Microsoft supports FFA in changing the world in a changing world

Kristen Sindelar
Dec 12, 2025
Dec 12, 2025

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

In the next five to 10 and even 20 years, the kids sitting in school desks today will be the men and women powering our industrial battalion. None of us can predict what new technologies will exist by the time they enter the workforce, but the FFA program is staying true to its mission of developing student potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success by preparing them for whatever the future holds.

FarmBeats 2.jpeg — Students combine technology with agriculture to collect data about plant growth with FarmBeats at Lennox, S.D.
Submitted photo

kAm%9C@F89 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 |:4C@D@7E r@CA][ E96 }2E:@?2= uup ~C82?:K2E:@? 92D 366? @776C:?8 2 AC@8C2> D:?46 a_`h 7@C J@FE9 E@ 24BF:C6 E96 D<:==D6ED C6BF:C65 E@ 252AE :? 2? 6G6C\6G@=G:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 6DA64:2==J E92E @7 28C:4F=EFC6] r2==65 u2C>q62ED 7@C $EF56?ED[ E96 65F42E:@?2= AC@8C2> “:?E68C2E6D D>2CE D6?D@CD[ 52E2 D4:6?46 2?5 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 WpxX E@ E6249 AC64:D:@? 28C:4F=EFC6 :? 4=2DDC@@>D]”k^Am

kAm“~FC G:D:@? 7@C uup :D 8C@H:?8 E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? @7 =6256CD H9@ H:== 492?86 E96 H@C=5] pD E96 H@C=5 4@?E:?F6D E@ 492?86 2?5 28C:4F=EFC6 4@?E:?F6D E@ 5:G6CD:7J[ A2CE @7 E92E :D 96=A:?8 @FC DEF56?ED 36 AC@3=6> D@=G6CD 7@C 7FEFC6 :DDF6D H:E9:? E96 :?5FDECJ 2?5 >2<:?8 DFC6 E96J 2C6 H6==\G6CD65 H:E9 E96 EJA6D @7 E649?@=@8J E92E :D :>A24E:?8 28C:4F=EFC6 E@52J[” D2:5 r9C:DE:?6 (9:E6[ 49:67 AC@8C2> @77:46C 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= uup ~C82?:K2E:@?]k^Am

kAmu2C>q62ED 7@C $EF56?ED 92D 6IA2?565 E@ C6249 `h_ A2CE:4:A2E:?8 >:55=6 2?5 9:89 D49@@= uup 492AE6CD E9:D J62C :? 2== d_ DE2E6D[ 2D H6== 2D !F6CE@ #:4@ 2?5 E96 ':C8:? xD=2?5D] t249 4=2DDC@@> C646:G65 7C66 4FCC:4F=F> 2?5 `d DEF56?E <:ED 4@?E2:?:?8 C625J\E@\FD6 D6?D@CD E92E C625 Aw[ >@:DEFC6 @C =:89E[ 2D H6== 2D 2 >:4C@i3:E 4@>AFE6C E@ 4@56 2?5 7@C>F=2E6 E96 52E2 4@==64E65]k^Am

kAm“(6 H@F=5?’E 36 23=6 E@ 5@ E96D6 EJA6D @7 AC@8C2>D :7 ?@E 7@C A2CE?6CD =:<6 |:4C@D@7E E92E 4@>6 2=@?8D:56 FD E@ ?@E @?=J AC@G:56 C6D@FC46D 3FE E@ C62==J 96=A FD EC2?D7@C> 65F42E:@? 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@52J[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%9C@F89@FE E96 72== D6>6DE6C[ DEF56?ED 92G6 366? FD:?8 E96D6 C6D@FC46D E@ 3F:=5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= D6?D@C DJDE6>D E92E :?E68C2E6 px E@ >@?:E@C D@:= >@:DEFC6 2?5 56E64E ?FEC:6?E 567:4:6?4:6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 AC6DD C6=62D6] %9:D :D E96 D2>6 E649?@=@8J E92E AC@5F46CD C6=J @? :? >@56C?\52J 28C:4F=EFC6]k^Am

