TWU’s Butler Excels in FFA, Nursing Is Next

Nov. 12, 2024 — DENTON — The paths of agriculture and nursing might seem as distant as two stars in the Texas sky, but for Claire Butler, a first-year pre-nursing student at TWU, those paths have converged for a shared purpose.

She credits the National FFA Organization (formerly known as Future Farmers of America), a school-based national youth leadership development organization, with instilling in her a sense of confidence, hard work and grit as well as fueling her desire to help others through advocacy and compassion.

“People are my niche,” Butler said.

Her parents, who both grew up in rural farming communities, urged her to try FFA for one year when choosing electives in her metropolitan, Houston-area school. Little did she know how her choice to wear the FFA blue corduroy jacket would shape her future.

One year turned into a four-year FFA career marked by a slew of awards. During her time with the James E. Taylor FFA Chapter in Katy, she served as an FFA officer for four years; advanced and competed at the state level more than 10 times, including agriculture advocacy; participated in public speaking, food preservation and photography; and successfully raised and judged chickens among other accomplishments.

She reached the pinnacle of her FFA career in October 2024 after high school graduation when she and her teammates took third place in the National FFA Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event held in Indianapolis. It was a pivotal moment—the first time anyone from her team made it to the FFA national competition.

Her achievement required immense dedication and sacrifice. As a first-year student at TWU, Butler lives on the Denton campus but had to practice with her team to prepare for the national competition.

“Since two of my teammates attend Texas A&M University, I drove from Denton to College Station every weekend so we could practice together,” Butler said. 

Several universities recruited Butler, but she chose Texas Woman’s University.

“When we came [to TWU] for a one-hour tour, it lasted four hours,” she said. “So many people were willing to take the time to talk to us, and I found a connection. TWU was home to me.”

As a pre-nursing student Butler’s compassion has also found a home at TWU. Her grandmother and great-aunt inspired her to pursue nursing but in different ways.

“My grandmother lived in a small assisted living home with only seven or eight residents, and I would often spend the night. One evening, one of the other residents, an older gentleman, had an episode…I held his hand for a long time,” she said. 

The experience of comforting someone left an impression. She felt a tug to become an advocate for people who were hurting and needed help. She talked to nurses about their experiences, including her childhood nurse practitioner whose daughter is a TWU nursing alumna and her great-aunt who worked in the nursing field for 30 years and is also a TWU nursing alumna. 

After careful consideration and despite her success in agriculture, Butler made her choice. She looks forward to pursuing her pre-nursing studies at TWU and is confident that she can balance the emotional aspects of the program with academic and practical responsibilities thanks in part to her FFA experiences. 

“I have thought long and hard about how nursing and FFA relate,” she said. “And it really is about advocacy.”

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, less than 2% of the United States population participates in farming and ranching. Butler believes that the agriculture industry needs more advocates and people who understand the industry well enough to explain it to those who do not. 

Along with advocacy, Butler’s experiences with medicines, vaccinations and poultry diseases during her time in FFA directly translate to her nursing career path.

She also understands time commitments, doing hard things, and stretching her limits in order to grow. In addition to preparing for her FFA nationals over the summer, she also traveled with her church on a mission trip to Uganda, where their group worked with a clinic that provides birthing kits to expectant mothers. In Uganda, women have to purchase and bring birthing and medical supplies as basic as gloves and a scalpel if they want to give birth in a hospital.

It was another tug and confirmation of her chosen path.  

When she arrived at Texas Woman’s, she jumped in with both feet. During her first weeks of class, she signed on to be a Pioneer Camp guide.

“I was nervous at first because I didn’t know the campus very well, but it was a good experience,” she said.

Leading seems to come naturally to Butler, and her tenacity in FFA set an example for her three younger siblings who also plan to participate in the program.

“Before FFA, I didn’t stand out in anything,” Butler said. “But after participating in FFA, I realized I was good at things. It shaped me as the leader I am today.”

Pictured (left to right) are Evan Costagliola, Madelyn Roxburgh, Claire Butler and Madison Webster of the James E. Taylor FFA Chapter in Katy, Texas.

Media Contact

Amy Evans
Director of Communications, Student Life
940-898-3607
aevans18@twu.edu 

Page last updated 12:47 PM, November 13, 2024