FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Bluegrass State has been well represented when it comes to national FFA officers, especially over the last few years. During the 87th annual FFA Convention, Ruth Ann Myers of the Boyle County chapter was elected to serve as National Eastern Region vice president.

She becomes the second national officer in three years to hail from Kentucky, and the 12th in FFA history. Joenelle Futrell was selected as a national officer two years ago.

According to the Kentucky FFA, Myers will travel more than 100,000 miles and have the opportunity to speak to thousands of FFA members and interact with agriculture, education and government officials during her yearlong tenure. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Kentucky majoring in agricultural education.

Matt Chaliff, Kentucky FFA state executive secretary, said she has a year of great opportunities in front of her. “I speak for all of Kentucky FFA when I say that we are extremely proud of Ruth Ann, and excited about the opportunities she will have this year,” he added.

Myers has a long history in agriculture and FFA. “I kind of grew up with agriculture in my blood; that is the way I like to say it. My whole family has been heavily involved in the agriculture industry,” she said.

Her grandparents got the ball rolling, starting an Angus operation her father and brother took over. “Growing up, both my parents actually taught agriculture, so from a very young age I was exposed to FFA and what it stood for and what it was about, and I could see students who were products of my parents’ programs and thought it was a very neat thing that I wanted to get involved with, as well.”

Myers is one of more than 610,000 FFA members who make up one of the largest youth organizations in the country and the largest of the career and technical student organizations. The last two national conventions have set records for attendance, with 64,409 members at this year’s. Having grown up around the organization, Myers said there is something for everyone in FFA. “Whether you love public speaking or you’re really interested in the industry or the production side, or if you’re like me – I really like the leadership aspect of it,” she explained.

Myers noted the positive change she has seen from students as they begin their experience in FFA.

“I’ve seen freshmen walk in the door to their first ag class ever and they are timid and shy and not really sure what high school is all about, or how involved they want to get with this FFA thing. That was me, too. But it takes being willing to open up and finding your niche within the organization, and it has so much to offer as long as you are willing to accept it.”

Myers thinks what makes FFA so unique is that it is something that will stay with its members for a lifetime. “No matter where you go, whether it’s in the state or across the nation, you have that connection with people and I just think that is so cool,” she said. She pointed out it is the experiences FFA members have at their state conferences as well as the national convention that gives them a better sense of the positive impact FFA has on students, by being around so many members from so many places.

“It’s then they realize it’s not just those 50 or 100 students at their high school, it’s thousands and thousands of students nationwide, and they’re working toward the same thing with the same drive and same passion. It really does unite those individuals,” she noted.

Myers plans to be an agriculture educator. She said it is classroom as well as a one-on-one experience with an ag teacher that makes the difference in it being just another class – or something that changes lives. “These ag teachers are so in love with their jobs and they truly care about their students,” she said. “My mom told me I have thousands of brothers and sisters because she considers all of her students her own children.”

But Myers won’t be following in the footsteps of her parents, exactly; she has a different view of where she wants to begin her ag teaching experience. “I’m a little different. I would love to be in an urban middle school area and teach ag education,” she explained. “At the high school level, it’s prevalent and thriving and I think if we can get to the middle school level or earlier and introduce students, this next generation will be so ready to take on any challenges.”