WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Jenna Lawler decided to seek an Indiana FFA state officer position to help give the organization’s members the same sense of belonging she experienced when she joined. Lauren Argotte ran for office, in part, to help create an inclusive environment within FFA where everyone feels welcome.

Lawler was elected state reporter and Argotte state secretary June 19 during the 96th state convention in West Lafayette. Lawler is a member of the Rushville FFA chapter and Argotte, the Lebanon FFA chapter.

“Being an officer will challenge me to lead by example, serve others and represent something greater than myself,” Lawler explained. “I’ll build lifelong relationships and learn how to advocate for agriculture and youth leadership on a whole new level.”

She said she decided to run for state officer because FFA is where she found her second family. “When I first joined, I did not expect to immediately feel so supported, accepted, and encouraged by people who genuinely wanted to see me grow. I have met people who have believed in me and seen potential in me before I saw it myself.

“That sense of belonging changed my life and now I want to give that same experience to others. My intention is to help members find their voice, their confidence, their potential, and maybe even their own FFA family, just like I did.”

For Argotte, serving as a state officer will allow her to ensure every FFA member understands that their voice and story are powerful, valuable and play a large role in making a lasting impact.

“Back in 8th grade, I was a very quiet and reserved person. That wasn’t truly who I was on the inside, but I struggled to find a place where I felt like I belonged or where I felt comfortable enough to share my story.

“FFA quickly became that home for me. Every time I put on my FFA jacket, I’m reminded of that sense of belonging and ‘home.’ With the support and guidance of my FFA advisers, I learned that my voice and my story do matter.”

Argotte said the one thing she’s looking forward to the most during her time as secretary is making connections.

“I’m very much a people person and absolutely love any opportunity I have to build connections with members,” she explained. “I love to think of FFA as a buffet. First, everyone has a seat at the table, no matter their background or prior experience. I want every FFA member to know they belong and have a place in the National FFA Organization.

“Second, like a buffet, no two members’ experiences will look the same. Every member will take a different path, dive deeper into their unique interests, and truly have the opportunity to grow exponentially within the blue jacket.”

Lawler said she’s cherished the people she’s met during her time in FFA.

“Whether it’s an impromptu conversation in a hotel hallway, a pep talk with an adviser before a contest, or even just a simple hug from a friend after walking off stage – it’s the people who truly make FFA so special. Their passion, belief, kindness and energy have fueled this organization for years.”

FFA is a tradition in Lawler’s family as nearly everyone – with the exception of her brother – has been a member. Her grandfather, who was excited she joined FFA, competed in dairy judging and Lawler has kept him informed on how she’s done in her contests. Her mother used to be an agriculture teacher.

While at Rushville, Lawler served as a Greenhand president and a chapter president.

Argotte is the first person in her immediate family to be in FFA, though she does have uncles who were involved.

She recently completed her term as Lebanon FFA chapter president and served two years as chapter treasurer.

One of Argotte’s favorite FFA projects was being a part of the FFA in the USA program.

“Throughout high school, I had the opportunity to serve as an FFA in the USA reporter, where I wrote stories about FFA members from across the state that were featured on the National FFA website. This experience allowed me to grow my skills in agricultural communications, build closer connections with FFA members statewide, and help them understand how important it is for their stories to be heard.”

Lawler’s favorite FFA project started her sophomore year of high school.

“I conducted a project that analyzed different trends among agriculturalists about hearing protection in addition to manually determining the decibel level in over 27 different areas. One vital piece of information I found was that 71.3 percent of agriculturalists surveyed were not wearing hearing protection when needed. I saw this as an issue. I attended the Washington Leadership Conference that summer and created a detailed layout on how to enable my plan to serve my community.”

Lawler and Argotte graduated from high school earlier this year. Lawler plans to attend Purdue University to study sustainable food systems. Argotte will go to Purdue to double major in agricultural communications and agribusiness with a concentration in marketing.