National Future Farmers of America Week is being observed Feb. 21-28. The organization “Future Farmers of America” — or FFA as we all know it — was founded in 1928 by young farmers. Its mission was to prepare subsequent generations with the task of feeding a growing populace across our country.

Farmers have done just that. And living where we do in counties like Columbiana and Mahoning we can appreciate that. If you aren’t a farmer in our parts, you certainly know someone who is a crop producer, beef, dairy or poultry farmer. Living where we do, where so much farming and related activities occur, you can’t help but acknowledge the day in, day out effort of our local farmers. They don’t always get weekends and holidays off like most of us. Rising and setting suns are their time clocks. Many got their start — got their work ethic nurtured and seasoned — in Future Farmers of America. Times have changed and so has farming. The technology and means of production have changed but a constant remains: farming requires passion, dedication and hard work.

The presence of farming in our area is borne out by these figures: there are over 1,200 farms — from small to large — throughout Columbiana County. There are active FFA chapters at Beaver Local, Crestview, United Local, Southern Local and CCCTC. There are over 620 FFA members in Columbiana County. Mahoning County has two primary FFA chapters providing agricultural education and leadership opportunities. These schools are West Branch Local Schools and the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (MCCTC).

All of these youth are future leaders who will provide community service forged around career skills, often growing into the next generation of local farms. Our youth are part of a statewide network that includes 341 chapters boasting 30,723 members.

As of the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, there were 1,129 farms in Columbiana County — covering 153,993 acres of land, with an average farm size of 136 acres. The total market value of products sold from these farms was approximately $172.5 million. Columbiana County is just one of 26 of Ohio’s 88 counties with a 1,000-plus farms.

It is all about heritage which is the FFA is about. Today’s farmers were yesterday’s youngsters. As farmers harvested their skills, they were passed down to the next generation. We see very familiar family names branded into barns across our local landscape. It’s what these families do, it’s what they know, it’s what they have been doing for decades.

FFA members take a creed based on deeds and not mere words. We see much of their fine work during events such as county fairs and 4H activities. Take a drive around local countrysides during farming season. You will often see the young working with their parents or grandparents out in the field.

A proud youngster at a fair showing an animal he or she raised is refreshing because of its sheer timelessness. It’s been said that farming is a business, science and even an art. Our area’s farmers reflect that. We can take assurance knowing that another generation is ascending to fulfill all that farmers do for us. The FAA motto is comprised of 12 words to live by: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Service.” We respond to that with two words of our own: Thank you