National FFA CEO visits Canutillo High School club chapter

The iconic blue corduroy jackets were out at Canutillo High on Wednesday morning as students in the storied FFA program at the school welcomed a very special guest: National FFA CEO Scott Stump.

While in the El Paso area for meetings, Stump made it a point to stop by the Canutillo High School FFA Chapter — one of the most active in the region given the historic ties to farming that exist in our community. His visit afforded our students a once-in-a-lifetime experience to mingle and speak with a national newsmaker.

From candid conversations and thoughtful questions, to sharing the fascinating backstory behind FFA’s legendary blue jacket, Stump’s visit reminded everyone why FFA is so much more than an organization … it’s a family.

“I am in El Paso for another meeting, but whenever I am traveling on behalf of the National FFA, I do love to visit the local chapters because that is where the real magic happens,” Stump said. “This is wonderful, the FFA members being in official dress this morning, it’s the one thing that unites us all across the country with our million FFA members nationwide. That blue jacket is iconic with the fabric of FFA, and they look awfully sharp this morning and I’m excited to spend the day here.”

Students listened intently as Stump spoke about leadership, opportunity and the lasting impact of agricultural education and even revealed how the instantly recognizable blue corduroy jacket became a symbol of unity for FFA members across the nation.

For Canutillo High School junior Reed Gil, the visit was both inspiring and empowering.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the National FFA CEO to come visit our school and I think it’s a very good opportunity for networking and for other FFA members to see where this club can take you career wise,” said Gil, who also serves as the Rocky Mountain District President and Canutillo High School FFA Vice President.

Senior Allison Schneider, an Area Officer, Area Vice President and the Canutillo High School FFA Chapter President, echoed that excitement and pride.

“You don’t get to really see big people come down to see schools. Our school was the one in Texas he chose out of all others, and I think that is a really cool experience and all of our members got to meet the National CEO,” Schneider said. “I wanted him to see what our program is about. We are one of the schools in El Paso to participate in FFA, so it was really cool for him to come see what we do here at Canutillo High School.”

Beyond the recognition, Schneider shared how FFA has shaped her personally.

“It helped me become a public speaker. My freshman year I was scared to try anything and this program has opened me up to many experiences and helped me figure out what I wanted to do after high school,” she said.

Stump’s visit left a lasting impression, not just because of who he is, but because of what he reinforced, that leadership starts locally, opportunity grows through involvement and every blue jacket tells a story worth celebrating. For Canutillo High School FFA members, it was a day filled with pride, inspiration and a powerful reminder that the “real magic” of FFA is happening right in their own classroom.