The Alum Who Credits FFA for Clear Communication: Three Profiles
Real Stories, Real Skills: Profiles and Case Studies
Communication is the skill FFA alumni mention most often when asked what the organization gave them. The three profiles below come from very different careers: a U.S. Army general, a university plant scientist and a National Geographic photojournalist who became its editor in chief. Their words are self-reported, but the pattern is striking. This article summarizes each profile, compares what they say and offers one exercise to practice the skill they describe.
- Key takeaway: all three credit FFA speaking and meeting experiences with helping them communicate across backgrounds.
- Caution: these are recollections from FFA interviews, not evidence that FFA caused their success.
The Army General
Major General Tammy Smith told FFA in July 2020 that competing in parliamentary procedure taught her how to get someone’s attention when she had something important to say, that public speaking helped her communicate clearly and that serving as Oregon state FFA reporter helped her connect with people from different backgrounds. She went on to roles that included chief of Army reserve affairs in Afghanistan, deputy commander for sustainment in Korea and, as of the interview, senior military advisor at the Pentagon (source).
The Plant Scientist
Dr. Jeneen Fields-Abrams, who grew up in Philadelphia and attended Walter B. Saul High School where every student is an FFA member, told FFA in October 2020 that some of her first experiences speaking in front of people came through FFA competitions and parliamentary procedure practice. She conducts research at Purdue University on disease-resistant soybean varieties and teaches a large foundational botany course (source).
The Photojournalist
Chris Johns, who was Oregon FFA state president in 1969–70 and visited every chapter in the state, told FFA his leadership training helped him connect with all kinds of people. He became a National Geographic photojournalist and later the magazine’s editor in chief (source).
Common Thread
| Alum | FFA experience named | Skill named |
|---|---|---|
| Smith | Parliamentary procedure, state reporter | Getting heard, connecting |
| Fields-Abrams | Competitions, parli pro practice | Early public speaking |
| Johns | State president, chapter visits | Connecting with all kinds of people |
The table summarizes what each person said. The overlap is the idea that speaking and representing others gave practice reaching audiences unlike themselves.
One Exercise
Pick a subject you know well and explain it to three different people: a classmate, a grandparent and a younger child. Note which parts you had to change each time. That adjustment is the skill all three alumni describe in different words.
Honest Limits
Interviews are brief and positive, the subjects are accomplished and none of the sources compares them with people who did not join FFA. Smith’s title is as of her 2020 interview and may have changed.
On this site, Gary Swan, Mark Sanborn and Tim Hammerich have bios that describe careers built around advocacy, speaking and media and record their own words about communication.