FFA Taps New CEO with Deep FFA Roots, Passion for Career and Technical Education

The National FFA Organization announces it has named Scott Stump as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective Monday, June 21. Stump also takes the leadership role as CEO of the National FFA Foundation.

The Purdue University alum has a deep history of FFA. His father was his FFA advisor, and his passion for FFA was planted early.

“There is a big weight on my shoulders as I step into this role June 21, and a lot of expectation, and I hope to deliver on that,” Stump told Chip Flory on AgriTalk. “I have been preparing really my whole life since being an FFA member in the early 1980s to be ready for this.”

Today, Stump lives on a small ranch in Stoneham, Colo., with his wife, Denise and their three children, Brady, Ross and Emma.

Stump’s focus on education, career and technical education, including FFA, has been steadfast over the years.

“It came from having two educators as parents,” he said on AgriTalk. “Both my mom and dad were trained educators. Dad was my ag teacher and my FFA advisor, and Mom was also the 4-H club advisor. So, when you think about setting up this notion of you've got to continue to keep growing, it comes squarely from them.”

Stump says the FFA organization has grown and evolved since he joined the organization in 1981, just as agriculture as expanded its reach.

“It's changed to reflect the industry that we serve and that we are preparing the talent for,” says Stump. “So, we have to continue to adjust and grow and expand. We're currently at just over three-quarters of a million students across this nation that represents kind of the historic origin of FFA in the rural communities, but with great expansion: indoor, suburban and urban corridors where individuals are getting interested and excited about the whole food products and processing systems.”

Stump says as FFA continues to widen its reach and diversify its membership, FFA’s role in helping shape the future of agriculture has never been more important.

“Programs continue to grow across the nation from California to Colorado to areas where we're being able to step into and create a new relationship with individuals who might never have had a first-hand experience with agriculture,” Stump adds. “As they pursue their career path, whether they stay directly in the industry – which we hope they do, because our employers and places for new entrepreneurship are wide-open for opportunities – but also should they choose to go into another profession, they will be prepared to do that.”

Stump’s background in education doesn’t just stem from his FFA experience. He spent 13 years in the Colorado Community College system, a time that Stump says he not only values but continues to learn from.

“The FFA and agriculture education, which is the classroom component of it, really needs to be a continuum of preparing young people to move directly from that high school experience, either into a post-secondary program, whether that's an apprenticeship, or an industry certification, a two-year degree or a four-year degree,” he says. “There's opportunities in our industry for students that are prepped with all of those variety of skills. And so, really enhancing that connection between our high school and our college programs.”

Stump believes allowing FFA members to truly dive into the FFA mission statement, with personal growth and career success through agricultural education, is key. He believes the experiences FFA members can gain from not just the classroom but career development events as well, are what will propel FFA members into the future with the skills needed to succeed.

“Less than one in three high school students has a job,” he said on AgriTalk. “Historically, that number was closer to 50% to 60%. But only a third of high school students in any given year are actively working. And so, they're not gaining experience, not getting the skills needed to really be ready (for the workforce). I think we need to double down and continue to expand on this opportunity for more students.”

Stump’s vision for the organization is planting excitement in the organization. National FFA advisor and board chair James Woodard shared the news with state FFA and agricultural education leaders and National FFA staff earlier this week.

“The opportunity to select Scott Stump as the new CEO is exciting for the National FFA board of directors. Scott is a leader with credibility, vision and passion for the agricultural education profession,” Woodard says. “The process for selecting Scott was both inclusive and transparent. The respondents of the survey provided great insight into the needs of the organization. I want to professionally thank all who provided input to the selection process.”

According to National FFA, Stump began his career as an agriculture teacher in Manchester, Ind., where he taught for two years. He then worked for the National FFA Organization, where he managed the national officer team and the National FFA Convention & Expo. From 2007 through 2014, he served as the assistant provost and state director for career and technical education with the Colorado Community College System, where he also served as state FFA advisor, agriculture program director and interim president of Northeastern Junior College during the institution’s presidential search process.