People often have misconceptions about what it means to be in FFA and the agriculture industry as a whole, but the truth is, agriculture is solving real-world problems by leaning into technology. Case in point: Microsoft.
“FFA is one of the best, if not the best, youth development organizations in the country, and I recognized that a long time ago growing up in rural Kansas,” says Mary Snapp, vice president of strategic initiatives at Microsoft. “I realized as I was at Microsoft leading global philanthropies that we weren’t investing enough in the great kids and great organizations like FFA.
“Besides that, agriculture is all about science, technology, engineering and math, and we really need to support that for our young people to have the jobs that are going to require that post-secondary work and some digital literacy going forward,” Snapp says. “Whether they work at Microsoft, whether they work at AGCO, whether they work at Corteva or whether they’re on their family operation, they are going to need some digital literacy.”
Microsoft is sharing that computer science message at the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo, and offering attendees the opportunity to work with its MakeCode and FarmBeats for Students platforms. Snapp says tools like these are the foundation to digital literacy. “It’s incredibly important for young people to get that basic understanding of how digital technology fits into whatever they do in agriculture, from the farm all the way to the retail.”
Article edited by FFA New Horizons editor Justin Davey.
Watch interview here.
