CANYON, TEXAS -- FFA is the largest youth organization in the world.
It offers students an opportunity to learn about livestock, but also business skills for the future.
In fact, Canyon High School's FFA Association just received a huge honor. Pronews 7 is featuring the group in this week's Region 16 Spotlight Education report.
The Future Farmers of America are about more than just animals. The Association is also giving students some valuable stuff.
"It teaches us leadership skills, it teaches us how to work with animals through agriculture, it teaches us real life skills that we theorize in our classes," said Tyler Mogford, Canyon High School Sophomore.
For example, students learn not only how to run a feed store, but also the nutrition animals need, and about exports and imports and money management.
"We have career development events where we learn to judge dairy cattle, then there is your horse judging then you have farm business management where you learn how to financially run a business or a farm," said Mogford.
Recently, the group won third place in the State FFA Leadership Development Events. A huge honor.
Students were able to talk with Congressman Mac Thornberry, the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture Todd Staples, and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus.
"It shows that our chapter is getting strong, it shows the community we're actually doing something and it makes people think, wow, they're going to be the future leaders of our country," said Mogford.
The Association also gives students an opportunity to receive thousands of dollars in scholarship money.
It's a group of students who demonstrate leadership and business skills and community outreach, all while earning their high school diplomas.
The Association also gives back to the community.
In fact, they'll be sponsoring a hole for the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Golf Tournament, and most recently had a stuffed animal drive to benefit Eveline Rivers Christmas Project.
