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16 • The Beacon February 13 , 2025
FFA Week
River View teachers share why FFA is so important
By Jen Jones
For The Beacon
The week of Feb . 15-22 has been named FFA Week for 2025 . Future Farmers of America is a nationally recognized student organization that focuses on agricultural education and aims to prepare students for careers in agriculture .
Two River View Local School District teachers , Amy Art-Johnson and Allyssa Mullett , were involved in FFA as students at River View and are now teachers who share their experiences with their students .
Art-Johnson graduated in 2016 and now teaches seventh grade careers in ag , animal and plant science and livestock .
“ I also have two periods of seminar where I have five students that work on
projects around the school farm and prepare for FFA activities ,” Art-Johnson said .
She said she enjoyed FFA as a student at RVHS because she enjoyed getting to go to the school farm and the shop .
“ Ag class was always a time where we could get up and move around to break up the normal school day routine . I also enjoyed going on the various field trips and trips to different contests . The memories with friends stick with you much longer than the results of that contest ,” Art- Johnson said .
She said she learned many skills in FFA that translate to life outside the classroom , regardless of what career is chosen .
“ I learned to be responsible , step outside of my
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Submitted River View FFA members enjoy giving back to the community and participating in events .
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BF-184367 comfort zone and to lead a life serving others . Mr . Jim Rich would always teach us the content , but he would also give us life advice along the way ,” Art- Johnson said .
Although her original plans to pursue a veterinary medicine degree were sidelined by COVID , Art- Johnson said she always wanted to come back to the River View area .
“ Being back at River View just felt right . Seventy students come into my classroom for class each day , and that ’ s not including the other students I interact with in the hallways , with clubs and other projects . Being a teacher , you have to be able to manage the content you have to teach while realizing you are preparing students for whatever their next step is . I try my best to place importance on developing students for their future and establishing a relationship with them so they are in the best environment to learn ,” Art-Johnson said .
She also said she uses what she learned in FFA as a student to help her students . If students aren ’ t interested in what they are learning , she shares stories about her experiences at River View .
“ I always encourage my students that if they get the chance to go outside of Coshocton County , they need to take that chance . I think we get too content with what happens in our bubble , and we miss out on opportunities that could improve life in the bubble ,” she said .
Art-Johnson encourages students to get involved in FFA because of the opportunities it gives them .
“ There are contests where you can showcase your abilities and win awards . There are leadership nights and conferences that help develop leadership qualities that are beneficial in all walks of life ,” Art-Johnson said . “ FFA helps promote ag literacy and advocacy , which is important as consumers want to know where their food comes from .
“ We as a society are often three to four generations removed from the farm . If we don ’ t continue to have young people interested , invested and going into agriculture , then our future isn ’ t secure .”
Mullett graduated in 2007 from River View . She taught at New London High School for a year and came back to River View in 2012 .
“ As a member of FFA , I was able to have many different opportunities to explore careers , develop skills and travel . The best part of the program was developing strong friendships and building those as we competed in contests and worked toward common goals as a group ,” she said . Mullett said while she worked through her
undergraduate program at Wilmington , she knew the program she would lead would be modeled after the one she went through as a student at River View .
“ I did not think I would ever have the opportunity to come back to my home school . But when the position became available , I absolutely knew that I wanted to come home to the program I knew and wanted to be part of it ,” Mullett said .
She also said she uses her experiences in FFA as a student to help her students .
“ I often share stories with my students about time spent in the same seats they are in . I am at the point in my career that I am around the same age as some of the parents of my students and have fun sharing stories of contests , trips and general experiences that their parents were involved in ,” she said .
Mullett wants students to consider joining FFA because of all the opportunities it offers , such as learning skills and having experiences that may not be available any other way .
“ The opportunity to be part of something that makes a difference and does good in our community . The opportunity to create friendships and cultivate those relationships that last a lifetime ,” she said . “ No matter what career field you think you might be interested in , this program can help develop skills that can develop you into a productive citizen with strong character .
“ The motto of the FFA is ‘ Learning To Do , Doing To Learn , Earning To Live and Living To Serve .’ As the adviser , I strive to provide students with the opportunities and guidance to allow them to achieve and live by that motto .”