Reps Mann, Panetta Reestablish Congressional FFA Caucus in 118th Congress

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced the reestablishment of the Congressional FFA Caucus in the 118th Congress. Representatives Mann and Panetta co-founded the caucus on December 2, 2021. The FFA Caucus is an informal, bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives dedicated to issues related to the next generation of agricultural leaders and students pursuing careers in agriculture, food, natural resources, and related sciences.

“As a past chapter FFA officer from Quinter and proud FFA alumnus, it is an honor to reestablish the Congressional FFA Caucus alongside Representative Panetta,” said Rep. Mann, Co-Founder, and Co-Chair. “Now more than ever, we need young people with the foresight, creativity, and skills necessary to meet the challenge of delivering food, fiber, and fuel to the world. The FFA Caucus provides a unique opportunity for Congress to reach across the aisle and promote the next generation of food and agriculture.”   

“As we work in Congress to strengthen our agriculture, we also must ensure that the next generation continues to have the drive, passion, and leadership to farm and contribute to our communities and country,” said Rep. Panetta, Co-Founder, and Co-Chair. “FFA plays an essential part in that mission by fostering and encouraging young farmers, ranchers, and scientists who proudly wear the blue corduroy jacket. The foundation built by the FFA is critical to the future of our food security and the furthering of new, innovative technology and practices in our fields, ranches, and laboratories. I look forward to continuing to co-chair the bipartisan FFA Caucus with my friend and colleague Tracey Mann and working with our fellow caucus members in the 118th Congress as we support the FFA and sustain the future of our nation’s agriculture.”

The National FFA Organization is a congressionally chartered school-based national youth leadership organization of more than 850,823 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“FFA plays a key role in educating our youth and developing the next generation of leaders. With the continuation of this caucus comes the opportunity to continue sharing the message of the importance of agriculture to others,” said Scott Stump, CEO of the National FFA Organization. “We know FFA members are not only our future leaders but also the ones who will continue to fill the agriculture talent pipeline. It is exciting to share this message with a broader audience through the 118th Congress.” 

“The awareness that the FFA Caucus brings to Congress impacts the future of the National FFA Organization and the future of the agriculture industry,” said Karlie Albright, State President of Kansas FFA. “The National FFA Organization continues to build leaders that will one day lead the country, and the support from the FFA Caucus is influential.”

“With its goal of instilling premier leadership, personal growth, and career success in American students, the FFA Organization grants students diverse educational and career opportunities whilst securing the pipeline of agricultural industry leaders and workers,” said Abigale Jacobsen, State President of California FFA. “Simply put, the organization is life-changing to an individual student and beneficial to our national and global food systems.”

In the 117th Congress, 42 members of the U.S. House of Representatives were part of the FFA Caucus. Last year, Representatives Mann and Panetta led nearly 90 of their colleagues on a bipartisan resolution designating February 19-26, 2022 as National FFA Week. To date, the FFA Caucus has hosted more than 2,000 FFA members on Capitol Hill.

For more information about the Congressional FFA Caucus, visit the caucus website here