By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

CECELIA, Ky. — “It’s amazing how one sentence can change your life,” said Joenelle Futrell, Kentucky FFA state vice president. That moment came for her when a friend, on something of a dare, asked, “Why don’t you join FFA?”
Futrell took her up on the idea and has never looked back. Her journey has brought her to the office she holds now, along with the responsibilities that come with being a state FFA officer. The rewards are many, and that is how she views her tenure as one of the leaders of the organization.

Futrell has been crisscrossing the state since, becoming a state officer last year, helping other chapters, speaking to school and civic groups and participating in projects, all in an effort to fulfill her duties, learn new things and to showcase what FFA can mean to an individual as well as the communities in which members serve.

Last month she spoke to a gathering at the Governor’s Mansion as part of a event in which she, Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear and other FFA officers from across the state gathered to plant one of the many Governor’s Gardens that help feed those in need.

Last week she climbed onto a tractor in the middle of a cornfield in Hardin County, posing for a poster to be distributed to schools throughout Kentucky.
This is part of a project being developed by the state’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) office to bring attention to the value of CTE and how it connects to almost every aspect of life, including our food supply.

Futrell seems comfortable whether it be in official dress or in blue jeans and work boots on the farm. She is also breaking some stereotypes along the way, proving more women are becoming involved in all areas of agriculture and that honors students – as she was in high school – can also be involved in CTE programs (or vocational school, as it used to be known).

Today she is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky looking at a dual degree in agricultural economics with an international business minor and political science with a career and community leadership minor. She also wants to attend law school.

“I’m on the road more than I’m off,” she said of her busy schedule. “It’s nothing for me, being from Owensboro, to drive to Fleming County for a banquet. That is quite a drive, but you really have to remember why you’re in that office. It’s not about spending your time for the benefit of yourself, it’s about a servant type of a leader and keeping other members in mind, so maybe you can make an impact on someone at that event.”

Futrell added for her, it’s not how much work goes into being a state officer but how much work and effort one is willing to put into it. She said anything less than giving it her all would not only be cheating herself but other members who depend on her knowledge to help achieve their goals.

“No matter what FFA member that you ask, they are going to tell you about the competitions, camps and events they go to and the different fun things they have done. But every single member can tell you about one person, whether it is their advisor or an officer, that made a personal impact on them, that they built a specific relationship with,” she said.

“I feel that is what FFA does. I know that in my situation, I wasn’t extremely involved in FFA my freshman year and it took an advisor who saw something in me at the time I didn’t see in myself.”

Futrell has seen time and again students who come to the organization with little confidence in their leadership abilities, only to grow and change and become the leaders for which FFA is known.

As generally one of the largest student groups in a school, FFA enjoys a longstanding relationship with community organizations and businesses. Futrell thinks that is due to others recognizing the importance of agriculture leaders and education, and many of today’s business leaders were once involved in FFA themselves and want to see and give today’s members the same chances they enjoyed.

“It is because of the basic things that we really do believe in, heart and soul, reflected in the FFA creed, that make us trusted and respected,” she said.
She acknowledged there are still those who see agriculture and FFA as being for “those dumb farm kids,” and said it burns her, as so many still don’t relate the two with their food supply.

“I don’t think it is so much stupidity as it is ignorance, and part of that is our own fault for not putting ourselves out there and advertising our brand of agriculture even more. You can’t always blame people because they don’t know, if they have never been shown,” Futrell said.

Showing people is something she is making a part of her everyday activities. Coming from a farming background, it is her mission to share her knowledge and put the agriculture brand out there.