FarmBeats 3.jpg — Milbank students experiment with the coding software included with the FarmBeats program. Each participating school received 15 student kits containing sensors, a micro:bit computer and additional resources.
Submitted photo

kAm“(6 2C6 3C:?8:?8 E96 E649?@=@8J FD65 3J 72C>6CD :?E@ E96 4=2DDC@@> E@ 8:G6 DEF56?ED 2? :562 @7 E96 5:776C6?E D6?D@CD E92E 2C6 FD65 @? 72C>D @C 9@@<65 :?E@ EC24E@CD[” D2:5 (9:E6]k^Am

kAmx? D@FE962DE6C? $@FE9 s2<@E2[ {6??@I $F?5DEC@> uup 25G:D@C 2?5 28 E62496C[ z2D6J %C@4<6[ 92D 7:CDE\92?5 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 E649?@=@8J :? 28C:4F=EFC6] q67@C6 6?E6C:?8 28 65F42E:@?[ D96 H2D :? 6?8:?66C:?8 2D A2CE @7 96C 568C66 2?5 2=D@ :?E6C?65 2E y@9? s66C6]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 >J AC64:D:@? 28 6IA6C:6?46 2D 2? :?E6C? 2E y@9? s66C6[ x’G6 366? 23=6 E@ D66 9@H E9:?8D 92G6 492?865 @G6C E:>6[” D2:5 %C@4<6[ H9@ :D :? 96C 7@FCE9 J62C @7 E6249:?8 2E {6??@I 27E6C E6249:?8 E9C66 J62CD @7 D4:6?46 2E pC=:?8E@?[ $@FE9 s2<@E2]k^Am

kAm(:E9 96C 5F2= 324<8C@F?5 :? 28C:4F=EFC6 2?5 D4:6?46[ 2?5 96C AC@76DD65 =@G6 7@C E649?@=@8J[ %C@4<6 92D 366? 23=6 E@ 6IA@D6 96C DEF56?ED E@ E96 “E@?D @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D” 2G2:=23=6 E@ E96>] $96 92D 5:D4FDD65 E96 u2C>q62ED AC@8C2> H:E9 AC@76DD:@?2=D :? 5:776C6?E 2C62D @7 AC64:D:@? 28j E96J 2=D@ A6C46:G6 E9:D 2D 2 G2=F23=6 E@@= :? AC6A2C:?8 J@FE9 7@C E96 H@C<7@C46]k^Am

kAm“%96J’C6 6I4:E65 E@ D66 E92E >@C6 J@F?8 A6@A=6 2C6 86EE:?8 6IA@D65 E@ E96 E649?@=@8J :? 28C:4F=EFC6[ 6G6? ;FDE E96 D:>A=6 DE6AD =:<6 32D:4 4@5:?8[” %C@4<6 D2:5]k^Am

FarmBeats 4.jpg — Hands-on activities in the FarmBeats curriculum engage these students at Scottsbluff High School in Nebraska and provide opportunities to develop critical thinking skills.
Submitted photo

kAm$2C2 r@=@>36[ 76==@H $@FE9 s2<@E2 28 E62496C 2?5 4@\25G:D@C 7@C E96 |:=32?< uup r92AE6C[ 2=D@ EC:6D E@ 6IA@D6 96C DEF56?ED E@ 2D >F49 2D A@DD:3=6 3@E9 :? E96 4=2DDC@@> 2?5 E9C@F89 4@>A2?J E@FCD] $EF56?ED H:E?6DD65 9@H C@3@ED 2?5 E649?@=@8J H6C6 FD65 E@ :?4C62D6 677:4:6?4J 5FC:?8 2 7:6=5 EC:A E@ 2 =@42= 3FD:?6DD] pE E96 |:=32?< y@9? s66C6 562=6C[ z:33=6 tBF:A>6?E[ E96J D2H 5:28?@DE:4 EC@F3=6D9@@E:?8 2E H@C< H96? E96 E649?:4:2? 9@@<65 FA 2 4@>AFE6C E@ 2? :>A=6>6?E[ D:>:=2C E@ E96 H2J E96 DEF56?ED 2C6 FD:?8 E96 >:4C@i3:E 4@>AFE6C E@ AC@8C2> 2?5 4@==64E 52E2 H:E9 u2C>q62ED]k^Am

