For students across Nebraska, FFA is more than an organization. It is an opportunity to develop leadership skills, explore careers, build confidence and make a difference in their communities. Through program affiliation, more students can experience those opportunities as part of their agricultural education journey.
The Nebraska FFA Foundation is helping make that access possible by providing $115,000 to the Nebraska FFA Association to support program affiliation for 92 Nebraska FFA chapters. Made possible through a grant from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, this investment will help fund affiliation for Nebraska chapters for the next two program years.
What is Program Affiliation?
Program affiliation is a membership structure that connects FFA membership directly to agricultural education. Rather than requiring each student to pay individual membership dues, an affiliated chapter pays a scaled fee based on its agricultural education program enrollment.
Under the affiliation model, eligible students enrolled in secondary agricultural education programs are recognized as FFA members and can access the benefits and opportunities offered through FFA.
The idea is simple: FFA is an integral part of agricultural education, and every student should have the opportunity to benefit from the leadership development, hands-on learning and personal growth that FFA provides.
Affiliation vs Traditional Dues
The difference between affiliation and the traditional dues model comes down to how students access membership. With the traditional dues model, students become FFA members when their individual membership dues are paid. As a result, only students with paid memberships receive FFA membership benefits and opportunities.
With the affiliation model, a chapter pays one fee based on its agricultural education enrollment. Instead of membership being limited to students who pay individual dues, eligible students in the program are automatically included.
As illustrated in the Affiliation vs. Dues infographic provided by the Nebraska FFA Association, affiliation is designed to reach “Every student, every class, every day.” It supports the integration of classroom instruction, experiential learning and leadership development, while helping remove financial barriers that may limit participation. This approach can also help chapters plan and budget for membership while broadening the reach of FFA’s mission and vision.
Making a Difference for Students & Educators
Through the Howard G. Buffett Foundation grant, the Nebraska FFA Foundation is helping cover the cost of program affiliation for 92 Nebraska FFA chapters for the next two program years.
For agricultural educators, that support means fewer barriers between students and the opportunities FFA provides. Hampton FFA Advisor Joel Miller has seen how affiliation can make a difference in student participation.
“It has been a relief that I know that all students are members and able to participate in all FFA activities throughout the entire year. It has lead some students that may never have joined to realize the importance of being involved in an organization," said Miller. "This levels the playing field. All ‘pay’ the same and all are provided every benefit presented to them."
Elgin FFA Advisor Julia Schwartz also sees affiliation as an important step toward making FFA more affordable and accessible.
“Affiliation will allow Elgin FFA to reduce upfront membership dues, making participation more affordable and accessible for all students," said Schwartz. "One of our chapter’s primary goals is to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent any student from experiencing the opportunities FFA has to offer. Through affiliation, we have made significant progress toward achieving this goal, not only for the current school year but for years to come."
Beyond membership and affordability, affiliation can also strengthen how students experience all three components of agricultural education: classroom and laboratory instruction, FFA, and Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs).
“There is no doubt that being an affiliated chapter has created a more holistic three-circle experience. All students can participate in experiential learning and leadership development,” said Cole Blomendahl, Mead ag teacher and FFA advisor.
Lyons-Decatur Northeast instructor Kevin Anderson has also seen a shift in how he talks with students about getting involved.
“I get to reframe the discussion of opportunities. In the past it was first their choice to join and then second their choice to be active. Now, the conversation starts with the opportunities available to them,” he said.
With affiliation, educators can focus on helping students explore the opportunities available through FFA rather than first navigating the decision and cost of individual membership. It helps make FFA a more integrated part of the agricultural education experience.
The impact of this investment extends to agricultural educators, too. By helping cover affiliation costs, the funding provides chapters with greater financial stability and allows educators to devote more time to their students.
"Rather than having to dedicate as much time and effort toward fundraising to offset these expenses, we can focus more of our energy on developing our students, expanding educational opportunities, and helping our FFA members grow as leaders in their school and community,” said Brandon Grosserode of the Elkhorn Valley FFA Chapter.
Investing in the Future of Nebraska FFA
This investment is about more than membership fees—it's about helping ensure that students have opportunities to participate, discover their potential and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives and careers.
When more students can be involved in FFA, more students can experience leadership opportunities, career exploration, service and personal growth. And when FFA is accessible to every eligible student in an ag ed program, chapters can build stronger, more inclusive programs that serve their schools and communities.
