FFA Is Back At South Dearborn High School

Dedicated teachers and students are stepping up to bring a Future Farmers of American chapter back to South Dearborn High School.

South Dearborn High School Future Farmers of America officers (left to right) Noah Jackson, Shanna Tschaenn, Makayla Hiltenbeitel, Izabella Bear, Ella Bashor, Kyrstin Bond, and Annie Brown. Officers not pictured Rachel Kittle and Hailey Ballauer. Photo by Mara Jones.

(Aurora, Ind.) – For the first time in 29 years, South Dearborn High School is proud to host a chapter of the Future Farmers of America organization.

An agriculture program has also returned to the school’s class offerings, says teacher and FFA sponsor Melissa Andrew.

Parent Heather Bear calls the return of FFA at South Dearborn super exciting. Her daughter, Izabella, is an officer with the fledgling chapter.

“We were losing a few kiddos to other schools that offered FFA. I’m a Milan FFA alumni and so excited since my daughters go to SD,” said Bear.

For a school district that is largely rural, it may be surprising that SDHS didn’t have an FFA chapter for current students to join. With over 700,000 members in over 8,600 chapters across the United States, the youth organization focusing on agriculture education prepares members to be leaders, discover their talents, and achieve real-world success.

“South Dearborn had an Agriculture Program and FFA 29 years ago, upon the retirement of the teacher the program was ended.  We are very excited to have both Agriculture and FFA back this year,” says Andrew.

Andrew recognized the opportunity and is among staff who are helping to re-establish the South Dearborn chapter this school year. She and fellow teacher Mara Jones are the program’s advisors and certified agriculture teachers.

“This year Mara is teaching science with a change to add some agriculture courses to her course load for next year.  I am teaching agricultural power, structure, and technology as well as introduction to agriculture, food, and natural resources,” Andrew explains.

She notes that the SDHS FFA group is only in the beginning stages. It is going through the charter process to become a recognized chapter by the Indiana FFA Association. 

So far, so good. The FFA at South Dearborn is seeing some early success with seventeen members.

Andrew says some of the reintroduced ag classes may offer students the opportunity to obtain dual credit through Ivy Tech Community College. She commended SDHS Director of Guidance Lisa Moorhead on her work to establish the dual credit offerings.

“There is a ton of support from teachers and administrators,” observes Andrew. “We are very lucky!”