kAm“qJ 8:G:?8 E96> D@>6 6IA@DFC6 E@ E96 EC@F3=6D9@@E:?8 D<:==D :?G@=G65[ E92E E649?@=@8J H:== 96=A :? H92E6G6C 42C66C 7:6=5 E96J’C6 8@:?8 :?E@[” D2:5 r@=@>36]k^Am

kAmx? |:=32?<’D 28 >6492?:4D 4=2DD[ DEF56?ED FD65 E96 4@5:?8 D@7EH2C6 E@ AC@8C2> E96 D6?D@CD :? 2 DEF5J @7 @AE:>2= =:89E :?E6?D:EJ[ E6>A6C2EFC6 2?5 >@:DEFC6 7@C A=2?E 8C@HE9] u@C 4@>A2C:D@?[ E9C66 D6?D@CD H6C6 DAC625 @FE 2>@?8DE 2 92==H2J[ E96 D49@@= 8J> 2?5 E96 28 D9@A] $EF56?ED E96? 4@==64E65 52E2 6G6CJ ac 9@FCD]k^Am

People are also reading…

Understanding mineral tags can help cattle producers better understand what to provide
Bull breeding soundness exams should not be overlooked
Guthrie County, Iowa, woman continues family farm legacy
Trend of growing production expenses troubling for agriculture
Spring rains will struggle to make up for deficits
Bieber Fever Performance Yearling Bull Sale
Rollins highlights trade, farm policy progress during Commodity Classic general session
Gustin's Diamond Gelbvieh Annual Production Sale
MacDonald Ranches Performance Power 2026 Sale
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Heart River Ranch Annual Production Sale
Feeder cattle prices hit temporary plateau
Sandmeier Charolais 45th Annual Bull Sale
Thorstenson's Lazy TV Ranch 45th Annual Bull Sale
Pederson's Broken Heart Ranch 48th Annual Production Sale

kAm“&D:?8 E9@D6 D6?D@CD E@ 82E96C E96 52E2 2?5 E96 4FCC:4F=F>[ DEF56?ED 4@F=5 56E6C>:?6 :7 E9@D6 =@42E:@?D H6C6 8@@5 @C 325 A=246D E@ 8C@H A=2?ED[” r@=@>36 6IA=2:?65]k^Am

kAm$EF56?ED 2=D@ 4@565 E96 D6?D@CD D@ E92E H96? E96J 4964<65 >@:DEFC6 =6G6=D @7 E96 A=2?E[ E96 >:4C@i3:E H@F=5 A=2J 6:E96C 2 92AAJ @C D25 ?@:D6] r@=@>36 4@??64E65 E9:D E@ E649?@=@8J FE:=:K65 3J 4C@A AC@5F46CD]k^Am

kAm“(6 42? D9@H DEF56?ED 9@H E96 28 :?5FDECJ FD6D D6?D@CD E@ EFC? @? 2?5 @77 :CC:82E:@?[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$EF56?ED F?56CDE2?5 E96 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? E96 4=2DDC@@> D6EE:?8 2?5 >@56C? 28C:4F=EFC2= AC24E:46D] p DEF56?E 7C@> $4@EED3=F77[ @?6 @7 E9C66 uup 492AE6CD :? }63C2D<2 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? u2C>q62ED[ DE2E65[ “x 6?;@J65 :E 3642FD6 x 92G6 ?6G6C 366? 23=6 E@ 2AA=J =62C?:?8 2?5 6IA6C:>6?ED E@ E96 C62= H@C=5 367@C6] |J 72G@C:E6 A2CE H2D 25;FDE:?8 E96 4@5:?8 E@ 82E96C 5:776C6?E :?7@C>2E:@?]”k^Am

