Jennifer Jackson, Executive Director of the Texas FAA Association Interviewed on Growing our Future Podcast

Jennifer Jackson is the Executive Director of the Texas FFA Association. She grew up in a small farming community where agriculture was a way of life. With a family steeped in husbandry Jackson joined the District 5 Association as soon as the opportunity presented itself. She had the ability to show livestock from rabbits to heifers. Her involvement grew with FFA with Judging and chapter development, these experiences opened the doors to what has become a life committed agriculture advancement. Jackson always wanted to be a teacher, but her involvement with the FAA sparked an additional interest. “I knew instantly that I wanted to be an agriculture teacher once I got involved with the FAA. Advocating for agriculture and continuing to learn about the agriculture industry brought both passions together,” said Jackson.

Jackson attributes her student teaching as the “best experience” that started her professional pathway to where she is now. One professor in particular held her accountable to the work that she was doing. He provided great advice and constructive criticism as she inquired about leadership roles, sitting on boards and other possibilities for growth within the industry. One piece of advice that she took to heart was to sit, listen and offer an opinion only when asked. Jackson volunteered and judged events when she could. When the time came, “I offered my opinion when someone actually wanted to hear it. That was some of the best advice that I ever got. It taught me that you shouldn’t really have an opinion until you have that instrumental knowledge that it takes to gain that opinion. It’s hard for people to want to listen to you unless they have seen you in action,” she said with conviction.

Reflecting on her time as a student teacher, she used to tell her agriculture student, “Don’t tell us how great you are, show us how great you are. Nobody can doubt you then. If they see how wonderful you are and how hard you work…you can’t…