The Texas FFA has a vested interest in ensuring that each new chapter reflects the values and elements of an effective chapter. To guarantee success, new chapters attend Texas FFA’s Jump START Academy - where Successful Teams Achieve Results Together.

The conference was created to help students “jump start” their newly chartered FFA chapters and begin a legacy that will live on in their community for years to come.

“Chartering a new chapter is no easy feat,” said Denton-Braswell FFA advisor, Shannon McCuistion. “Students and advisors should know that it takes time, effort, sweat, tears, and even a little blood to get a great chapter up and running in Texas.”

The one-day conference is conducted multiple times across the state. This allows numerous new chapters the opportunity to attend, despite their location. The event offers a dynamic team building exercise, a chance to learn about officer roles and responsibilities, and methods for building a Program of Activities.

“There are a lot of details you can't understand the importance of by yourself,” said Keller FFA Vice President, Ali Skordinski. “It gave us a chance to connect with other chapters so that we have even more people to learn from.”

The Texas FFA has more than 1,000 active FFA chapters within the state. Each chapter is striving to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

“Building of purpose statements and a mission statement allowed my students to form a vision for our chapter,” said Shadow Creek FFA Advisor, Stacy Hageman. “Their unified vision gave my students a feeling of unity to carry throughout our charter year.”

Once the instructional program is verified and approved, a chapter number and temporary charter is issued. A temporary charter allows a new local chapter to participate just like any other chapter, but expires at the end of the membership year during which an official charter is issued.