More Than a Meal

As a traveling FFA state officer, I spend a lot of time on the road. New towns. New schools. New members. New conversations. Every chapter visit is different, but I have found one question that works almost every time:

“So… where’s the go to supper spot around here?”

It sounds simple, but that question opens doors.

When I ask members about their favorite place to eat, their faces light up. Suddenly, we are not just talking about contests, leadership workshops, or schedules. We are talking about Friday night traditions. After game burgers. The local diner where everyone knows your order. The café that supports their chapter at every fundraiser.

Food connects people because it tells a story.

In agriculture, we already understand the power of food. It is what we produce. It is what feeds communities. But it is also what gathers us around tables, tailgates, and kitchen counters. When members tell me about their favorite supper spot, they are sharing a piece of their hometown pride.

Sometimes it is a café run by an FFA family who talks about their days in FFA as they ring me up at the register. Sometimes it is an international market with nothing but pictures on the wall for a menu. Sometimes it is a small corner spot serving surprisingly good catfish. Maybe it is even a bakery that opens before dawn, serving the best donuts known to man, or an Amish grocery store where you get the best bang for your buck. Whatever it is, it matters to them, and that makes it matter to me.

As I travel, I have realized that asking about food is not really about the food. It is about belonging. It is about saying:

“I want to know what home tastes like to you.”
“I want to know what you love about your hometown.”

More often than not, that simple supper question leads to deeper conversations about their goals after high school, their families, and why FFA matters to them.

Leadership is not always about big speeches or grand gestures. Sometimes it is about pulling up a chair, sharing a meal, and listening.

So if you ever find yourself in a new place, whether it is a chapter visit, a conference, or just a new season of life, try asking:

“What’s the go to supper spot?”

You might leave with more than a full stomach and a smile. You might leave with a stronger connection and a good story.

Always looking for a good conversation over a meal,

Jenna Lawler

2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Reporter