Growing Our Future

Hosted by Aaron Alejandro

Business Education Science

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Hosted by Aaron Alejandro, the Growing Our Future podcast is focused on strengthening agricultural science education in America so that students can develop their potential for personal growth, career success and leadership in a global marketplace. This show is sponsored by the Texas FFA Foundation. Learn more at https://mytexasffa.org/

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 881 hr 5 min

Celebrating 100-yrs of Hope and Encouragement with Tom Ziglar

A man sits quietly for a moment, then speaks about the weight of gratitude—not as sentiment, but as a choice. How to give thanks for futures not yet arrived, to see what hasn't happened and honor it as already real. The room holds that pause. That's where faith and gratitude meet. Tom Ziglar carries forward the legacy of his father, Zig Ziglar, one of the most influential motivational voices of the twentieth century. As CEO of Ziglar and key collaborator on his father's 30th book, Born to Win, Tom Ziglar embodies a profoundly simple philosophy: "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want." In this episode of Growing Our Future (FFA), you'll trace the roots of that influence—from a boy selling peanuts on a Mississippi street corner during the Depression to a man who spoke to 15,000 people at a time for three decades. Discover how a teacher's belief and a mentor's pivotal words shaped not just one sales career, but a philosophy that touched an estimated 250 million lives. Aaron Alejandro, host of Growing Our Future (FFA), carries his own debt to Zig Ziglar's words. He discovered *See You at the Top* as a high school senior, read it alone in a church pew, never knowing the author was teaching just feet away. Years later, when Aaron needed a frame for his work with agricultural students and educators, he found Tom Ziglar—not trying to be his father, but carrying the message forward in his own way. About the Guest: Tom Ziglar is CEO of Ziglar and a key collaborator on his father Zig Ziglar's 30th book, Born to Win. He carries forward one of the most influential legacies in motivational speaking and personal development, helping millions discover the power of service-first leadership.Celebrate Zig Ziglar’s 100th birthday and legacy of hope, encouragement, and leadership at the Ziglar 100 Transformation Experience on October 16, 2026, in Franklin, Tennessee. Learn more at Ziglar100.com.

June 2, 2026Episode 8741 min

Success is a Decision Away with Billy Cox

A car gets repossessed. A bank account empties. A choice gets made in desperation that becomes the hinge of everything that follows. Three sales that day. Decades forward from there, a $2 billion enterprise across five companies. This is what happens when someone learns to read the patterns that separate those who break through from those who don't. Billy Cox built his empire on a single discovery: success leaves fingerprints. In this conversation on Growing Our Future (FFA), he reveals the specific architecture behind sustainable growth—the daily skill deposits that compound, the clarity that silences doubt, the inner transformation that must happen before you're ready for the next level. He speaks about duty as a cornerstone virtue, gratitude as an abundance multiplier, and why the market no longer rewards faceless brands. People buy from humans willing to be seen. Aaron Alejandro, host of Growing Our Future, recognizes something in Cox's framework that mirrors his own worldview shaped by agriculture—where failure isn't theoretical and consequence is immediate. When you don't do the work, something dies. That sensibility frames this episode: not as inspiration, but as the repeatable mechanics of transformation, the competitive edge that comes from small improvements made daily. About the Guest: Billy Cox is an entrepreneur and business leader who built a $2 billion enterprise across five companies. He specializes in teaching the practical patterns and daily disciplines that drive sustainable growth and personal transformation.

April 16, 2026Episode 8645 min

The Hat That Outlives You — Keith Mundee

There's a moment when someone stops talking about success and starts living it so visibly that the room shifts. It happens quietly—not in grand statements, but in the way a person describes picking up trash from a factory floor at dawn, or remembering the name of the one employee who sweeps each morning. This is what happens when values aren't decorations on a wall; they're reflexes. Keith Mundee, president of American Hat Company since 2011, brings a legacy built on something larger than commerce—a cattle brand turned mantra, a symbol that means "positive times," and a commitment to the next generation. In this episode of Growing Our Future (FFA), you'll hear how a simple hat becomes a mirror for who you choose to be, and how one person's decision to show up every day changed everything. This conversation is about discipline, consistency, and what it means when your choices finally match your values. Aaron Alejandro, host of Growing Our Future (FFA), has spent his career in agricultural education watching young people discover their own potential. He recognizes something in Mundy's approach—not because it's theoretical, but because it works. They're both architects of the same future, just building in different spaces.

October 3, 2025Episode 8546 min

"Who Factor"

Author, speaker, and life coach Brad Lomenick sits down to discuss life strategies like the "who factor" people in life that encourage, equip, and empower.  Be a positive catalyst in an organization and the importance of being humble, hungry, and full of hustle.We explore how gratitude beats entitlement, why access plus hustle changes careers, and how H3—humility, hunger, hustle—becomes a durable edge for students, educators, and leaders in agriculture. Brad shares the “who factor,” feedback loops, and the art of creating mile markers that last.• gratitude as a leader’s temperature setter• entitlement contrasted with service and hospitality• R2A2 framework for turning ideas into action• Brad’s journey, mentors, and the who factor• building networks and using access without entitlement• curiosity as a core leadership habit• H3 framework: humility, hunger, hustle in balance• rhythms that prevent burnout and enable generosity• agriculture’s future: tech, relationships, communication• feedback loops and practical self-awareness• memory moments and creating mile markers for othersGo out and do something great for somebody. You might just plant that tree under whose shade you may never seeLearn more at MyTexasFFA.org

