Coveted blue FFA jacket symbolizing character growth and memories awarded to four from Mitchell FFA

Oct. 13—MITCHELL — Mitchell High School senior Ally Henkel still remembers being a "shy, nervous little freshman" three years ago when she began her first year in FFA.

She remembers how her newly awarded, navy blue corduroy FFA jacket fit, arm sleeves boxy and stiff like cardboard, draped just a bit too large over her in anticipation of who she would become.

She's grown up, no longer the same shy and self-conscious person she was, as she says proudly. Now 18, she's the president of Mitchell's FFA chapter, a position that has taught her about time-management and responsibility — as well as a good deal of confidence.

Through tough days and fun ones, rain or shine, there's been a constant: her blue corduroy FFA jacket, a symbol that anchors every jacket wearer's memories to a simple piece of clothing they can sling onto their shoulders.

"I've been to everything with it on — all my leadership events and the national convention. It's been with me at every step," Henkel said.

Now, as president, she will have the honor of paying it forward, by handing the jacket to four Mitchell FFA members this fall — Natalie Marshall, Rylee Jennings, Shae Hohn and Cailee Kirkpatrick. They're part of a large crop of 450 jackets being awarded this fall across South Dakota, confirmed by state officials to be the largest number in state history.

Henkel remembers what it was like applying for the jacket, and getting it.

"I remember putting in my application as a nervous, fresh-faced new member," she said. "I did not think I was going to get it. When I did, I felt so excited."

"I encouraged Ally to complete an application ... [she] has always been curious and driven," said Karen Roudabush, the Mitchell FFA chapter's adviser. "She was — and is — a hard worker and I had a feeling that the FFA would become an important part of her life."

Despite what you may think, the jacket is a recognition of character more than simply farming prowess, Roudabush said. Applications are awarded on a criteria of essay questions discussing character traits.

FFA at its core, Roudabush said, is about developing responsible, hard-working and confident leaders. They go to many leadership-oriented events, including speech and business planning competitions. They also make a lot of networking connections, which Roudabush says can be invaluable as they embark on careers.

"A lot of people think that FFA is just farm kids," Roudabush said. "But it's so much more than that. It teaches kids how to look people in the eye, how to shake their hand, how to get up onstage and present in front of 250 people, how to be confident when your adviser springs an interview with the newspaper on you," she said, causing both to laugh. "Agriculture is just the tool we use to teach those things."

In the world of FFA, earning your blue corduroy jacket is a bit like earning your stripes. Through a selection process done by the state, each chapter submits applications for some of its students. It's competitive — each chapter can only submit one-tenth of its students' names for consideration. They may or may not be awarded.

But for those who do earn their jacket, it accompanies them through all that they do. Quite literally, the jacket carries all their memories.

One little secret about FFA jackets? They're intentionally sized a bit large when they're first awarded, often in members' first year.

"The thing about FFA jackets is that they don't change, usually this is the jacket members have the entire time they're in [FFA]," Roudabush said. "So when I say our FFA members are made in these jackets, it's — this — jacket. It's the one you shivered in in Indianapolis, the one you took off in Brookings because you were about to sweat to death, whatever the case may be, it's there."

Membership in FFA runs for four years of eligibility after high school. At the end of that, members officially take their jackets off for the last time during a ceremony, a bittersweet occasion.

But for a select few, between the first wear to the final one, the blue corduroy sees it all.