Why Maisie Jane’s Supports Future Farmers of America

Posted on : January 3rd, 2019

Future Farmers of America (FFA) holds a special place in our hearts here at Maisie Jane’s. After all, this family business actually started as an SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) back when the owner of the company, Maisie Jane Hurtado, was still in high school.

FFA’s SAE program teaches students a wide variety of skills they would need for a career in agriculture. That includes everything from entrepreneurship and financial planning to hands-on immersion in a farm-based project of the student’s choice. Maisie started by raising sheep but switched to exploring how to create new opportunities for bringing almond products to the market.  That’s because she used to hear her family of 4th generation almond growers complaining about how almonds were under-marketed. So she felt inspired to see if she could solve that problem for herself.  Twenty five years later, we want to celebrate those humble beginnings. And no celebration would be complete without honoring how instrumental FFA was in providing the skills needed for the company’s success.

Future Farmers of America is one of  the largest youth organizations in the United States. It currently has 669,989 members in 8,630 chapters distributed throughout all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The organization’s mission is to foster leadership, personal growth and career success for young people through agricultural education. Its motto is “Learning to do, Doing to learn, Earning to live, Living to serve.”

In the above video, Maisie says, “How has FFA changed my life? Well, it’s given me my life! If it weren’t for FFA I would not have the company that brings our family bread and butter. And so many thousands of people are able to enjoy California grown, dry roasted, health, all-natural snack products.” This company would not be what it is today without the training FFA provided right at the very beginning.

Maisie Jane’s is proud to support Future Farmers of America and is thankful for how this organization supports so many young people to develop the ability to succeed in agricultural businesses of their own.


Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products, Inc. was founded on strong beliefs and passion for offering unique, flavorful, top-quality, nut products. We strongly believe in earth-friendly practices that start on our family owned and operated orchards. We use Organic farming practices and continue in the process by using all-natural ingredients with no preservatives or GMOs. We believe in honest, friendly and helpful customer relations at all levels. We take pride in every task, every day, with every person.