PARIS, Ky. – Two new FFA chapters were charged in Kentucky this year.  Bourbon County Middle School and St. Mary School (both in Paris, Ky.) were chartered.

Bourbon County Middle School has offered agricultural education classes off and on while St. Mary School, a private Catholic school with pre-school through middle school students, now offers agricultural education.

 Jenna Thompson, Bourbon County Middle School agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, was among those spearheading an effort to get an FFA chapter up and running at her school.

 “Kentucky has had an abundance of middle school FFA chapters chartered in the last five years and I definitely believe each one needs more career and technical programs at this grade level,” Thompson said. “FFA builds character, communication skills and leaders. At the middle school age, they’re discovering more of who they are, their interests, and soon they’ll be in high school. Providing them with skills ahead of time will help them be more successful in their high school endeavors.”

 Thompson’s own roots are well embedded in FFA. Being involved in FFA is a family tradition with Thompson and she often donned her father’s FFA jacket when she was growing up. She longed to wear the famous corduroy jacket once she reached high school. She fondly remembers her senior year when she walked across the stage at the National FFA Convention to receiver her American FFA Degree.

 “I was blessed to come from an agriculture program and FFA chapter where we had three amazing teachers and advisors,” Thompson said. “They made sure we had everything we needed to succeed. Each student deserves the same opportunity to have someone go above and beyond for them, too.”

 With the addition of these new chapters, Bourbon County now has four FFA chapters, making FFA a huge part of the county community.

 “Agriculture is the backbone of society,” Thompson said. “This industry provides us with food, clothes, medicine, goods, electricity and so much more. We need to know how to take care of ourselves and make smart choices about foods we put into our bodies. I also want the student to see that when they graduate from high school they realize there are so many opportunities in the industry besides production agriculture.”

 Thompson entered her advisory role with three goals: to make students feel welcome into the program, provide them with the tools to be successful, and become more involved in the community.

 “The community is the big thing,” she said. “These students one day will be the future leaders and help make Bourbon County even more successful. I want the members to be a part of great causes and give back.”

 Maranda Chaplin is the principal of St. Mary School. She also serves as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. Chaplin welcomes the new FFA chapter with open arms.

 “The idea of starting a middle school FFA chapter was sparked during a St. Mary Middle School Steering Committee meeting,” she said. “More than half of St Mary School families work directly in agriculture. Our parents saw the value of the three-circle model (classroom instruction, FFA and SAE) and the unique leadership opportunities it provides to our students. I’m glad to use my experience from the agricultural education profession and my teaching certification to provide these opportunities for our students.

 “I attended a Catholic high school that unfortunately didn’t have an agricultural education program and FFA chapter. However, I was very active in 4-H as a kid and grew up on a fourth-generation cattle farm. I was exposed to FFA by many of my friends. I joined the FFA Alumni as a high school student and volunteer as a supporter of FFA, even though I did not wear a blue jacket myself.”

 Chaplin has a degree in agriculture education. Once she obtained her degree and teaching certificate, she worked for a decade for the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) and traveled across the country working with agriculture teachers.

 “Working with agriculture teachers from across the nation allowed me to see the incredible impact agriculture teachers have on their students and community on a daily basis,” she said. “I honestly didn’t see myself heading into the classroom to teach agriculture. After NAAE, God led me to be principal of St. Mary School. Through expanding this school to offer a middle school agricultural education program, I’m excited to open new opportunities through premier leadership and personal growth for our students.”

 Chaplin says she’s excited to share diverse learning experiences and hands-on STEM applications through agriculture with her students.

 “Our goals for our chapter are to grow membership and provide students with priceless opportunities to grow as leaders,” Chaplin said. “We are excited to attend the Kentucky FFA Association’s middle school FFA camp this summer and elect officers for next school year.”

 The Kentucky FFA Association has 156 chapters, 144 of those at the high school level and 12 middle school chapters. More than 2,400 youth in grades 7-12 participate in FFA in Kentucky.