Mentorship matters in agriculture, and there are many ways to show others you care about them.
Take Enterprise FFA, for example. In 2018, this Oregon chapter created the “Little Buddies” mentorship program, which invites high school members to mentor elementary students in their community.
“We have about 35 FFA members involved in this program,” says Hannah Kate Sheehy, a senior who serves as the Enterprise FFA Chapter’s junior advisor and Little Buddies program chair. “Members are paired with elementary students based on similar interests. If an elementary student is really into basketball, then we try to pair them with a high school student who’s on the basketball team. If they are avid hunters, we pair them with an outdoorsy student who enjoys hunting.”
FFA members meet with their Little Buddies once per week from January through May. They kick off the program with a meet-and-greet event, where mentors create large, colorful signs featuring each participating student’s name. To kick off the event, these students run into the room and find their new “Big Buddy.”
“High school students spend a recess period with their buddy playing as well as talking about their week and interests,” Sheehy says. “They also invite their buddies to sporting events, FFA nights and support them at assemblies and music concerts. It’s rewarding to feel you’re helping young kids who need some extra attention. You feel like you’re a friend they can talk to.”
In addition to serving as role models, Enterprise FFA members lead interactive activities designed to help their mentees learn about agriculture, which includes Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“At the end of the school year, we have a doughnut party and spend time together before summer starts,” Sheehy says. “This program also encourages students who had mentors to become mentors when they enter high school.”
Interested in starting a mentor program in your own chapter? Enterprise FFA shares these six steps you can take to level up your mentoring skills.
- Pair each mentee with two mentors who are involved in different activities. If a mentor is absent for sports, clubs or illness, this ensures he or she won’t feel alone.
- Always do what is best for the mentee, even if that means playing hide-and-seek for the 50th time.
- Encourage healthy habits. If your student speaks up about doing something you know isn’t beneficial, encourage them to take a different course of action.
- Invite others into your mentoring time. You can’t always be there for the student you’re mentoring, so help them create additional relationships that will benefit them throughout their time in school and beyond.
- Consider giving your student a small gift at the end of the year. This token could help them feel special and remember your time together.
- Talk to your student about activities you’re involved in, then encourage them to get involved in activities when they get to high school.
Find Your Next Mentor
Whether you’re an FFA member, advisor, alum or supporter, the avenues for receiving mentorship are endless. The Forever Blue Network has 5,770 registered users, and 70% of users are willing to help mentor others. Join this network and begin connecting with potential mentors today.
You can also connect with potential mentors through attending networking events and getting plugged into the Impact FFA: Women Growing Women initiative.
