JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Justin Brown, R-Rolla, is commending the Future Farmers of America (FFA) as it crosses the one million member mark for the first time.

The organization announced this accomplishment on Monday morning, stating that membership is up 8.6% during the 2023–24 period.

The FFA, which can trace its roots back to 1917 and was officially established in Kansas City in 1928, is a program for youth that “changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education,” according to the organization’s website. The FFA is made up of over 9,000 local chapters across the United States, including 362 in Missouri.

“The FFA has played a huge part in my life and I can honestly say I would not be who I am today without the lessons and skills I learned as a part of FFA,” said Brown, a Republican from Rolla. “I am proud to support a program that continues to have this kind of impact on tens of thousands of Missouri kids every day. Beyond the hands-on experience in agriculture, the FFA instills the traits and experience that we want in future leaders, in farming, business and public service.”

The Missouri FFA Association has 26,830 members. Brown said it is his hope that Missouri will continue to promote its most important industry, agriculture, and create future generations of farmers.