Happy New Year! (Well, almost.) If you need a little kick in the door to make good on a resolution, perhaps the best place to begin might be with just 12 words: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” Those aren’t just an FFA motto, they’re a roadmap for how to grow as a leader, a teammate and a person in agriculture.
There’s something about a new year that just inspires us to hit reset. We ponder on what we want to change, what we want to be better at, and hope to achieve before the next December rolls around.
The problem is that many resolutions are too vague to last. “Be better” is a nice idea, but it doesn’t tell you what to do on a Monday afternoon when you’re tired, busy, and distracted. Minnesota FFA’s approach is practical: They’re encouraging members to focus on SMART goals (goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely) because “SMART goals help turn dreams into plans.” It’s hard to argue with that. Plans get done. Wishes don’t.
FFA members: Pick something real, and commit
If you are an FFA member, your resolution does not have to be earth-shattering. It simply needs to be your own. One of the best ways to take the next step in FFA involvement would be to get more involved in the organization, to go beyond the basics.
FFA chapters are not the property of the advisor or the officers but of the members themselves. This type of thinking takes on an entirely different attitude when members think the chapter belongs to them.
So maybe your resolution is to attend every meeting, to join a committee, to compete in a Career Development Event or Leadership Development Event, or to put serious effort into your Supervised Agricultural Experience. Even something as simple as talking to one new member at each meeting can change the culture of your chapter, and your own confidence.
Officers: Lead with intention
For officers, resolutions aren’t just personal, they ripple out to the entire chapter. This is the year to lead with clarity instead of chaos. A good officer team sets expectations, communicates consistently, and makes sure people feel welcome and needed. If you’re wearing an officer title, your resolution might be to become the kind of leader who follows through every time, not just when it’s convenient.
A great officer goal for the new year is to build a chapter-wide SMART goal. What are you working toward together? Membership growth, a stronger Program of Activities, more competition participation, increased service hours, or a better chapter climate? Pick one big goal, then break it down into smaller action steps you can measure. Progress builds momentum, and momentum is what keeps chapters strong after the excitement of the first few meetings fades.
For advisors (and supporters): Make the year count
Advisors and supportive alumni can use the new year as a checkpoint, too. This might be the year you focus on helping students reflect and take ownership. It might be the year you encourage more student-led planning, even if it’s not perfect the first time. Growth requires room to struggle a little.
One FFA editor put it simply: This season is a time to “reset our focus, reaffirm our priorities and reinvent ourselves — but only if we choose to.” That’s true for everyone: members, officers, advisors, and supporters alike. The year ahead will be busy. It will also go fast. The difference between “a year that happened” and “a year that mattered” often comes down to whether you set a goal and stick with it long enough to see it take shape.
So as the calendar turns, start with the 12 words that have guided generations before you. Then write a resolution that matches them. Make it specific. Make it measurable. Make it real. And most importantly, make it yours.
Heidi Crnkovic, is the Associate Editor for AGDAILY. She is a New Mexico native with deep-seated roots in the Southwest and a passion for all things agriculture.
