I am a Future Farmer of America

Holly Devine, Class of 2025

“I have been a student at Woodland Christian for six years. I became a Cardinal in 7th grade when my family moved here from Southern California, and now I’m a senior. This year, I’m honored to be part of the officer team for our FFA program. As the Sentinel, I help plan agricultural events in the community, organize FFA meetings, and oversee committee chairpersons. One of my favorite projects was planning AG Day for the preschool here at Woodland Christian, where we taught the preschoolers about Christmas trees and even let them take one home! This year, we are also planning a middle school AG Day.

What I love most about Woodland Christian is the variety of opportunities we have in our classes. I’ve been able to take the courses I’m passionate about, and my favorite year was my sophomore year. That year, I took Animal Anatomy, Floral Design, and a Film Studies class, all of which sparked my creativity. These classes included hands-on projects where we learned a concept and then applied it ourselves. I especially love that our agricultural education classes can count as A-G credits for college!

Woodland Christian has deepened my interest and love for agriculture. I’ve always been interested in veterinary school or a related career, but when I moved here, I realized how integral agriculture is to the Woodland community. Attending FFA events and experiencing the Ag outreach Woodland Christian provides opened my eyes to the many opportunities in this field. I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

The agricultural education program at Woodland Christian, which includes both Ag classes and FFA, has helped me grow in so many ways. I’ve learned that agriculture isn’t just about fields of crops—it encompasses a wide variety of disciplines. I’ve expanded my knowledge of animal and plant sciences, and I’ve had the chance to teach others about the importance of agriculture. Through FFA, I’ve developed skills like interviewing, professional representation, and public speaking. FFA also teaches students the value of caring for living things, which fosters diligence, commitment, and responsibility—skills that are essential for life.

Through Woodland Christian’s agricultural education program, my passion has expanded to include not only veterinary science but also plant science and horticulture. One of the highlights for me was a soils class, where I learned how to test soil, fertilize plants, and understand their growth. This class, along with many other activities, fueled my passion for agriculture.

I highly recommend that any new student join FFA—it opens doors to opportunities that you might not have otherwise. Mrs. Gumm, our FFA advisor, is incredible. She constantly pushes her members and officers to be their best, providing countless opportunities to explore ag-related careers and activities. Her guidance has been instrumental in my growth and success.”- Holly Devine, Class of 2025