WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — There wasn’t a dry eye on stage last Thursday evening at the sixth and final general session of this year’s Indiana FFA State Convention in Purdue University’s Elliot Hall.

 

That’s because the seven-member state officer team of the 2016-17 term were called to order for the final time, to conduct voting on a proposed new officer slate. President Jessica Mars of Lebanon, Secretary Chaela Minor of Reelsville, Northern Region Vice President Sneha Jogi of Fishers, Southern Region VP Emily Dougherty of Whiteland, Treasurer Nathan Bloom of Morocco, Reporter Leah Jacobs of Shirley and Sentinel Logan Glassburn of Earl Park were a closeknit group, if the way they grabbed each other’s shoulders and tearfully watched a slideshow of their experiences over the past year was any indication.

But as the sun set on the leadership of the previous team, the dawn of the new officer team was just as exciting. In a unanimous vote of FFA delegates from all over Indiana, the slated 2017-18 team was installed. The new officers are:

•President Claire Baney, Hamilton

Southeastern FFA

•Secretary Emily Kilmer, Tri-County

FFA

•Northern Region VP Owen Coon, North

Montgomery FFA

•Southern Region VP Wyatt Law, Hoosier

Hills FFA

•Treasurer Cole Pearson, Delphi FFA

•Reporter Natalie Taylor, Hope FFA

•Sentinel Grant Sanchez, Fairfield FFA

The new team began their term on June 22, and will finish it at next year’s state convention. Like the seven officers before, they will travel the state presenting 10 three-day leadership conferences and speaking to more than 8,000 FFA members, supporters and individuals involved in leadership and agriculture.

All new team members were beyond excited and a little shocked at their election, including the new president.

“This has been a dream come true,” Baney said. “I’m really looking forward to having that opportunity to serve with my team – the six other awesome members that are on my team – for the next year, because we are going to work really well together and make that impact we’ve been waiting to make on Indiana FFA on a bigger scale.”

During this year’s convention, a total of 19 candidates completed several hours of interviews with a nine-person nominating committee. But the new state reporter said it was all worth it.

“I am ecstatic for this year,” said Taylor. “I cannot wait to share my enthusiasm with everyone and my new team. This is a dream I’ve had for more than a year, so for this to be happening is surreal.

“We had all heard about the horror stories of 30 hours of interviews, but all 19 candidates were so incredible. We became a family, and it wasn’t torturous because of all them.”

The new Northern Region VP said the installation of the new officers was an emotional ordeal. “I am so happy with the team I have, I couldn’t be more thankful for them,” Coon noted. “I’m not normally an emotional person, but I cried during installation.

“I’ve always lived my life with the motto of ‘if I make a positive difference in the life of one individual, then I have accomplished something,’ so potentially having an impact on the current 12,506 Indiana FFA members is extraordinary.”

With the conclusion of the ceremony and convention, the new officer team went home energized, confident and with big plans for the coming year.

“I wanted to be a state officer to be able to share my passions with other people and really help them to succeed because I’m a huge believer in servant leadership, which is something that FFA continues to preach,” Baney said. “Being able to push the people around me further is something that I’ve always strived to do and really had the heart to do.

“I want to be someone to represent that brand of FFA, because in my eyes we are an incredible organization and we really want to show that to the people around us.”