FFA Visits Montana State Capital
 | Author:
Mikayla Kraft, School Correspondent
MT43 News School Correspondent |
FFA Visits Montana State Capital Mikayla Kraft, School Correspondent Our FFA chapter, as well as many other CTSOs (Career and Technical Student Organization), had the opportunity to visit the Capitol Building in Helena, MT to represent FFA as a CTSO. We put together a board representing FFA. Ashley Sanderson and I presented to many legislators and many other political members. I had the opportunity to learn more about Montana’s political history from Reagan Long, the vice president of the Shields Valley FFA chapter, and I got to meet people such as Russ and Lorrie Miner and Julie Dooling from the Montana House of Representatives; the Attorney General, Austin Knudsen; and even, Governor Greg Gianforte.
As the next generation of leaders and agriculturalists, both FFA and our other CTSOs are highly important to how the younger generations can be prepared to make tomorrow better economically, financially, (and for our CTSO specifically) agriculturally. This can only be made possible if we have the funding to thrive as a CTSO, so we can have all of the resources we need to make ourselves, the community, and our nation better.
Mr. Greg Oblander, Lola Sheldon-Galloway, Steven Galloway, and Josh Kassmier presented House Bill 382, which can be an exciting game-changer for all CTSOs. House Bill 382 holds the goal to strengthen our state-wide Career and Technology student organizations by providing more funding. The state aims to appropriate $1.5 million from the general fund to state-approved CTSOs from all around Montana.
To be eligible for this funding, the state CTSO needs also to be affiliated with a national organization. This is going to be in effect by July 1, 2023.
Representing our FFA chapter, Ms. Sanderson and I were eager to support this bill and give our legislators the student view of why House Bill NO. 382 was such an amazing bill. As FFA members, this could give us a better opportunity to enhance our in-class and out-of-class learning so we can further our knowledge to give back to our community when we embrace adulthood in the near future.
Ashley is a freshman in high school, just scratching the surface of what FFA can do for herself and future generations, “I had heard people talk about [these opportunities] and thought it would be more of an officer deal… I would definitely do this again because it really can make a difference when you talk to state officials about something so important… FFA has helped me a lot just in my freshman year and I find it important that others recognize that,” Ashley mentioned just a few days after the CTSO event. Without support from our community and state, the endeavors we pursue today could not be possible. House Bill NO. 382 could not be made possible. As our FFA chapter continues to learn and give back to our community, we recognize that “the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years,” (The FFA Creed by E.M Tiffany).
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PhotoCredit: Mikayla Kraft
Image 1 Caption: Governor Gianforte, Mikayla Kraft, Ashlee Sanderson
