Did You Know:  6 Celebrities Have Proudly Worn the FFA Blue Corduroy

For those of you who have been in FFA, you know that the youth organization is larger than just their chapter, their region, or even their state. The National FFA Organization is vital to its community and its members. For many FFA members, the organization molds them into hard-working individuals and leaders and gives them opportunities of a lifetime. With these types of skills, FFA members are set for success — some of which turn into success stories that became famous in the public eye. 

Some celebrities have a childhood which includes involvement in the National FFA Organization. Several of these celebrities have stayed close to their agriculture roots while others have strayed away. (And, it’s no surprise a lot of these folks have found their success in country music.) But, at one point or another, each one of these individuals has worn that famous blue corduroy jacket. 

Our list below is just the tip of the iceberg of famous people who made their mark in the entertainment industry and have been members of FFA. You can find a more complete list on the National FFA Organization’s website, including government officials and those in the business world. Here are six celebs who stand out:

1. Johnny Cash

Few singer-songwriters have impacted the country music scene in the way the late Johnny Cash did. The list of well-known songs from The Man in Black includes Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line, and Ring of Fire, and his almost countless number of studio albums spans the course of six decades. Originally from Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash was a member of the Dyess FFA Chapter. There he was elected as the vice president of his FFA chapter his senior year. Cash, who also was seen on television and in movies, died in 2003 at the age of 71.

2. Jim Davis

The Garfield character has long been a beloved one, and his likeness has been seen in comic strips, TV shows, and multiple movies. The character launched in 1976, and creator Jim Davis got his start in Fairmount, Indiana, and was a former FFA chapter president. We all probably know Garfield as a sarcastic, lazy, yet surprisingly endearing cat — “endearing” is the best one of those traits that applies to someone who was in FFA 

3. Trace Adkins 

A giant in the music industry — both literally at 6-foot-6 and figuratively with his chart-topping hits (This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing and Ladies Love Country Boys — Trace Adkins has never forgotten his youth in the National FFA Organization. Getting his start in Sarepta, Louisiana, Adkins has since used the fame from his musical career to bring awareness to things he is passionate about, including the Wounded Warriors Project. 

4. Cody Johnson 

In early 2021, Cody Johnson released a home video that showed how he started his music career — all thanks to FFA. As a former member of the Groveton FFA Chapter in Texas, Johnson says his FFA advisor pushed him to participate in the state talent competition while also serving as vice president of his chapter. Today, Johnson has more than half a dozen albums to his name.

5. Brantley Gilbert 

Brantley Gilbert used to be like so many other FFA members, living in a small town, with big dreams. Gilbert is from Jefferson, Georgia, and was a member of the Jefferson City FFA Chapter. During a successful music career — his 2011 hit Dirt Road Anthem is still a fan favorite — Gilbert came back to the organization to perform at the 2012 National FFA Convention & Expo. 

6. George Strait 

Often referred to as the King of Country, George Strait is a great example of a humble man who received fame, but stuck to his roots. Growing up in Pearsall, Texas, Strait even planned on becoming an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education from Southwest Texas State University. However, he found his calling in country music, and his talent and traditional cowboy style has spanned decades.

Although celebrities will come and go, the National FFA Organization is here to stay. It is fun to know that FFA Alumni have something in common with these celebrities — who all have proudly worn the blue jacket! 

EDITOR’S TAKE:

Just goes to show how the skills learned in FFA can transcend from agriculture to show biz and beyond. Most of your CAD team have also been associated with FFA over the course of their careers. We are proud to admit it, just like these famous celebrities are also proud it was part of their pathway to success. If you have not been involved in supporting FFA in your local area or state, please explore how you might do so going forward. Who knows, you might just be responsible for someone on the next list of celebs with an FFA background.