From FFA to the Future: Our Team’s Journey into Agriculture
In honor of FFA Week 2025, we are thrilled to feature the experiences of our team members who participated in FFA and learn about their journey into a career in agriculture. Read on to learn what FFA means to our team and how it influenced their careers.
Kate Wray
Check out below what our Territory Manager, Kate Wray has to say about the experience of FFA as a powerful tool for further developing the agriculture industry!
1. How has FFA influenced your career in agriculture?
FFA started my passion for agriculture. I had no interest in the subject before my dad forced me to join my freshman year of high school. By my senior year, I’d held three officer positions within our chapter, including president. Without FFA, I wouldn’t have ever considered an agriculture major in college and ended up with a career in the industry.
2. What did you learn in FFA that matches Miller’s values of sustainability and innovation?
The FFA mission states that its goal is to increase awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being. As we talk about being innovation within the industry, our main goal should always be to be good stewards of the land and striving to make improvements in our processes to make our practices as sustainable as possible. As demand grows, new innovative practices will need to be developed to help us produce more crops. Miller focuses on providing our farmers with the tools to make this possible.
3. What does FFA mean to you?
FFA means a lot to me. The endless opportunities to develop leadership skills, get involved with the community, and experience opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. FFA is about always being a student, continuing to learn but also getting the opportunity to serve others. FFA is rooted in tradition and continues to encourage hard work, all while developing the future generations of agriculture.
4. How do you see the future of FFA shaping our industry?
Many kids and even adults have a huge gap of knowledge in how the food they eat gets to their plate and what the term “agriculture” really means. FFA strives to educate everyone, especially our youth, about the importance of the agriculture industry, including how we get the food we eat. This education continues to grow in importance, especially as legislation within the industry is rapidly changing and the ability to spread false information easily with the internet.
Daniel Britton
What does FFA mean to you? Daniel Britton says, “FFA is an organization that helps youth to learn and better understand not only agriculture, but also the world and themselves. It’s a place where ideas are nurtured and developed into great things by the young minds of our present and our future.” To read more about Daniel’s experience with FFA and how it has shaped his career at Miller Chemical, read below:
1. How has FFA influenced your career in agriculture?
FFA help me to develop skills that I use everyday such as; public speaking, reasoning, preparedness, and so much more. FFA is where I found my passion for agriculture and wanting to help the world with its food supply.
2. What did you learn in FFA that matches Miller’s values of sustainability and
innovation?
FFA allows for thought provoking discussions to help make the world and our food supply better. This innovative spirit gives the opportunity for dreams to become a reality.
3. What does FFA mean to you?
FFA is an organization that helps youth to learn and better understand not
only agriculture, but also the world and themselves. It’s a place where ideas are nurtured and developed into great things by the young minds of our present and our future.
4. How do you see the future of FFA shaping our industry?
By continuing to help young people follow dreams and passion into this great industry of Agriculture. Giving people the opportunity to become anything they want to be.
Jennifer De Jong
In the ever-changing world of agriculture, Jennifer De Jong shares that FFA is a key component to keeping up the evolving needs of our world. She says, “I believe FFA sees those changes and knows how to adapt to keep developing the leaders our industry needs. I look forward to when those FFA students join our workforce with their fresh perspective!” Continue reading more about Jennifer below.
1. How has FFA influenced your career in agriculture?
I can’t say enough good things about FFA! FFA was a huge influence in my career in agriculture as well as my personal development. In FFA I participated in Leadership programs including the Greenhand Motivational Conference, California Excellence Conference, Chapter Officer Leadership Conference, National Convention, and State Convention as a delegate, among others. I was a Chapter Officer and participated in Parliamentary Procedure competitions – and was the State Outstanding Debater for California my Junior year. I believe FFA taught me the leadership and public speaking skills to be
successful in agriculture. It also fueled my passion for agriculture and pushed me to pursue my career.
2. What did you learn in FFA that matches Miller’s values of sustainability and
innovation?
FFA’s motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” I believe Miller Chemical mirrors that sentiment by striving to create and maintain the best products available for our industry. We do that by listening and understanding the issues our industry faces and trying to solve those issues using innovation and technology to better serve our growers. FFA produces the future of agriculture just like Miller strives to develop the future of agriculture crop production solutions.
3. What does FFA mean to you?
To me, FFA means the future of agriculture. It is a program that continues to build the next generation of Ag leaders and Innovators. I am proud to have been a part of it and look forward to my kids joining in just a few years. I can’t wait to be a FFA Mom. LOL.
4. How do you see the future of FFA shaping our industry?
Agriculture is an always changing industry. We have seen dramatic market changes in just the past few years. I believe FFA sees those changes and knows how to adapt to keep developing the leaders our industry needs. I look forward to when those FFA students join our workforce with their fresh perspective!
Heather Palmer
We love hearing about how previous participation FFA connects to the mission and values of Miller. Heather Palmer (Morois) shares about this saying, “Miller creates a work environment where employees can grow and succeed. In FFA I was provided a similar environment that I was supported in and showed me I was capable to do great things if I did the hard work.” We are grateful for each individual who have brought wonderful knowledge, creativity, and leadership to the agriculture industry!
1. How has FFA influenced your career in agriculture?
If it weren’t for being put into an agriculture biology class, I wouldn’t have discovered my college major and my career path. FFA helped develop my leadership skills, public speaking skills, work ethic and made a huge impact on my career choice.
2. What did you learn in FFA that matches Miller’s values of sustainability and innovation?
Miller creates a work environment where employees can grow and success. In FFA I was provided a similar environment that I was supported in and showed me I was capable to do great things if I did the hard work.
3. What does FFA mean to you?
FFA means developing our future leaders with great work ethic, leadership, confidence and excellent communication skills.
4. How do you see the future of FFA shaping our industry?
I recently helped judge a public speaking event in Riverside County. I was so impressed by the FFA student speakers and their prepared topics. The future looks bright with the proactive, passionate, professional and well-spoken students.
It’s clear that the experiences and lessons learned through FFA have had a profound impact on our team members at Miller Chemical. From developing leadership skills to fostering a passion for agriculture, FFA has played a crucial role in shaping their careers and personal growth. The stories shared by Kate, Daniel, Jennifer, and Heather highlight the importance of FFA in nurturing the future leaders of our industry.
As we look to the future, we are excited to see how FFA continues to inspire and educate the next generation of agricultural professionals. Thank you for joining us in celebrating FFA Week and the incredible contributions of our team members.
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