Meet one of our AGS Gamma Chapter alumni members and FFA member involved at all levels, Mike Barrett!
What chapter were you a part of in FFA? What leadership roles were you involved in?
I was a member of the Mead FFA Chapter where I served as chapter reporter and vice president. I had the opportunity to participate in a multitude of leadership and development activities during my time in the chapter, including numerous individual speaking and judging contests and many team competitions, such as parliamentary procedure. I was fortunate to participate in and win two state speaking contests: wildlife speaking as a junior and public speaking as a senior. I also traveled to Washington D.C. as part of the National FFA Washington Conference Program following my junior year; a Program that I would help lead as a counselor four years later.
While serving as State FFA President in 1983-84, I always felt that I was also representing my own Mead Chapter in the process and carried that in my heart as I performed my duties. Likewise, as a National FFA Vice President in 1984-85, I continued to feel the grounding and pride associated with representing my home state of Nebraska, my University and, of course, my Alpha Gamma Sigma brothers.
What is one FFA experience that shaped you the most?
It's difficult to select one, because there were so many benchmark experiences during my time in the organization. I recall finishing in second place as a sophomore in the district wildlife speaking contest and then being incredibly motivated to pursue and excel in the competition the following year. I then committed myself to weeks of studying and researching the topic (which was "Who Deserves the Right to Water?"), and I even attended a Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment meeting to learn as much as I could about the issues surrounding water management and allocation. My preparation helped me feel confident and ready to answer questions about the topic in the local, district and state speaking contests.
That experience certainly helped to shape my appreciation early on for the time and the work and the commitment that are necessary if you want to be truly prepared for a challenge or to achieve a goal.
How did FFA influence your decision to pursue agriculture in college and even now?
My experience in FFA has played a significant role in all of my professional career choices, both directly and indirectly. Through my many opportunities in the organization, I observed numerous individuals who were making a difference in their communities through their work and influence, whether it was in production agriculture or another trade that either supported or benefitted from the industry. I have worked for an agricultural chemical company, an agricultural trade association, several law firms and a government agency. In some of my roles, I have worked directly in agriculture. While in other roles, I have occasionally found myself in the position of needing to enlighten some of my colleagues on the significance of agriculture in our daily lives. Wherever my career has taken me, I have been able to draw on the knowledge and experience I gained through FFA.
What role did AGS play in continuing or expanding the foundation FFA gave you?
Joining AGS was a natural choice for me. Given my farm background and obligations as State FFA President, I felt a tremendous comfort with the house when I signed, knowing that many of the AGS members and alumni came from a similar background and that FFA was very familiar to them. I was fortunate to have new-member brothers and upperclassmen who were supportive of me while fulfilling my State FFA Officer (and later National FFA Officer) obligations. I also saw the significant, positive influence that FFA membership had on the AGS Chapter. Meetings were efficient and generally well managed, and decisions were made after the opportunity for input from everyone. There was an appreciable decorum that existed, for which I give the influence of FFA a large portion of the credit.
What advice would you give current AGS members who came from FFA?
My advice is to embrace your experiences gained from FFA and to continue to build and develop your leadership and communication skills; these same skills will be important and apply in a multitude of ways in the future. FFA, along with the AGS Aspire Program, are foundation-building opportunities which require continued development and nurturing, but offer countless personal and professional advantages that not everyone has the chance to enjoy.
