FFA Today: South Side Chicago is proving agriculture isn’t just for rural areas

When people hear FFA, they often think of farms, tractors, and wide-open fields. But on the South side of Chicago, the Gary Comer Youth Center FFA Chapter is proving that agriculture can grow anywhere, even on a rooftop. Their mission is to inspire the community to see ag in a whole new way.

Aniyah Smith and Janay Bussell joined RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander to discuss what led them to FFA, their rooftop farm, and how their chapter gives back to the community.

Related Stories
FFA Program Specialist Ashli Weinrich highlights how the FFA Next Gen Conference helps ag students explore career opportunities and build skills for the future.
Success requires more than talent — on this week’s FFA Today, agriculture students show us the hard work, dedication, and teamwork required to gain important skills outside of the classroom through the National FFA Organization.
Auction manager and West Texas A&M University student Presley Graves joined us to discuss the growth of StockShowAuctions.com and its impact on youth in agriculture.
Lily Pryer’s passion shows how National FFA members are making an impact in classrooms and communities all across Rural America.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney says farmers there are already sounding the alarm about what this could mean for the future of ag research.
Global pork production is expected to rise in the first half of 2026, despite trade volatility stemming from shifting import policies and swine disease pressures.
Clear right-to-repair guidance reduces downtime, repair costs, and operational risk.
Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Batey joined us with the latest on biosecurity efforts and the state’s new “Know Before You Show” initiative.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller discusses the state’s latest efforts to prevent the New World screwworm from reaching Texas.
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.