– Every Farmer has a Ann Thomas Lowery –
Beyond the green and blue jackets
The impact of Ann Thomas Lowery’s 4-H and FFA journey
Story and photos by Page Haynes
– Every Farmer has a Story with Ann Thomas Lowery –
Beyond the green and blue jackets
The impact of Ann Thomas Lowery’s 4-H and FFA journey
Story and photos by Page Haynes
Just as essential trace minerals sustain the body, the next generation of 4-H and FFA youth is the vital lifeblood for the future of modern farming. As the average age of the American farmer climbs toward 60, outstanding agricultural students like Ann Thomas Lowery of Dyersburg bring resilience, innovation, and unwavering passion to an industry we all rely on.
“I like to say that FFA and 4-H members are the salt of the earth for the agricultural industry,” says Ann Thomas, Tennessee 4-H State Council Vice President (2025-2026) and the 2026-2027 West Tennessee State Vice President for Tennessee FFA. “Just as Christians are supposed to be the salt of the earth and spread Jesus’s message, I believe it’s very important that 4-H and FFA members step up and advocate for agriculture — the industry that feeds us and we all have a passion for.”
Ann Thomas is a fourth-generation swine producer from Dyer County who was raised on a family farm with about 500 acres of corn and soybeans, along with goats, sheep, and pigs. Both of her parents work in agriculture — her father, Spence Lowery, a 20-year employee at Gibson Farmers Co-op, and her mother, Melissa Lowery, an agricultural educator and FFA advisor — shaping her lifelong involvement in production agriculture and youth leadership.
Active in 4-H since fourth grade and FFA since ninth grade, she says both organizations helped her become a strong advocate for agriculture. She now has an even broader platform through statewide council meetings, ambassador tours, media appearances, leadership camps, and upcoming national officer summits.
“FFA and 4-H complement each other,” she says. “You learn leadership skills in both and compete in various formats. This past winter, we had the first-ever Tennessee 4-H and FFA State Officer Summit. There, we could see how they really work together. They’re two of the most prominent youth organizations in the country. It’s important that 4-H and FFA members work together to better the future of agriculture.”
Supported by her parents and sister, Liza Jo, she encourages young people to step outside their comfort zones — whether by joining 4-H or FFA or running for office — because she has seen the confidence and opportunities that come from taking that first step.
“In both the 4-H and FFA competitions, you learn how to give oral reasons,” she says. “Once I learned how to do that, it really helped my confidence to continue taking on more competitions and trying new things. Competing in livestock judging, too, sparked my interest in growing my leadership skills and gaining more confidence to take on new challenges.”
“Growth truly happens when you take on something outside of your comfort zone.” — Ann Thomas Lowery
“In both the 4-H and FFA competitions, you learn how to give oral reasons,” she says. “Once I learned how to do that, it really helped my confidence to continue taking on more competitions and trying new things. Competing in livestock judging, too, sparked my interest in growing my leadership skills and gaining more confidence to take on new challenges.”
She believes the future of agriculture is bright because of the enthusiasm of 4-H and FFA members but says her generation must confront misinformation on social media and challenge the misconception that only those from farm families belong in agricultural youth organizations.
Through 4-H and FFA, she has developed leadership and public speaking skills through contests such as livestock judging, consumer decision making, and skill-a-thon, emphasizing servant leadership and agricultural advocacy.
Ann Thomas believes there’s an underlying quality that sets leaders apart.
“A value that every leader should possess is just being a servant,” she says. “Lending a helping hand to someone who needs it, seeing things that need to be done and doing them without having to be asked, or just watching for ways to serve others is really important.”
Her passion for agriculture is reinforced by experiences at events like the American Farm Bureau Convention and Tennessee Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers gatherings, inspiring her to pursue agricultural business with a concentration in agriculture and environmental law and policy at UT Martin.
Ann Thomas shares her passion for agriculture wherever she goes. In addition to showing pigs since childhood and adding sheep and goats in high school, she has built an ag-business enterprise that sells retail cuts of pork, rents barn space to FFA students, and helps place livestock with youth in her county, creating pathways for new exhibitors.
“There’s something for everyone in 4-H and FFA,” she says. “You don’t have to have an agricultural background to get involved. There are plenty of students and members that have developed a passion for agriculture because of their involvement in 4-H and FFA. It’s more important than ever to step up and spread positivity about our organizations and about the agricultural industry.”
Gibson Farmers Co-op employees Karlynn Rushing, marketing coordinator, and Spence Lowery, Ann Thomas’ dad, help show off her upcoming exhibition entries.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com