This episode centers on the relaunch of an FFA program in Soda Springs and why ag education matters far beyond welding, livestock, or competitions. Tracy, Casey , Cade, and Mo sit down with Maddie, a first-year ag teacher and FFA advisor, to talk about rebuilding a chapter, serving students with and without ag backgrounds, and creating a classroom where kids feel welcome enough to stay. In this episode, we hear from Tracy, Casey, Cade, Mo, and Maddie, who each bring a different angle to the conversation: leadership, personal testimony, community support, and the practical realities of starting a program from scratch. The main themes are ag education, FFA culture, and the work it takes to give students confidence, skills, and belonging.
Key topics
- In this episode: Maddie shares how she grew up around agriculture in Twin Falls, got involved through horses and FFA, and eventually studied agricultural education with a journalism minor at the University of Idaho.
- Cade explains the difference between 4-H and FFA, especially how FFA builds networking, public speaking, leadership, and long-term relationships that last well beyond high school.
- The group breaks down what it means to recharter an FFA chapter and why timing mattered in Soda Springs, since waiting too long would have meant starting the whole charter process over.
- Maddie talks through the realities of restarting the classroom space, including cleaning out the shop, replacing countertops, repainting, and creating a room students actually want to walk into.
- Tracy connects the chapter rebuild to CTE, student engagement, and the larger community effort needed to make a program sustainable.
- Cade shares a personal story about how a strong ag teacher changed his life, helped him grow into leadership, and pushed him into opportunities he never would have chosen on his own.
- The episode spends a lot of time on how FFA reaches different kinds of students, including kids without an ag background, quiet students, and students who need a place to belong.
- Maddie explains career development events, leadership development events, supervised agricultural experience projects, and how those pieces turn classroom learning into real-world skills.
- The conversation also covers funding basics, including jacket costs, labor exchange work opportunities, travel expenses, and how the community can help without just writing checks.
- The episode closes with optimism about the chapter’s growth, early student turnout, and the hope that FFA becomes a lasting part of Soda Springs again.
Timestamps
00:00 - Mustache jokes, opening banter, and welcoming Mo back to the lounge
00:58 - Fair season stories and the first jokes about Cade getting recognized
02:20 - Introducing Maddie and the long road to bringing FFA back
04:21 - Why Soda Springs needed a strong ag program again
05:20 - Maddie’s background in Montana, Twin Falls, and early ag experiences
06:44 - How FFA and 4-H pulled Maddie deeper into agriculture
07:41 - What makes 4-H different from FFA
08:34 - Leadership, record keeping, and how 4-H feeds into FFA
09:32 - College at the University of Idaho and the journalism connection
10:00 - Why FFA builds community in a way other clubs do not
10:58 - Why Maddie chose Soda Springs over other job offers
12:20 - Cade’s memories of lifelong FFA friendships and buddy systems
14:20 - What students lost during the years the chapter was quiet
15:15 - Career development events and leadership competitions
16:10 - Rechartering the chapter before losing it
17:30 - Fixing the classroom environment and why cleanliness matters
19:27 - Competing for student schedules and reaching kids who need a home
20:26 - Why there is a place in FFA for students without ag backgrounds
21:20 - Range science, meats judging, and the power of hands-on learning
23:17 - Cade’s personal testimony about being overlooked and then believed in
27:12 - The blue jacket, state conventions, and life-changing experiences
30:32 - Small-town schools, the “Sarge” story, and learning discipline
33:11 - Why community support matters during the first few years
35:37 - Maddie’s goals for student growth, not just banners and trophies
37:04 - The first chapter social and the importance of getting kids together early
37:34 - What the shop looked like before cleanup and what it looks like now
40:21 - Fundraising, community support, and the February 16 FFA bingo night
42:42 - What a first-year chapter actually costs, including jackets and travel
45:04 - State convention, state CDEs, and what students get from the bigger FFA world
45:50 - The hidden cost of not having a social life while building a chapter
47:09 - Why Maddie’s age and location make the job unusually demanding
48:06 - Early chapter turnout and the surprise of getting 25 signed up
49:33 - Cade on being an ag teacher outside the classroom through show animals
51:29 - How FFA reaches more student types than most activities
52:22 - Parliamentary procedure, mullets, and the humor of competition
55:13 - SAE projects and how students learn record keeping through real life
56:26 - The reality of working alone as a first-year advisor
58:01 - Welding training, OSHA, and what students should realistically leave with
