CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Tenn. — Leilah Crawford is a senior at Stone Memorial High School in Crossville. She's also a member of her school's local FFA chapter, a youth organization focusing on helping young people find successful careers in agriculture.
"I live on a sunflower farm," said Crawford. "But even before high school, I didn't live on a sunflower farm. But my family has always been involved in agriculture. And it was something I always had a deep passion for. When I got into high school, I took my first ever agriculture class and was highly stressed upon to join the club, and here I am."
She says she attended a national FFA conference and knew she wanted to make a difference.
"In June of 2022, I attended the Washington Leadership Conference. It's a week-long conference that the National FFA holds in Washington D.C. At this conference, I was challenged to create my own living-to-serve plan. When I left, the Washington Leadership Conference wasn't much of anything. It was really just, I knew I wanted it to be agriculture-based and education-based. So I came back to school last school year, not really knowing what I wanted it to be. I bounced a few ideas around, but nothing really hit that all-haul for me."
Crawford says after attending a state agriculture conference, she knew what she needed to do.
"Last summer, I had the privilege of being selected as one of the top-35 agriculture students in the state and I got to attend Tennessee's Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences," said Crawford. "And there, I got to meet so many new people. I got to see different sides of the agriculture industry I'd never seen before. When I came back, I just knew that I needed to get into the schools. And that's definitely what I wanted to do."
In total, she said with the money she raised, she was able to buy books students could read about agriculture, coloring books, and crayons. She raised enough money to provide supplies for about 2,500 students, which was all the pre-K through third-grade students in her school district.
"I raised $14,000," said Crawford. "I raised this through meeting with, like, my farm bureau board. I met with local clubs and organizations like Rotary, and I also just met with other businesses."
Some of the students who received a book say they already knew some things about farming.
"You have to put something in the ground to make the crops grow. And it takes water, water, sun and rain," said Logan Mills, a second grader in the school district.
"I knew that corn were in these bins. And I knew that crayons were made out of soybeans," said Colt Willis, a third grader.
The U.S. Census Bureau released data showing the average age of farmers, ranchers, and producers is getting older. Leilah says with this increase in age, it's important for younger people to be informed and carry on the legacy.
"Someday these farmers are going to have to retire," said Crawford. "And I know it's so important for us to have a sustainable and maintainable food source. And I just feel like if I'm going to build our food source, and just our agriculture industry, all it is through these younger people because they truly are the future of tomorrow."