting to see more kids get involved,” He said. “We had a lot of positive interactions. We all enjoyed trying new things and learning life skills.”

This fall Burlington FFA will enter its second year. Carson is looking forward to even more students getting involved to explore all that the FFA organization and agriculture have to offer.