National FFA brought the conversation about the future of agriculture to Capitol Hill this past week.
During a panel discussion in Washington, D.C., FFA members and industry leaders emphasized the vital role agricultural education and career and technical education play in preparing tomorrow’s workforce. Among those on the panel was 2025-2026 Indiana State FFA President, Kaitlyn Maruszewski.
She says, “Being able to advocate on that level was something that I’ve only had the opportunity to do a few times, and so I was really honored to be able to represent Indiana FFA and Indiana Agriculture on this panel over why agricultural education is important and how it correlates to FFA.”
Maruszewski also stressed that FFA is helping build the talent pipeline needed to support the future of agriculture, food production, and rural communities by developing skilled, career-ready graduates.
She added, “I think that the biggest message that I hope that they took away from the panel discussion is that agricultural education is important and it truly changes lives. Our industry is so vital to the world, and I believe that if we can get those lawmakers and policymakers to understand how FFA is trying to fuel that next generation of agriculturalists, I think that it will be really eye opening for them to see truly what our organization is doing and how it’s shaping the future.”
As demand continues to grow for skilled professionals in agriculture, Maruszewski says investing in agricultural education today is essential for the success of the industry tomorrow.
