LaRue County FFA Students Put in the Work All Summer Long

While many students are taking a well-deserved break from school during the summer months, LaRue County High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter is anything but quiet.

Whether they’re preparing for state competitions or lending a helping hand in the community, these students are spending their summer break working hard and making a difference.

“As soon as school is out, we have students who come to school each day to practice,” shared Misty Bivens, one of the FFA advisors at LaRue County. “Some arrive as early as 7:00 a.m. to practice. It’s a culture that we’ve built over the years because instead of begging students to come in, they’re asking when we’re going to start.”

That commitment pays off in big ways. The summer calendar includes major events like the Kentucky FFA State Convention and FFA Camp, where students test their agricultural and farming skills, grow as leaders, and build lifelong friendships.

Bivens reflected on a conversation with a former student who used her FFA background to land a food service industry job shortly after graduation.

“She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do at first, but her knowledge and experience in food science gave her a real advantage,” Bivens said.

Beyond the competitions and career readiness, LaRue County FFA places a strong emphasis on character. Hard work and service are values woven into every aspect of the program, from early morning practices to monthly community service events like food distribution at local parks.

“Success isn’t just in contests,” Bivens said. “Hard work can’t just be for one thing. We want our students to be successful members of this community for a long time.”

That mindset has helped build LaRue County FFA’s long standing reputation for excellence. And with students spending their summers waking up early and serving their community, the future of that legacy looks bright.

As Bivens put it, “Sometimes students know that we are hard on them, but it’s always with love and the desire to make them better people.”