Coalition questions strategic priorities and religious freedom protections within national organization.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
More than 100 former officers of the National Future Farmers of America have sent a joint letter to the organization’s chief executive officer, raising concerns that the group has adopted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives that they believe divert from its core agricultural mission.
According to a report by Just the News, the former officers expressed concern that the organization has shifted focus away from developing future agricultural leaders and toward broader ideological frameworks.
In the letter, led by former FFA Vice President Laila Down, who served from 2008 to 2009, the group wrote that they are “increasingly concerned that FFA has strayed from its core mission, rooted in traditional values and merit, and is adopting a top-down approach to instilling themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion among its membership as well as the suppression of officers’ religious freedom.”
FFA Officer Letter to Mr. Stump-FINAL by yourNEWS Media
The coalition outlined several observations, including what they described as an increased emphasis on DEI initiatives in the organization’s 2022–2025 Strategic Plan, the hiring of staff dedicated to DEI roles, the renaming of certain DEI-related components, and allegations that FFA officers were reprimanded for publicly expressing their religious beliefs. The letter was delivered to CEO Scott Stump on Thursday, though the group did not provide detailed documentation of specific incidents.
“We respectfully urge you to reconsider this direction, which is grossly out of scope, and refocus FFA on its foundational mission: agriculture, leadership, and merit, without ideological frameworks,” the former officers wrote in the letter obtained by Just the News.
The organization has also faced congressional scrutiny. The House Ways & Means Committee recently sent a letter to National FFA, raising questions about its alleged adoption of DEI practices and a partnership with the Syngenta Group, which lawmakers described as being controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. The inquiry is available here.
In response, National FFA said it would cooperate fully with the congressional review. In a statement reported by Hoosier Ag Today, the organization said it is a nonprofit, nonpartisan entity dedicated to developing students’ leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
“The National FFA Organization is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that serves 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,” the statement said. “While FFA accepts support from generous donors and sponsors throughout the agricultural and agri-business community, it does not and cannot advocate the views for any donor or sponsor. FFA has received a Congressional inquiry about one of our sponsors, and it intends to cooperate fully.”
The letter from former officers and the congressional inquiry mark the latest developments in an ongoing debate about the direction of the century-old agricultural leadership organization.
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