By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the first time in history, the Indiana FFA State officer team will consist of only one young man and six female officers, who together hope to represent, lead and inspire nearly 10,000 Indiana FFA members across the state.
“When I first saw my name on the slate of officers, it was a huge adrenaline rush,” said Micah Matlock of Knightstown FFA, new 2010-11 State FFA Sentinel. “It was probably five minutes before I realized that I was the only guy. Almost immediately, I dubbed myself the ‘man of the house.’”
Matlock will share the Indiana FFA Leadership Center’s officer house for the next year with newly-elected President Morgan Dawson of Scottsburg FFA; Secretary Megan Klotz of South Putnam FFA; Northern Region Vice President Morgan Gadd of Hamilton Southeastern FFA; Southern Region Vice President Nellie Bell of Hagerstown FFA; Treasurer Janna Oxford of Cloverdale FFA; and Reporter Kelly Blackburn of Heritage FFA.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how we all mesh, but we are all very mature; we know our purpose and that is what we are going to keep our minds focused on,” said Dawson.
“The thing about being the only guy is that I am representing all the FFA men out there, and to me that is kind of an honor in itself,” added Matlock, who is the son of former state FFA officer Marty Matlock, who served as state vice president from 1971-72.
The 2010-11 state officer team was inducted by Indiana FFA members during the final session of the 81st annual Indiana FFA State Convention June 16 on the campus of Purdue University in West, Lafayette, Ind.
“It’s been a huge whirlwind since that day, it hasn’t even really hit me yet,” Matlock said. “Definitely the height of excitement was when they announced the slate had passed and we all ran onto the stage. It was the most goosebump moment of my entire life.”
Newly-elected Dawson echoed Matlock’s excitement and sentiments.
“This is an organization that has given so much to me,” she said. “By serving others through agriculture, I have discovered my passion for life. And this is the perfect opportunity to pursue my passion and hopefully make an impact on other FFA members.”
Dawson is looking forward to serving her fellow Hoosier FFA members in the coming months by helping plan summer leadership camps and activities at the Indiana State Fair in August.
“SOAR (Seeking Opportunities and Achieving Results) is one of the first camps that we will plan, and it is very special to me, personally, because that is the first place I ever said I want to be a state officer someday and make the same impact,” she said.
But according to Dawson, the process to become a state officer is much more involved than echoing the words alone. After submitting the formal application in March of the election year, which includes recommendations, a transcript and résumé, the applicant must fulfill requirements to receive the state Hoosier FFA Degree.
“Then we proceed to state convention in West Lafayette, where we sit through 20-plus hours of interviews,” Dawson added.
Additionally, candidates must present a five- to seven-minute stand-and-deliver speech; two writing activities; a group facilitation round; complete an FFA knowledge test; and participate in two ag issues debates and an ag education round, in which candidates are asked to prepare and make a formal presentation as if the Australian legislation were looking to incorporate ag education and FFA into its high school curriculum.
All interviews, debates and presentations take place in front of a nine-member selection committee. From that point, the committee formulates a seven-member officer slate. According to Dawson and Matlock, all 30-plus officer candidates were presented an envelope with the slate listed on June 15, following the third session.
“They select the best seven people to work together as a team, and then the slate is presented to the delegates for its final vote,” said Dawson.
And happily for Matlock, Dawson, Klotz, Gadd, Bell, Blackburn and Oxford, the slate passed and the gavel was passed to the new officer team.
According to Dawson, the new team of seven had just a few days rest after the grueling interview schedule last week, and will resume officer duties at the FFA Leadership Center in Trafalgar, Ind., this week.
“At the Leadership Center, we will participate in Blast-Off, a leadership camp facilitated by past state officers, and from there we move into training and planning for the state fair,” she explained.
To follow the state officers on their new journey, visit www.indianaffa.org |
