Over 70 FFA State Officers Take on Spain Through ILSSO

Image courtesy of the National FFA Organization

Over 70 FFA student members serving as state officers in their respective states started the new year by exploring the history, culture, and agricultural practices of Spain through National FFA’s International Leadership Seminar for State Officers.

ILSSO is an annual program designed to develop awareness of global agriculture and enhance cultural competency of student members. The traveling state officers help lead more than 1 million members in 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“During the trip, students had the opportunity to both demonstrate their knowledge and learn about diverse agriculture practices across the globe,” said Joe Martin, program specialist, advocacy, literacy and ag based experiences at the National FFA Organization. “These experiences overseas help state officers share the unique agriculture practices of Spain with the members of their home state associations.”

While the students had the opportunity to tour and experience the sights of various cities, they spent most of their time focused on agriculture practices in Spain. Participating members visited a cork factory outside of Barcelona, red fruit farm and Iberian ham producer near Sevilla, a citrus and cereal cooperative close to Cordoba, the white windmills in Consuegra and the John Deere Innovation Center in Madrid, among other exciting agriculture-focused activities.