FFA Bee Project Nurtures Lifelong Skills

When Kenzi Williams entered Canadian High School as a freshman, she was pretty sure she knew the career path she wanted to follow.

“I wanted to go into physical therapy, and that’s definitely a lot different than what I’m planning on doing now,” Williams, a junior, said. “That mainly is just because I got involved in FFA. It really opened up my eyes to what all the (agriculture) industry has to teach me and what I can do in the industry.”

Now, Williams has her eyes set on a career in agribusiness and agricommunications where she can share stories about those in the industry, she said. Though she started participating in FFA in seventh grade, it was in high school where she began to blossom and hone her leadership and business skills to support her business, Middle of Nowhere Bee Farms, which she manages on her family’s property in Higgins.

When people hear the name FFA, they likely aren’t thinking about beekeeping. FFA was founded in 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, by a group of farmers wanting to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. Originally known as Future Farmers of America, the name was updated in 1988 to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the agriculture industry.

A Community Cornerstone

Canadian ISD’s FFA program was chartered in 1936 and has 144 active members in high school and 24 junior members at the middle school. The district, located in the small town of Canadian about 100 miles northeast of Amarillo, has about 800 students.

The district’s rural setting in the Texas Panhandle makes opportunities like FFA even more meaningful, said Superintendent Julia McMains. “Agriculture remains a cornerstone of our community, and our students benefit from learning in ways that are connected to their surroundings, their families, and the industries that help sustain our region,” McMains said.

“Our agricultural science teachers have done an exceptional job building a program that not only supports FFA success, but also prepares students for college, careers, and entrepreneurship.”

Agriculture influences the life of every Texan, every day, said Stacy K. Vincent, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at Texas A&M University.

“With one in seven Texas jobs — more than 4.4 million positions — connected to the agriculture and natural resources sector, agricultural education is not simply an elective; it is a vital component of our state’s economic strength and community resilience,” Vincent said.

For school districts, the impact is both immediate and long term, he said. “Agricultural education provides a direct pathway to high‑demand careers while cultivating informed, engaged citizens who contribute to the well‑being of their local communities.”

Buzzworthy Business

Williams’ interest in beekeeping began when her mother suggested they take a class, and it blossomed from there.

Getting the apiary up and running meant Williams' family had to initially purchase a lot of equipment. Among the many items were the hives that house the bees, internal frames, a protective beekeeping suit, equipment to extract the honey, smokers, other hive tools, and last but not least, the bees.

Initially, Williams had three hives, with about one to two pounds of bees per hive or roughly 12,000 bees. But a well-established hive can have as many as 50,000 bees.

As a seventh grader, the apiary was just a hobby. Upon entering high school, she began to see it as a business opportunity.

“We started talking about our fall contest and my ag teacher knew that I raised bees,” she said. “After we had competed, my ag teacher talked to me about doing an SAE (supervised agricultural experience) and he explained what it was, and how I could tie it from a business to FFA.”

The SAE program allows students to participate in practical agricultural activities outside of classroom and laboratory time, according to FFA. It also offers students real-world career experiences in an agriculture area that interests them.

A Hive of Activity

Williams uses the honey and beeswax she collects to make a variety of products, including soap, lotion, salves, lip balms, shampoo, and she is working on formulating a hair conditioner. She sells the items at farmers’ markets, including the one in Canyon, and through her family’s retail space.

“We didn’t start out with a plan to make the soap, but my mom owns dairy goats, and she was having a lot of milk production and was wondering, ‘What can we do with all this extra milk?’” she said. “Over time, as we both figured out how to make the soap, we decided to start adding in some of the bee products.”

Williams’ business also provides bee extrication services. When she does a removal, she may try to keep the bees — if she has the space — or rehome them to other hives.

Tending her apiary keeps her busy, requiring care year-round, even in winter. She leaves enough honey for the hive as a food source for the winter. “Then, they eat the honey and make more. And them working is what helps heat the hive,” she said.

More than ‘Cows, Plows, and Sows’

While FFA has its roots in production agriculture, over the years, agriculture has grown and changed, said Kristy Meyer, communications manager for the National FFA Organization, which is headquartered in Indianapolis.

“Agriculture is all around us — from the food we eat to the fuel we use to the clothes we wear,” Meyer said. “With more than 350 careers in agriculture, we strive to prepare our members to be the next generation of leaders. We see that leadership every day in our members — from their dedication in the classroom, in their leadership skills, and how they continuously give back to the communities around them through various community services.”

