How FFA helped shape Peter Bliss' future in farming

Since he was 6 years old, Peter Bliss never imagined doing anything other than farming.

"I'm truly grateful for all FFA has given me, but win or lose, I would still be farming," says Bliss, who was named the 2022 National FFA Star Farmer.

While a high school freshman, Bliss joined the Golden Valley High School FFA Chapter in Merced, California, and competed in the FFA opening and closing ceremonies leadership development event.

As a sophomore, Bliss decided to transition away from being an athlete to focus on his FFA involvement. One career development event in particular caught his eye: farm power and machinery.

"I've been driving tractors since I was 9 years old, and it's what I enjoy doing, so

I knew I wanted to try this contest," Bliss says. "We got a team together and won state. Looking back, it helped set me on the path I'm on today."

This positive experience, combined with his upbringing in production agriculture, established a trajectory for Bliss to continue seeking new heights in FFA competitions.

Growing up on a fifth-generation family farm in central California, his supervised agricultural experience consisted of growing cotton, almonds, and wheat.

As a result of his hard work, he earned state and national recognition in the fiber and oil production and diversified crop production proficiency areas.

"My advisor recognized my potential and encouraged me to apply for these awards," Bliss says. "Farming is what I do on a daily basis, which I adore, so he knew I would be able to speak with enthusiasm on something so important to me."

This passion continues to propel Bliss forward.

He says the support received through scholarships and awards in FFA enabled him to enhance his operation, strengthen his skills, and develop a competitive spirit.

Bliss, who graduated from Golden Valley High School in 2020 and now farms more than 400 acres, considers his lifelong motto — "learning by doing" — the driving force behind his decision to remain involved in agriculture. Although FFA planted seeds of success in his life, Bliss' true love for farming is rooted in family tradition.

"The best experience I can give myself is to continue running my own operation," he says. "I'm choosing to invest in quality over quantity by focusing on yields, updating my equipment, and ultimately just doing the best I can."