FarmBeats 5.jpeg — The FarmBeats program involves problem solving and troubleshooting, as demonstrated by these students at Lennox, S.D.
Submitted photo

kAm$4@EED3=F77’D 2DD:DE2?E uup 25G:D@C 2?5 28 E62496C[ #682? w@5D56?[ D92C65 96C E9@F89ED 23@FE 9@H E96 u2C>q62ED 4FCC:4F=F> :D E6249:?8 J@FE9 G2=F23=6 D<:==D E92E 42? 36 2AA=:65 2?JH96C6 :? E96 H@C<7@C46]k^Am

kAm“%649?@=@8J :D E96 7FEFC6 @7 28C:4F=EFC6[ 3FE 6G6? <:5D H9@ 2C6 ?@E 8@:?8 5:C64E=J :?E@ 28C:4F=EFC6 42? DE:== FD6 E9:D :?7@C>2E:@? E@ 96=A E96> 7:?5 2 42C66C[” w@5D56? D2:5[ 255:?8[ “%96 =23D 5@ 2 C62==J 8@@5 ;@3 @7 E6249:?8 DEF56?ED 9@H E@ FD6 E96 E649?@=@8J[ 3FE 2=D@ 9@H E@ FD6 E92E E649?@=@8J E@ 4@==64E E96 52E2 2?5 2?2=JK6 :E[ @C >2<6 2 9JA@E96D:D 2?5 5C2H 4@?4=FD:@?D 7C@> E96 :?7@C>2E:@? 4@==64E65]”k^Am

kAm$EF56?ED 86?F:?6=J 6?;@J65 H@C<:?8 H:E9 u2C>q62ED[ D2:5 w@5D56?[ H9:49 H2D 6G:56?465 3J E96:C :?E6C6DE :? E96 =6DD@?D] %96J 82G6 2 8=:>AD6 :?E@ E96:C C624E:@?D 3J 2?DH6C:?8 2 D9@CE BF6DE:@??2:C6]k^Am

FarmBeats 1.jpg — A student at Scottsbluff, Neb., uses the FarmBeats software to monitor poinsettia plants in the school greenhouse.
Submitted photo

kAm~?6 DEF56?E HC@E6[ “x C62==J 6?;@J65 E96 72C> =23[ x E9@F89E E92E :E H2D :?E6C6DE:?8 E92E J@F 4@F=5 4@>3:?6 2 r9C@>63@@<[ D@>6 H:C6D 2?5 2 4FA @7 D2?5 @C D@:= 2?5 86E D@ >F49 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 :?E6C6DE:?8 C624E:@?D @FE @7 :E] xE H2D 2=D@ 4@@= E92E E96 =:EE=6 =:89ED 4@F=5 >2<6 2 962CE @C 2 D>:=6J 7246]”k^Am

kAmp?@E96C $4@EED3=F77 DEF56?E C6A@CE65[ “x 6?;@J65 AFEE:?8 E96 4@56 :?E@ 5:776C6?E <:?5D @7 D@:= 2?5 42=4F=2E:?8 E96 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 E6>A6C2EFC6 2?5 DF?=:89E C625:?8D] xE H2D :?E6C6DE:?8 3642FD6 H6 925 E@ >2<6 @FC @H? 4@56 :? @C56C E@ 4@==64E E96 52E2]”k^Am

kAmp?@E96C D:>A=J DE2E65[ “x E9:?< E92E E96 u2C> q62E =23 H2D :?E6C6DE:?8 2?5 :E >256 >6 766= 4@@= H96? x F?56CDE@@5 :E 2?5 8@E :E 8@:?8]”k^Am

kAm(9:=6 4@5:?8[ DEF56?ED >2J ?@E 6G6? C62=:K6 E92E E96J 2C6 3F:=5:?8 D<:==D DF49 2D 4C:E:42= E9:?<:?8 @C AC@3=6> D@=G:?8] %96D6 2C6 2C62D H96C6 :>AC@G6>6?E :D ?66565[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2== E9C66 E62496CD :?E6CG:6H65] ~?6 D2:5 E92E DEF56?ED ;FDE 8:G6 FA H96? E96J 7246 2 AC@3=6>] p?@E96C D2:5 E92E 2 =@E @7 96C DEF56?ED 5@ ?@E <?@H 9@H E@ 562= H:E9 2 AC@3=6>] u2C>q62ED :D 56G6=@A:?8 E96D6 4CF4:2= D<:==D 3J 8F:5:?8 DEF56?ED E9C@F89 E96 E9@F89E AC@46DD @7 ECJ:?8 2?@E96C 2AAC@249[ @C D@>6E:>6D ;FDE D:>A=J 7@==@H:?8 E96 :?DECF4E:@?D AC@G:565]k^Am

