Tim Hammerich: National FFA President 2002–03
California · No. 76 of 100 · National FFA President 2002–03
At a Glance
- Office: National FFA President, 2002–03 (No. 76 of 100)
- Home state: California
- Education: University of California, Davis (crop science and management); Master of Agribusiness, Kansas State University
- Career: Commodities trading, agricultural education, radio reporting for the Ag Information Network of the West, and podcasting
- Known for: The Future of Agriculture podcast
Tim Hammerich is one of the National FFA presidents who turned his communication training into a media career. A former commodities trader and educator, he now reports on agriculture for the Ag Information Network of the West and hosts one of the better-known agtech podcasts in the industry.
Growing Up Small
Hammerich has said he grew up on a very small farm of about five acres, the kind most people would call a hobby farm, where his father hoped to make a full-time living. He has described wanting to build his own career in agriculture and to use the network he built through FFA.
The National Presidency, 2002–03
He was elected National FFA President in 2002 and served through the 2002–03 year, followed by Javier Moreno of Puerto Rico in 2003–04. His retiring address appears in the proceedings of the 2003 National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, which carried the theme of living the FFA legacy.
Education
Hammerich studied crop science and management at the University of California, Davis, then earned a Master of Agribusiness degree at Kansas State University.
Career in Agricultural Media
- Early work: A podcast guest introduction described him as a former commodities trader and educator before his move into media.
- Ag Information Network of the West: He is a news reporter for the network and hosts its Farm of the Future program, which looks at new ideas in progressive farming, agtech and rural entrepreneurship.
- Future of Agriculture podcast: Every week he interviews farmers, founders, innovators and investors about agtech, sustainability and the future of food. Podcast directories show hundreds of episodes.
- Almond Journey: He has also hosted a podcast series for the almond industry, visiting growers in California’s Central Valley.
Why His Story Matters
Hammerich’s career is a useful example for students who are better at talking about agriculture than at driving a tractor. The skills FFA trains, including public speaking, interviewing and listening, translate directly into agricultural journalism and podcasting, where the best interviewers are those who learned to talk with farmers and ranchers as an equal.
Next: Javier Moreno, 2003–04 →
Sources
- Ag Information Network of the West: Farm of the Future host profile
- Ag Information Network of the West: Tim Hammerich, news reporter
- Controlled-environment agriculture podcast interview with Tim Hammerich (original link no longer resolves; checked Nov. 2026)
- National FFA Convention proceedings, 2003 (Internet Archive)
- Almond Board of California: Almond Journey podcast, episode 29