September 26, 2025Episode 8450 min

Meaningful Impact by Living Your Brand

On this episode of the Growing Our Future podcast, we have the chance to sit down with Kerri LeDoux, Executive Director of the Live Like Johnny Organization and mother to the late Johnny Callan.  Kerri shares a heartfelt testimony of Johnny's life and the example he led.  She shares his desire to help others and how the FFA became the vehicle for him to live his brand.  At the time Johnny was a Ford Leadership Scholar and President of the Area IV FFA Association, Tyler Koch was the Leadership Development Coordinator.  He shares the following about Johnny, "Johnny Callan wore the blue jacket like so many before him, and set the gold standard for genuinely selfless service like no other."  He went on to say, "In my office at the Buzbee Law Firm I keep two photos, one of my daughter Meadow, and the other is of Johnny’s Dock. Johnny’s dock is my daily reminder to try and live, work, serve, and love like Johnny, so that my daughter just might live like Johnny too."You'll enjoy this story of Johnny and how we too can "live our brand" to make a meaningful impact on our community.Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

September 19, 2025Episode 8342 min

Great History to Greater Opportunities

On this episode of Growing Our Future, host Aaron Alejandro welcomes Lorie Vincent, Founder & President of ACCELERATION by Design LLC. Lorie shares her inspiring journey from the Texas Panhandle to national leadership, her mission to empower rural communities, and why gratitude, collaboration, and bold vision are essential to growth. 🎥 In the video, Lorie shares her journey from growing up in the Texas Panhandle to leading efforts that empower rural communities nationwide.💡 What you’ll learn:Why gratitude is the foundation for building strong communitiesHow listening and collaboration spark real changeWhy honoring heritage and thinking boldly can shape a thriving futureHer story is proof that when we plant seeds of greatness in our lives and communities, the harvest can impact generations.Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

September 4, 2025Episode 8250 min

Don't Be Scared to Try

Aaron Alejandro sits down with Kat Villarreal, an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor in South Texas, to trace her journey from a non-farm kid to building a thriving IDEA Public Schools FFA program (now ~350 members). Kat shares how mentorship, grit, and student leadership took her chapter from zero to state-level achievements.What You’ll Learn• Three leadership skills Kat drills into students: confidence, responsibility, vulnerability• How to build a program from scratch in an urban, non-traditional ag setting• Why mentorship and access (college visits, contests, public speaking) unlock opportunity• Practical ways FFA shapes real-world skills: handshakes, advocacy, communication, teamwork• The mindset that it’s “okay to win”—and how to earn itLearn more at MyTexasFFA.org

August 21, 2025Episode 8136 min

Grow Good

🎙️ On this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, host Arron Alejandro sits down with Melissa Rosenbusch-Spicer, a lifelong educator and champion of agricultural science. 🌱👩‍🏫 Melissa shares her journey from growing up in a family of ag teachers to shaping lives as a 29-year ag educator, and now carrying her passion into her work with Bloom for Good.✨ What you’ll learn:Why faith, family, and purpose are the foundation of lasting leadership.How agricultural education builds life skills that go far beyond the classroom.The leadership traits every student—and professional—should practice: communication, work ethic, dependability, and compassion.💡 Melissa’s mission is clear: to pour into the next generation so they can grow their future with confidence, character, and heart.👉 Tune in to be inspired by the power of ag education and the mentors who make it possible.Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

August 14, 2025Episode 8034 min

Agriculture ... Chase the Dream

In this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, host Aaron Alejandro sits down with Kade and Morgan Hodges, owners of Hodges Livestock, to share their inspiring journey from meeting in college to running a thriving family ranch.You’ll hear how they:✅ Turned major setbacks—like losing half their leased land—into breakthrough opportunities✅ Pivoted into innovative solar grazing with 1,300 sheep✅ Built their business on faith, resilience, and creativity✅ Lead with purpose as stewards of God’s creation💡 What you’ll learn: Practical leadership tips, how to adapt in challenging markets, and why relationships and persistence are game-changers in agriculture.🌱 Their mission: To be faithful stewards of God’s creation, producing profitable, productive livestock for consumers and fellow ranchers while preserving the ranching way of life.🎧 Tune in for a story of grit, vision, and purpose that will inspire anyone chasing a dream.Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

June 19, 2025Episode 7943 min

Gratitude Builds Pride!

Dr. Arquimides Reyes shares his inspiring journey from a small farm in El Salvador to becoming an associate professor of animal science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His story exemplifies how agricultural education, mentorship, and the FFA can transform lives and create leaders who give back to their communities.• Grateful for family, God, teaching opportunities, and the FFA which instilled purpose and passion for agriculture• Grew up on a small dairy and beef farm in El Salvador before coming to the United States at age 11• Initially viewed agriculture as "the job of the poor" until FFA showed him the true potential of agricultural careers• Nearly dropped out of high school to work full-time and support his family• The FFA jacket became a symbol of opportunity that "levels the playing field" for all students• Graduated as valedictorian and pursued higher education at Texas A&M and Colorado State University• Identifies adaptability, communication skills, and integrity as keys to success in agriculture• Currently serves as an associate professor and volunteer firefighter, committed to giving back to his community• Believes "when your values are clear, your choices are easy"Go out and do something great for somebody – encourage them, equip them, empower them. Plant great seeds and grow an incredible future.Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org