Having dedicated 29 years to Agricultural Education, Leigh Loughead knows that successful students become successful adults. For 23 years Leigh taught Agricultural Science at Yuma High School in Yuma, Arizona. Following Yuma High School she taught Plant Science 100 at Arizona Western College for six years from 2014-2020. During her tenure at Yuma High School, Leigh served as an FFA Advisor.

In 2020 after retiring from education, Leigh became a Global Buyer for Gowan Company, LLC; a family-owned Global Crop Protection company based in Yuma, Arizona.

An Arizona native, Leigh was born in Mesa, Arizona and lived in South Phoenix and Tempe in her younger years before moving to Buckeye. She graduated from Buckeye Union High School and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. When asked, why do you feel that it is important to support FFA? Leigh stated, “As George Washington said, “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man” -Agricultural education and FFA helps students gain the life skills that will help them their entire life.” For Leigh what greatly motivated her to serve on the Arizona FFA Foundation board, was the students. She explained that “When I taught Agriculture Science and served as an FFA Advisor, I saw quite a few students who didn’t feel like they could participate in the many FFA activities because they couldn’t afford an FFA Jacket or the rest of Official FFA dress. I also saw students who could not have the type of Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) they would have liked, due to financial limitations. By serving on the FFA Foundation Board, I can help those students be able to participate and gain the benefits that every student should have access to.”

Thank you, Leigh for your hard work and support to the Arizona FFA Foundation, and for your unending dedication to the success of Arizona’s youth!