Williams is a fitting example of that leadership, McMains said, adding that through FFA, she has developed leadership skills, confidence, and a strong work ethic.

“Combined with the academic knowledge she gained in the classroom, those experiences allowed her to create and grow an entrepreneurial venture beyond school,” McMains said. “Stories like hers reflect the purpose of these programs and the lasting impact they can have on students’ lives.”

Williams takes honors classes, dual credit courses, participates in National Honor Society, student council, and helps with yearbook. She also has a 4.3 GPA and is president of her FFA chapter.

Rebecca Noggler, an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Canadian High School, said Williams has won multiple awards for the work she’s done with her SAE. She has won proficiency awards in the specialty animals area and the Star Greenhand award, where she was a state finalist in agribusiness. Last year, she was the Star Chapter State Winner in Agribusiness.

Noggler wished similar opportunities were available when she was a student.

“It was more cows, plows, and sows, farming and animal raising. But now, it’s bigger,” she said. “There are more leadership opportunities. These kids have a chance to grow and meet people in the community, and they get to start the internships a lot younger. And that sets their pathway, whether they want to go career based, or they want to go research based, or anything in that direction.”

The students tend a variety of animals, Noggler said. From sheep to goats, steers to heifers, rabbits to pigs, and chickens to bees. And their interests aren’t limited to just animals.

Today’s agricultural education programs extend far beyond traditional farming, Vincent said. They prepare students for careers in medical sciences, community development, food security, environmental management, and economic analysis.

“As Texas communities continue to evolve, these programs help develop a workforce that is innovative, adaptable, and prepared to meet the challenges ahead,” he said.

Bee Public

Across the U.S., there are more than 1 million FFA members and 9,407 local chapters. While 64% of members are in rural communities, the remaining 36% are in cities, towns, and suburbs, according to FFA.

And the connection between FFA and public schools is still strong, with 92% of chapters publicly funded.

“By supporting robust agricultural education programs, school boards ensure that Texas students are equipped not only to succeed academically, but also to contribute meaningfully to their local economies and to the long‑term vitality of our state,” Vincent said.

Canadian ISD provides funding for the program as needed, said Rudy Godino, Canadian ISD Board of Trustees president.

“We encourage partnerships with local businesses, including HVAC, plumbers, and welders, to name a few,” he said. “We support the advisors in their professional growth because it benefits our students.”

McMains said the Canadian ISD board is intentional and forward-thinking when it comes to ensuring students have access to a wide range of opportunities to explore their interests and career goals.

“FFA is one important part of that commitment, but it is not the only one,” she said. “Our students can earn college credit through dual credit and dual enrollment courses, and they can pursue certifications in health science, information technology, drone aviation, agricultural science, and other career and technical education pathways. These options allow students to personalize their educational experience while gaining practical skills that matter.”

Bee Positive

Williams’ teachers have watched her grow through the program, and this year, she is like a different person, said Marshall Swafford, another Canadian High School agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.

“Kenzi is most definitely the type of young person who benefits from all that the FFA has to offer,” Swafford said. “By participating on a variety of CDE (career development events) teams, she has learned the value of teamwork and how to be a good team member to support her fellow members/students.”

The hands-on learning through FFA, tied with what students gain in the classroom, are both important skills for students, Godino said.

“Through these experiences, it helps students be better prepared for the real world as they move on to their next steps in their careers,” he said.

All that Williams has learned about bees and her business couldn’t prepare her for some of the challenges she has experienced.

In February 2024, the Smokehouse Creek Fire — the largest wildfire in Texas history, affected towns in Hemphill, Roberts, and Lipscomb counties, including Canadian and Higgins, where Williams’ family lives. The fire grew to more than 1 million acres, destroying homes and causing two deaths.

“After the fire happened, the smoke stayed for a week or two, and that is when we started noticing that our hive health was decreasing,” she said. “Over time, the hives that decreased in health just ended up leaving, probably looking for somewhere else where they could have better vegetation without some of the environmental stressors.”

Between the fires and other environmental factors such as pests and drought, Williams has had her share of obstacles.

“I think one of my biggest takeaways is that sometimes things don’t always go your way,” she said. “Like your bees have gone, but you can always come back stronger. After all my bees had left, I’ve had to plant a bunch of flowering plants near their hive and then bring new bees in. So, I think that is just one of the biggest takeaways: Adapt and adjust.”

This article first appeared in the April/May 2026 issue of Texas Lone Star.