Abigayle Lett

In agriculture, we learn very early on that storms are unavoidable. Crops face droughts, floods, pests and unpredictable weather, but farmers keep planting. That lesson carries far beyond the field. FFA members face different storms of their own. For me, I’ve felt them during tough contest seasons, challenges in my SAE project that didn’t go as planned, and times when balancing school, FFA and life felt very overwhelming. In those moments, it can feel like the rain will never stop. But there’s a line from a song that always reminds me to keep going: “every storm runs out of rain, every dark night turns into day.” 

Missouri FFA is built on growth through adversity. Throughout my FFA journey, I’ve learned strong leadership doesn’t come from easy days. Instead, it’s shaped by the hard ones. When I didn’t achieve a goal, lost a competition or questioned where I fit in, I quickly realized those moments became the soil where resilience grew. Just like crops need rain to develop strong roots, the challenges we face as FFA members push us all to grow stronger in character, confidence and determination. 

The blue corduroy jacket we all wear represents more than achievements. It represents perseverance. Every emblem tells a different story of effort, learning and pushing through doubt. Behind every successful FFA member is a season where quitting feels like it is the only way, but we keep going anyway. Agriculture reminds us that after the rain comes growth. The fields recover, crops grow stronger and people do, too. When one storm ends, it creates space for new opportunities, clearer skies and fresh beginnings just like that dark night turning into day. So when the clouds feel heavy, I remember this: every storm runs out of rain. Keep showing up and keep trusting the process.

I still remember the excitement I felt when I was in sixth grade and my oldest cousin joined FFA. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. From the jackets to the early morning FFA events and the excitement of barnwarming, I couldn’t wait.  But when my time finally came, the excitement fell quickly. Instead of feeling proud, I felt behind. 

I didn’t have an impressive Supervised Agricultural Experience. I barely knew anything about agriculture, let alone leadership. I started doubting myself. Every shortcoming felt huge and, slowly, comparison began stealing the joy I once felt in ag class. A place I had loved became a place where I was constantly asking for help just to understand. 

As I stepped into the next year, something shifted. I found areas where I thrived and some of my classmates struggled. Slowly, I started to see that everyone struggles somewhere. Maybe you are great in the greenhouse but lost in animal science. Maybe you’ve never touched a welding torch but you light up during a speech. I started to understand that success in FFA doesn’t just follow one path. Just as I was beginning to look at things differently, one of my best friends shared a quote with me. “Don’t let comparison be the thief of your joy.” It hit me hard. I had been so focused on what I wasn’t that I forgot to appreciate who I was and how far I had come. 

Whether you’re just starting your FFA journey or finishing your final year, I hope you always remember this: 

• Stop comparing. Start growing.
• Your journey is yours alone.
• You are good enough!

Keep showing up. Keep trying your best and above all, don’t let comparison steal the joy YOU have earned.