State FFA President Kirby Schmidt of Ghent

By Gayle VanVooren

“Very excited,” Schmidt said when asked about  Minneota’s newly organized FFA Chapter. “A lot of adults in the community were in FFA, and now their kids have the chance to belong to it,” said Schmidt.
Schmidt added, “FFA is not  about cows, sows or plows anymore. Agriculture is so much more than that. It’s all the horticulture, nursery and landscaping, ag science and ag business. There are actually over 350 jobs in agriculture right now.”

He’s become an advocate for the FFA program as he travels around the state talking with students about the program.He does this while at-tending the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, as a student in the Agriculture Education field.
“My main focus is working and encouraging students in connection with agriculture,” said Schmidt.

“I travel all over the State to help kids realize what FFA is all about.”
Schmidt got started in the FFA program while a sophomore at Marshall High School. He hadn’t been able to take agriculture classes until that point due to scheduling conflicts.
New instructor Paul Lanoue came onto the scene and, “He encouraged me to enroll in Fisheries and Wildlife and I officially became a member.” That was a pivotal time in Schmidt’s life.
He added, “Mr. Lanoue is just an incredible teacher and mentor. People who come from a rural background can connect with their ag teacher on a different level.” It was the start that has opened many doors for Kirby Schmidt.
The youngest of four, Kirby’s older brothers, Jason and Scott, had both been members of FFA for a short time, while sister Bobbi was not. But young Kirby was hooked on FFA right away.
Attending a convention that year, Schmidt actually happened into a wrong meeting. He was a new member and found himself in a meeting of the State officers. “It was so cool,” he said, “and I knew this was for me.”
Schmidt became a Regional officer, and then also served as an officer in his own chapter for two years. In April last year, he was elected to the Presi-dent’s position at the State Convention.
He was in a field of 16 contestants which included an application process with a state degree based on a supervised agricultural experience. “Basically,” he said, “It’s a job you have related to agriculture.”
Since his family raises a hundred sheep in a breeding stock operation, Schmidt had that avenue covered.
Then there were interviews, talks on international agriculture issues and giving speeches. “I love speech,” admitted Schmidt, who went on to national competition in the extemporaneous category as a senior in high school.
After he was elected to the State Presidency, Schmidt realized his travels would take him away from his studies at the U. He said, “I talked to my professors, and am making it work. I chose to do this, and while my education is important, I’m also getting an education through this FFA program.”
Schmidt noted that most FFA members will never be farmers. He said, “Over 67 percent of FFA members nationwide do not come from farm backgrounds.  There is ag business, technology, lots of job areas. FFA is really the life we live every day.”
The FFA program began in 1928 and was known then as the Future Farmers of America. That was changed in 1988 when it was noted that not everyone would be a farmer.
Said Schmidt, “We recognize ourselves as the national FFA organization as it pertains to jobs, careers and different opportunities that are out there. Members may not know about farming, but they can still be leaders in the agricultural field in the future.”
This position has taken Schmidt to Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, IN, and he had the opportunity to go to this year’s Rose Bowl. But a trip to Rome with area students kept him from that venue.
Schmidt’s parents, Dale and Lyla live on the farm south of Ghent, where they raise sheep. Dale “does the physical labor” and Lyla “loves spending time making fudge at the Walnut Grove Mercantile in Mar-shall”, according to their son.
Kirby Schmidt’s year in office will end on April 28 at the State Convention at the University of MN campus. He likened it to a “sea of blue” (because of their blue jackets) when the 3,000 members, delegates and those seeking office come for the four-day event.
Will his FFA education then end?
No, Schmidt can stay in FFA until he is 21, and he is seriously thinking of running for national office. He is also contemplating creating his own major at college.
He said, “After earning my 50 credits, I would like to create an International Agriculture program. My  No. 1 desire in life is to serve people in agriculture on an international level through the Peace Corps or whatever avenue is out there. FFA has done so many good things for people. It’s great to have been a part of it all.”