"Why FFA?" by State Vice President Sydni Walker
January Blog
Imagine this: You're at the 2017 Louisiana State FFA Convention and you walk into the session hall. The room is flooded with blue corduroy and hundreds of FFA members ready to experience your very first convention session. There, you meet THE Louisiana State FFA officers and watch them deliver their RAs, chair sessions, and give & receive multiple awards to highlight the hard work and dedication members have exhibited. While at state convention, you see the inauguration of area officers, roam endlessly through the expo, and meet countless members from places you didn't even know existed. Now, let's stop imagining and step back into reality. In 2017 I attended the Louisiana FFA State Convention and it was one of the most life changing experiences I’ve ever had. I attended this convention with dread as I was not excited to spend the week with people from my chapter I barely knew. I walked into the session with a sour attitude and a frown on my face and sat in my chair with my chapter. As this long and dreadful session went on, I recognized someone on the stage. To my delight, I saw State Secretary Caroline Hardy on stage and watched her as she delivered her retiring address. In that moment I realized that I wanted to be up on that stage just as she was. Fast forward to June 4th, 2020 and I was named the 2020-2021 State Vice President representing Area III. The goal I had set for myself as a freshman was finally met and I could check one more thing off my bucket list. But one thing my freshman self didn't realize was that the work needed to be done in order to accomplish this goal was hard and took much dedication.
Let's take a step back to where it all began. My grandfather and father both exhibited livestock and were Ag teachers so for me, exhibiting livestock and being in FFA was a given. However, being involved in these activities wasn't a driving force for me but it was taking the first step, the first plunge to do something out of my comfort zone to be able to carry on my family's tradition. For me, this first step was competing in Creed. During my freshman year, my Ag teacher asked me to compete in the Creed Speaking contest and seeing how I knew my dad would be disappointed if I ignored this opportunity, I reluctantly agreed. I soon became obsessed with saying the creed and practiced its five paragraphs every day for hours at a time. Finally, the time to compete in my first FFA contest was here. I walked into the room with my head held high and I was so confident my hard work was going to pay off. However, as they read the results, I realized I had not placed within the top four. This was very disheartening to me because I worked so hard just to be let down. But this one downfall did not define my future in the FFA. Since that day, I dedicated my time and energy into being the best I could be, and in time my hard work paid off. I went on to place in the top three in State Livestock Judging, received my first blue banner when I placed 4th at the Area Speaking contest, named Area III Vice President, and finally State Vice President. Even though my first step did not resolve in a successful manner, I refused to give up. My persistence and dedication to this organization paved the way for many more successes down the road.
As I am approaching the end of my senior year, I think back on all my accomplishments and successes I have had while in high school. The year 2020 was one of the most challenging yet rewarding years of my life, challenging in the sense of being spared the experience of in-person events as a State officer. However, throughout my not so normal year, I have been given the amazing opportunity to meet with legislators, agribusiness leaders, and state officers from all 52 states and territories from the comfort and safety of my own home. In addition, my team and I have conducted over 50 business and industry tours, held the first ever virtual leadership camp, visited colleges all over Louisiana, and advocated for an industry that means so much to all of us. While this past year has in no way been normal, I truly feel as if I gained the ultimate FFA State Officer experience.
Why FFA? This is a question I have been asked often throughout my FFA experience. Why go through the long strenuous hours of studying for a contest or having to swallow the anxiety that comes with being a leader? No matter where you go within the FFA, there is always something for everyone. Whether you're the football star, the 4.0 high school scholar, or even the student that was “forced” into their agriculture class because there was no other open elective. These leadership and vocational ag classes offer so much, whether it be learning about row crop production or perfecting your job interview skills. A common misconception associated with the FFA is that only farmers or those with an agriculture background can participate and be successful within this organization. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. FFA is a place for believers, achievers, and leaders. For example, while I’ve met tons of amazing people throughout my journey in FFA, one specific individual stuck out to me. She came from a difficult background and thought she would never amount to anything. However, she developed many vital skills while being an active member such as public speaking and self-confidence. This individual went on to be very successful within her contests despite not coming from an agriculture background. This is only one of the thousands of stories that have been created in FFA.
So, why FFA? That's up to you. At the end of the day, you're the author of your own story. Go out and create one.
Remember to treat people with kindness,
Sydni
