WINONA LAKE – Community leaders listened to what the future may hold for the next generation during the eighth Barn & Business Breakfast held at the Winona Heritage Room Tuesday.
“This event was inspired by ag leaders who said they wanted to be at the table when community needs and issues were discussed. They wanted us to invite leaders from all industries. And they wanted to help educate the community about ag’s role in our economy,” said Steve Yeager, vice president of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation’s board of directors. “Since our first Barn & Business Breakfast in 2015, we have been bringing in speakers to talk about important community issues. Topics have included the need for high-speed internet, housing, child care and talent attraction/retention efforts, to name a few. Topics that are of interest to all of us, no matter our industry.
“I’m grateful to each of you who got up early this morning to join us for another important conversation – this one with a panel of some of the brightest students in our county, FFA members. Together, we’ll learn a bit more about their hopes and dreams for the future and how Kosciusko County can be the place they want to come back home to after they pursue higher education.”
During the event, attendees heard from four FFA members - Issiac Ramsey, Tippecanoe Valley; Rylan Cooper, Warsaw; Justine Ocken, Whitko; and Libby Haab, Wawasee - in a panel discussion, moderated by Scott Stump, CEO of the National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation.

    Pictured is Scott Stump, CEO of the National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union
  

Stump said Tuesday’s conversation was about how a community and educational system prepares the next generation.
Stump said, as of August, there were about 945,000 students in FFA nationwide. He said that number is a little out of date because this year the number is anticipated to be over 1 million members. Some of the goals for FFA is for students to develop personal growth and success.
Cooper said one of the things that has changed since he’s been in FFA and going to events is that he’s able to step out of his comfort zone. Haab said she was able to expand her confidence.
“I couldn’t have talked to a stranger, let alone come up here in front of a bunch of people. Being in FFA has just given me the confidence that I need to gain career success or just go out on my own,” Ocken said.
Stump said there is a job opening and labor turnover study that happens quarterly. As of the December study, the U.S. was 9 million short of the employees needed to grow businesses. Stump said only 1 in 3 high school students has a work experience before graduating high school. FFA thinks that needs to be different, so since the beginning in 1928, FFA has asked students to have a workplace experience, an entrepreneurship or research project outside of the classroom.
“We believe those experiences propel students into what’s next,” Stump said. He asked the FFA students what their career plans were.
Ramsey said he is planning on going to a trade school to be an electrician. He is working for an electrical business in Rochester.
Ocken said she is planning on studying art and business and wants to own her own studio.
Haab said she plans on attending Huntington University and studying animal science and agribusiness, focused on economics and finance. She wants to go into either livestock reproduction or some sort of agriculture finance.
Cooper said after he graduates high school, he plans on running for Indiana FFA state office. Regardless of whether he gets the position, Cooper said he plans on going to Purdue University and studying agriculture economics with a concentration in ag policy.
A study of recent graduates found that they would prefer not to move out of their home county or state, Stump said. He asked for the FFA member’s perspectives.
Haab said she’s not opposed to moving back to Kosciusko County after college, but the decision would be based on a career. She feels if she was offered an opportunity too good to take, that would be part of her decision. Cooper said the decision had to depend a lot on competition and what the job was going to be.
The FFA members also talked about some of the expectations they have in their future careers.
Haab said what she wants first is respect. The second thing she wants is an employer that gives constructive criticism and to know she has a future in the company.
Cooper said one of the things he was looking at was strong core values in the company and a good work/life balance.
Ramsey brought up the topics of insurance, competitive pay and being able to grow in the company.