Meet Your Neighbor

Dennis Jessberger

March 04, 2007

State President
Future Farmers of America Alumni

In the 40-plus years since Dennis Jessberger was a student member of Future Farmers of America, the agriculture industry has undergone tremendous change.

"Today, for example, most of the kids in Sun Prairie's FFA are not from farm backgrounds," explains Jessberger, a lifelong dairy and crop farmer, who runs a farm north of town that's been in his family since 1857. "Agriculture is no longer just production farming."

Nowadays, he continues, FFA members are exploring such careers as horticulture, biotechnology, aquaculture, equine breeding and more.

While Jessberger has seen lots of changes to the farming industry over the past four decades, one area has remained constant: his interest in helping young people pursue agricultural careers.

That's the main reason he's remained involved in the Future Farmers of America Alumni organization. This year, in fact, he's serving as president. He's held other state leadership positions since 2003. Additionally, he's president of the local FFA Alumni chapter.

"Today, there are a lot more talented kids around -- kids who really get involved in projects," says Jessberger, who twice a month or so returns to his alma mater, Sun Prairie High School, to check in with the FFA club and offer guidance.

"We're available to help the students along with their projects," he says of the local organization's responsibilities.

As for his state president role, Jessberger oversees the organization's programs, including its state show and scholarship program.

The life-long farmer is proud of the how active Wisconsinites have become in the FFA. In fact, he points out, of the 46,000 national FFA members, 8,000 are from the Badger State, making it the largest state chapter.