BILLINGS, MONT. – “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve,” is the National FFA Organization (FFA) motto–what valuable words to live by. Since 1928, the FFA has been around striving to encourage young students to get involved in agriculture. In many ways, the FFA and the NILE share the same values and dedicate time to today's youth in Agriculture. Fueling the fire in FFA students and promotes the Western heritage in the generations to come.
Over the course of a year, the NILE hosts a handful of youth programs, giving a special emphasis to FFA students. Chapters from the far corners of Montana, and surrounding states such as, Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho, and Washington, send their members to compete in various events each Fall. From the Jr. Fed Market Shows, to the Sales and Service and Livestock Judging CDEs, FFA has been a part of the long-standing traditions of the NILE Stock Show and Rodeo.
Not only does NILE promote youth in Agriculture at the fall show, the NILE hosts other opportunities for FFA members to be involved. FFA members are often found at the Montana Agri-Trade Exposition (MATE) selling raffle tickets for this or that, partaking in a self-driven scavenger hunt, or simply participating as a guest at the show taking in the new products on display.
Spring months bring on the chance to apply for a NILE Merit Heifer, applications open March 15 and close June 30 of the given year. Applications are open to FFA and 4-H members ages 12-16. Recipients are not limited to the state of Montana. The NILE limits the recipients to members of FFA or 4-H because of the proven results from these organizations. Giving a live animal to a minor is a big risk, but there is assurance of a quality kid when they are involved in FFA or 4-H because of the ideologies they strive for and teach.
The NILE also promotes secondary education and financial assistance for high school seniors and current college students through scholarships. Open to youth who have been involved with NILE in some way. More often than not that NILE involvement comes from participating in the FFA and 4-H contests, or the livestock shows.
Experience is one of the best teachers, going back to learn by doing. The NILE selects a group of college students as interns for the week of the stock show and rodeo. When deciding which applicants will make the cut past experiences are often the determining factor. Repeatedly on the applications experience with leadership roles and critical thinking are from FFA experience. The NILE salutes the FFA organization for building strong, young individuals that become a part of our team. They're help during the third week of October is essential, and the skills that the interns come in with can be attributed to what they learned in FFA.
Through the FFA motto, creed, and mission statement, it's easy to see the impact the FFA Organization has had on past and present FFA members. For these reasons, and many more, the NILE salutes the Montana FFA. Thank you for promoting and embracing the western lifestyle, by developing today's youth through agriculture education. FFA is a light of energy, a sea of blue, and most of all has given the NILE hope for the next 50 years!
“Over the next twelve months, the NILE will salute the many partners who have aided in the success of this organization. Without a doubt, the success and longevity of this organization is attributed to the hard work and efforts of our many supporters. Those involved with farming and ranching are tied together with common values of hard work, and are grateful for the blessings that the land and the industry provide us all. The NILE embraces this spirit of gratitude. Many thanks to all of our partners over the past 50 years that have supported, and continue to support, the NILE.” –Jason Euell, NILE President 2016-2017.
Picture: NILE Stockshow and Rodeo, National FFA Organization