60:27 - How ag education connects students to trade careers and real wages
61:24 - Balancing dreams with reality in careers like welding and veterinary medicine
62:45 - Why national convention is a future goal, not a first-year one
65:28 - National Blue, corn gold, and the meaning behind FFA colors
66:20 - Opening ceremonies, officer roles, and memorization under pressure
67:44 - A funny mishap during an induction speech
68:44 - Retiring addresses and the emotional side of state leadership
70:28 - Guest speakers, Simplot, and bringing in outside voices
71:48 - Idaho State FFA officers visiting and inspiring students
72:45 - Midyear enrollment, showing animals, and jacket delivery
73:32 - How to reach Soda Springs FFA and get involved
74:29 - Rapid fire: livestock vs. shop, fair food, welding hood, and more
76:09 - What success looks like one year from now
77:07 - Closing thoughts on why FFA matters in the community
00:58 - Fair season stories and the first jokes about Cade getting recognized
02:20 - Introducing Maddie and the long road to bringing FFA back
04:21 - Why Soda Springs needed a strong ag program again
05:20 - Maddie’s background in Montana, Twin Falls, and early ag experiences
06:44 - How FFA and 4-H pulled Maddie deeper into agriculture
07:41 - What makes 4-H different from FFA
08:34 - Leadership, record keeping, and how 4-H feeds into FFA
09:32 - College at the University of Idaho and the journalism connection
10:00 - Why FFA builds community in a way other clubs do not
10:58 - Why Maddie chose Soda Springs over other job offers
12:20 - Cade’s memories of lifelong FFA friendships and buddy systems
14:20 - What students lost during the years the chapter was quiet
15:15 - Career development events and leadership competitions
16:10 - Rechartering the chapter before losing it
17:30 - Fixing the classroom environment and why cleanliness matters
19:27 - Competing for student schedules and reaching kids who need a home
20:26 - Why there is a place in FFA for students without ag backgrounds
21:20 - Range science, meats judging, and the power of hands-on learning
23:17 - Cade’s personal testimony about being overlooked and then believed in
27:12 - The blue jacket, state conventions, and life-changing experiences
30:32 - Small-town schools, the “Sarge” story, and learning discipline
33:11 - Why community support matters during the first few years
35:37 - Maddie’s goals for student growth, not just banners and trophies
37:04 - The first chapter social and the importance of getting kids together early
37:34 - What the shop looked like before cleanup and what it looks like now
40:21 - Fundraising, community support, and the February 16 FFA bingo night
42:42 - What a first-year chapter actually costs, including jackets and travel
45:04 - State convention, state CDEs, and what students get from the bigger FFA world
45:50 - The hidden cost of not having a social life while building a chapter
47:09 - Why Maddie’s age and location make the job unusually demanding
48:06 - Early chapter turnout and the surprise of getting 25 signed up
49:33 - Cade on being an ag teacher outside the classroom through show animals
51:29 - How FFA reaches more student types than most activities
52:22 - Parliamentary procedure, mullets, and the humor of competition
55:13 - SAE projects and how students learn record keeping through real life
56:26 - The reality of working alone as a first-year advisor
58:01 - Welding training, OSHA, and what students should realistically leave with
60:27 - How ag education connects students to trade careers and real wages
61:24 - Balancing dreams with reality in careers like welding and veterinary medicine
62:45 - Why national convention is a future goal, not a first-year one
65:28 - National Blue, corn gold, and the meaning behind FFA colors
66:20 - Opening ceremonies, officer roles, and memorization under pressure
67:44 - A funny mishap during an induction speech
68:44 - Retiring addresses and the emotional side of state leadership
70:28 - Guest speakers, Simplot, and bringing in outside voices
71:48 - Idaho State FFA officers visiting and inspiring students
72:45 - Midyear enrollment, showing animals, and jacket delivery
73:32 - How to reach Soda Springs FFA and get involved
74:29 - Rapid fire: livestock vs. shop, fair food, welding hood, and more
76:09 - What success looks like one year from now
77:07 - Closing thoughts on why FFA matters in the community
Notable quotes
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“There is always a place in FFA for you, even if you do not have an ag background.”
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“I would not be who I am today without the blue jacket.”
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“My goal is to train somebody that’s better than me.”
Action items
- Show up to support the chapter and attend the FFA bingo fundraiser on February 16.
- Encourage students to join if they are interested in agriculture, welding, animals, or leadership.
- Invite community members and industry partners to speak or help mentor students.
- Support the new shop and classroom efforts as they continue to be built out.
- Help students with first-time showing, chapter involvement, and finding an ag pathway that fits them.