North Dakota FFA and 4-H Help Turn Today’s Youth Into Tomorrow’s Leaders

In partnership with: North Dakota Department of Agriculture

Members of North Dakota’s Velva FFA Chapter are making their city even better for future generations. In August 2020, Velva FFA members planted a community orchard with apple trees, cherry trees, plum trees, honeyberry shrubs and grapevines. Even though it will take years to see the fruits of their labor, they hope once the new orchard begins bearing fruit, it will be enjoyed by all members of the Velva community.

“For the past two summers, the main focus for our FFA chapter was watering the trees and shrubs throughout the growing season so they will successfully grow,” says Christine Fannik, the chapter’s adviser. “We hope by summer 2022 we will have some produce growing in our orchard. Our goal is to use the orchard as both a learning tool for agriculture classes and a community service opportunity for the Velva community once the trees and shrubs start bearing fruit.”

See more: North Dakota Offers Unique Foods Grown Locally

Velva FFA planted the orchard with grant funds awarded by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. They were also awarded grant money to install a fence around the orchard perimeter. FFA members watered the orchard by hand weekly until summer 2021, when a permanent water tank was donated.

“A couple of our members took the initiative to design a dripline irrigation system to implement into the orchard to make watering the trees and shrubs easier and more efficient,” Fannik says. “A pump to power the irrigation system was donated as well.”

Learning to Lead and Serve

Velva FFA’s community orchard is one example of how North Dakota’s youth-centered programs, including FFA and 4-H, are helping teens become leaders in their communities.

Hannah Nordby started her journey in 4-H at age 8 when she joined the Roughrider 4-H Club in Slope County. She showed livestock at the North Dakota State Fair, participated in livestock judging and became a State 4-H Ambassador. Nordby now co-leads the North Dakota State 4-H Ambassadors and works as Adams County’s Extension agent for North Dakota State University.

“My 4-H club became family, and that family grew to include my club, community, country and world,” says Nordby, who even experienced 4-H in Thailand and Taiwan through the International 4-H Youth Exchange program. “Now, as an agent, I pull from all those experiences to best promote 4-H and the vast opportunities available through 4-H to youth in my county and across the state. I would not be where or who I am today without 4-H.”

North Dakota 4-H prepares youth for the workforce and life after high school by allowing them to explore their interests through hands-on projects and experiences.

“For the past two summers, the main focus for our FFA chapter was watering the trees and shrubs throughout the growing season so they will successfully grow.” 

– Christine Fannik, Velva FFA chapter adviser

“Giving the opportunity to dive deeper into specific interests through various project areas enables youth to try new things and determine what they do and don’t enjoy,” Nordby says. “Exploring these areas can help guide them as they determine what type of career best aligns with their interests, passions, strengths and goals.”

Like FFA, 4-H members serve their communities through group projects. In Bowman County, 4-H club members place flags on the gravestones of veterans every Veterans Day. In Adams County, the East Adams Roughriders 4-H club bakes goodies to deliver to nursing homes and elderly community members during the holiday season. Adams County 4-H members have also cleaned up the fairgrounds, painted trash cans and raised money to purchase and install a 9-hole disc golf course at the public park in Hettinger. Slope County 4-H members implemented a backpack program in their school to send home food for students who needed to supplement their pantry.

“Youth are empowered to be mentors to younger members by helping during club meetings and assisting in different projects,” she says. “When it comes to showing livestock, I see older youth teaching younger members proper techniques. Communication arts and public speaking are other examples where youth practice presenting themselves in a respectable manner and properly articulating their message. 4-H provides countless opportunities for youth to hone those skills, which will set them above the rest when it comes to presenting or interviewing.”

Reaching Full Potential 

In Bismarck, Nikki Fideldy-Doll works as state adviser for North Dakota FFA and says FFA laid a foundation for her success by developing her potential for leadership, personal growth and career success. 

“The experiences FFA offered pushed me to become the first in my family to graduate with a college degree,” she says. “If someone would have told me as a freshman I would someday serve as the first female state FFA adviser, I wouldn’t have believed them. Zipping up my FFA jacket gave me skills and opportunities I will be forever grateful for.”

See more: North Dakota Students Prepare to Take on the Ag Jobs of the Future

FFA and agricultural education teach students how to be informed consumers of food, fiber and fuel. They also prepare students to be college and career-ready by helping them discover their potential through hands-on experiences.

“It has been said teachers are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet,” Fideldy-Doll says. “Agriculture education and FFA not only prepare our future farmers but also our future scientists, engineers, technicians, teachers and more. The future of the world is in our agricultural education classrooms.”