Reaching the Younger Generation

Jordan Paine is being honored as a Champion of Change for her efforts in 4-H and Future Farmers of America.

Agriculture is my life. I am a proud member of the Southern Valley FFA Chapter, the Nebraska FFA Organization, and the Oxford Junior Feeder 4-H Club. I am very honored to receive this Champions of Change award.

Through 4-H I have been able to serve in many leadership positions. I am currently serving my fourth term as the Oxford Jr. Feeders 4-H Club President and am entering my third term as the Furnas County 4-H Council Secretary. Through improvements made at the county level 4-H, we have seen a large increase in the number of youth involved at the fair. Through my time serving as an officer we have made numerous improvements throughout the fairgrounds. Another privilege 4-H has given me, is to serve on the Nebraska Youth Curriculum Committee, here we review, edit, and help write the Curriculum 4-Her’s use. However, the most rewarding project I have done in 4-H is to start the youth bucket-calf program. The bucket-calf program at our county was dying out, so I decided to buy bucket-calves and raise them for younger 4-Hers who did not have a place for the animals or the knowledge to raise them. The number of calves at fair has increased and the knowledge of younger members has also.

FFA has been my focus throughout high school. As a sophomore I served as the Vice-President of our FFA Chapter and am currently serving my second term as President. Membership and success in our FFA Chapter have been increasing each year. I worked to obtain a goatherd at the school for the FFA Chapter. The goatherd has allowed members to be able to work with livestock, be in charge of the take care of the goats, administer vaccinations, and to learn many other skills. I also worked with a local cooperative to establish the Southern Valley “School Farm.” The school farm is also run by the FFA membership. This project allows students to put the concepts they learn in class into real life. Both are very hands on and depict different aspects of agriculture. Currently, we are raising money to build a greenhouse. We have started the groundwork and have raised more than half of the money needed for the project. These three projects are key in enabling youth to develop the skills they need to succeed in the area of agriculture that interests them.

Now that you know what I do in these two incredible organizations, I think it is important to share how important these organizations are to me. I have been fortunate to grow up around agriculture and to have the opportunity to be a part of FFA and 4-H. My participation in these organizations has provided me countless opportunities and I hope others will get involved and learn about the many benefits of an agricultural education. I am honored to represent both 4-H and FFA. 

Jordan Paine is the President of the Southern Valley FFA Chapter and the Oxford Jr. Feeders 4-H Club in Oxford, Nebraska.