Eleven representatives from the Future Farmers of Ukraine attended the 91st Missouri FFA Convention to learn more about U.S. agriculture and the National FFA Organization.

“It’s really exciting to see them come over here for the first time to witness the magnitude of the FFA,” said Jon Simonsen, University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) associate professor and director of graduate studies of the agricultural education and leadership department. “I don’t think people really understand the importance of this because this is their first step in establishing a Future Farmers of Ukraine organization.”

For the past few years, the Ukrainian Agrarian Council led a project to develop a Future Farmers of Ukraine organization patterned after the National FFA Organization in the U.S.

SHARED INTEREST: Students and representatives from the Futures Farmers of Ukraine bear their country and organization flag on stage at the Missouri FFA Convention. The students are (from left to right) Vladyslav Koseniuk, Dmytro Horodnichev, Kateryna Krasovska, Ivan Yalovchuk and Antonii Radzivilov.

The organization’s goal is to develop teen leaders who will promote Ukranian agriculture on local, national and global scales.

State connection

FFU established a relationship with the University of Missouri agricultural education department with the hopes of learning more about the link between FFA and agricultural education so similar practices can be implemented within the FFU.

“It’s amazing to see their passion for agriculture and their eagerness to learn more so that they can take this knowledge back to the Ukraine to help start their own organization,” said Brandelyn Martin, teaching assistant in the MU CAFNR agricultural education and leadership department. “We know that Missouri FFA was with them every step of the way in order to make this happen.”

Representatives from the FFU were introduced during the third session of the 91st Missouri FFA Convention. The delegation exchanged gifts with the Missouri state officer team. Both groups also exchanged flags from their respective organizations.

The Ukrainian delegation will spend 10 days in the U.S. In addition to their time at the Missouri FFA Convention, the students also will visit Litton Agriscience Learning Center in Chillicothe, Mo., and stay in the homes of Tipton FFA members.

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