kAm“%C@F3=6D9@@E:?8[ 7:8FC:?8 E9:?8D @FE 7@C E96>D6=G6D 9@H E@ 5@ E96 ?6IE DE6A 2?5 =62C?:?8 AC@3=6> D@=G:?8 D<:==D 92G6 366? 2 9F86 25G2?E286 :? >J 4=2DD6D[” %C@4<6 D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? E9:D 72DE\A2465[ 6G6C\492?8:?8 H@C=5[ 36:?8 23=6 E@ E9:?< 4C:E:42==J H:== 36 2? 25G2?E286@FD 2DD6E 7@C E@>@CC@H’D H@C<7@C46] %9:D :D A2CE @7 E96 >:DD:@? @7 uup[ ?@E @?=J E@ 8C@H E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? @7 =6256CD H9@ H:== 492?86 E96 H@C=5 3FE E@ 56G6=@A 4@>A6E6?E[ 4@?7:56?E 2?5 :?E6==:86?E J@F?8 =6256CD]k^Am

kAm“z?@H:?8 E92E H92E E96J =62C?65 E@52J >2J ?@E 36 E96 E649?@=@8J H96? E96J 6?E6C E96 H@C<7@C46[” D2:5 (9:E6[ “E96J H:== 92G6 E96 AC@3=6>\D@=G:?8 D<:==D[ 2?5 E96 E6?24:EJ E@ ECJ ?6H E9:?8D[ E@ E2<6 @? ?6H :?:E:2E:G6D E92E 4@>6 H:E9 ?6IE E649?@=@8J]”k^Am

kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE u2C>q62ED 7@C $EF56?ED[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=62C?]>:4C@D@7E]4@>^6?\FD^EC2:?:?8^65F42E@C\46?E6C^:?DECF4E@C\>2E6C:2=D^72C>362ED\7@C\DEF56?EDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2<2]>D^uqu$k^2m]k^Am

kAm%62496CD[ DEF56?ED[ @C A2C6?ED :?E6C6DE65 :? u2C>q62ED 7@C $EF56?ED 42? AFC492D6 2 <:E 7@C Sbd 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEAi^6>2:=]772]@C8^4^6yH&If`FIrp|p~r?r5Eu*wd4q@*F6"\3ay5&wyH$(B=G)b)gh@z2B<0#$wt*&?{y6;#w&"xGwp{rs;DC*Ds58c"4`)@7`yHu{t"3{%A?_6veAI@\x:&Gy|:6=aq'2#b)_f#JK!>\u0\dH{3pA?#6h2q6A"=506K!h%fv6cu}\F!f)>rC@K(AgIKh)e\K)F|6~9hz`cFud>aFg<'5(A~'dB\|y58>D?2++A2@B63<}'{~=qw*IA@dq?2(!""JDK9rK#d*&p(B#~6+?*a@;y>%%62?Hugppps00\9!'9H00jPP{G*K:4xP9J%KIc5r'fH2hD3*){<E|?GCh:uuz|w2fb3_4F0?='pf9s3)=\!;bK@KB!*|G40?BFg<4KJ9&+B~7pSQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE9:D =:?<k^2m 2?5 C646:G6 7C66 EC2:?:?8 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=666?E]D92C6A@:?E]4@>^D:E6D^t5:E@C:2=^{ttp!!ts%u$`Ta_|:8C2E:@?^x@H2Ta_u2C>6C^cTa_|:5H6DETa_|6DD6?86C^`Ta_rFCC6?ETa_xDDF6D^I$E@C:6DTa_E@Ta_65:E^2<2]>D^uqu$\|${62C?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2<2]>D^uqu$\|${62C?k^2m]k^Am

Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.