LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Students from Ohio, Iowa, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia and Utah have been elected by delegates from throughout the United States to serve on the 2015-16 National FFA Officer team. The announcement was made at the 88th National FFA Convention & Expo.
Three officers are from this region. Sydney Snider of Ohio, an agricultural communications major at The Ohio State University, was elected Eastern Region vice president. Abrah Meyer of Iowa, an agricultural business major at Iowa State University, will serve as Central Region vice president and Nick Baker of Tennessee, an agricultural communications major at the University of Tennessee, will serve as secretary.
For Snider, 19, it’s a dream come true. From the time she was just 4 years old she worked on her family’s "hobby farm" tending to 20 head of beef cattle on 45 acres. When she turned 8 she joined 4-H and raised goats and pigs to show at the Clermont County Fair.
Taking agriculture even more seriously, Snider joined FFA at Felicity-Franklin High School and delved into animal science, food science, agricultural business and leadership.
At her county fair, she became part of the Royalty Court as the caprine representative and pork industry queen. In 2013, she set her sights on the state chapter of FFA, winning the secretary post and looking to the Ohio presidency in 2014. She was elected president that year.
"My role was helping new officers learn their roles," she explained. "Sometimes we held combined school district night sessions that attracted from 70 to 400 students."
As Eastern Region VP for FFA, Snider’s responsibilities will magnify tenfold. She plans on being an ambassador for agriculture. "One in seven Americans have a job that’s somehow connected to ag. The greatest thing about FFA is we have pulled in more students who don’t have an ag background."
In 2014, Snider took a year off school to travel the state as president of the Ohio FFA. During that time she helped spread the word about careers in agriculture.
"This all hasn’t sunk in yet," said Meyer, just two days after the ceremonies. "It’s truly an honor. When I was a freshman in high school I really wanted to get involved in FFA because my brother was an active FFA member."
Her first involvement with FFA was a speaking engagement. Not long after, she became a district officer.
"I never dreamed of becoming a district officer, let alone a state officer," she said. "And now I’m a national officer. It’s crazy looking back at it all. It all happened so fast." She said her experience at the state level prepared her for this next step as Central Region VP.
"They challenged me, and I challenged them. We became like family. I was able to challenge my new teammates to reach new heights and have them challenge me in the role that I played. I loved being able to sit down and have a conversation with members throughout the state. Through FFA I have found out how important effective communication really is in everyday life, agriculture and FFA.
"I grew up on a farm and knew that dad was planting and harvesting corn and soybeans, but it was through FFA that I gained an appreciation for that farm-to-table aspect," Meyer explained. "FFA provides me and other members with the opportunity to be an advocate for agriculture. Through leadership I have had opportunities to make friends and advocate for agriculture. It all ties together."
Baker covets his role as FFA national secretary and credits his past for getting him to the top of the FFA ladder.
"FFA is a family and it’s a fun time. That’s what I tell prospective FFA members that want to get engaged," he said. "My FFA career has been filled with some very cool moments and I’ve created some great memories.
"Most of all, with FFA we can make a difference in the lives of others and have a positive influence in someone else’s life. Our FFA motto says, ‘learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live and living to serve.’ It’s all about serving the people around you."
The other three new officers are President Taylor McNeel of Arkansas, an agricultural business major at Southern Arkansas University; Southern Region VP Abbey Gretsch of Georgia, an agricultural communications major at the University of Georgia; and Western Region VP Sarah Draper of Utah, an agricultural education major at Utah State University.
