INDIANAPOLIS – When he was a freshman in high school, Aiden Manley never thought it was a possibility that he would be a national FFA officer one day. He never intended to be involved, telling his agriculture teacher, “I will never give a speech.”

Fast forward a few years to Oct. 24, 2026, the last day of the 99th National FFA Organization’s annual convention. That day, Manley, of the Menifee, Ky., FFA chapter, was named the organization’s eastern region vice president for 2026-27. He’s one of six officers who will lead the organization until the 100th convention in October 2027.

“I want to be an officer so that I can build relationships and be a support system for others through showing genuine love and care to every person I meet,” Manley explained. “Life has put me in some deep valleys but I have been blessed to have people who have supported me and built bridges across those valleys. I pray I am able to connect with members to find out how I can build bridges for them no matter what kind of valley they are facing.”

Manley said he blanked out after his name was called and he was running up the steps to the stage. Once he got to the stage, he thought about how grateful he was that God blessed him with the opportunity. He also thought of family, friends and mentors who invested in him and got him to that point.

He said his time as an officer is going to show him how to live out his “why.” It’s not only a “why” for office, but it’s a purpose he’ll carry with him throughout his life, Manley noted. The year will also prepare him to educate his future students on all facets of American agriculture and opportunities within FFA, he added.

In high school, Manley said he was of the mindset that if being involved in FFA meant going outside his comfort zone, he wasn’t for it. Then he was invited to spend a week at Kentucky FFA Camp. That week at camp, Manley noted, showed him he was missing out on being pushed to become the best version of himself to serve others.

“After that, I bought in and have done my best to practice humility and service,” he said. “I realized that self-growth and building skills comes through practice and failures. I never thought that national office was in the cards, but I know I now have a mission to show members that it isn’t necessarily talent and skill that get you here. It’s building character, humility, sacrificing for others, choosing to grow, and living to serve no matter where life brings you.”

Attending Kentucky FFA Camp at the Kentucky FFA Leadership Training Center each summer has been a highlight from his time with the organization, Manley said.

“Every year, I grew closer to my chapter and made countless friends,” he said. “Camp traditions like hiking to ‘The Big Tree’ and an old Abraham Lincoln home site, and pulling pranks will always be near and dear to my heart. I also experienced many pivotal lessons about leadership there.”

As for his goals as officer, Manley said he wanted to build relationships and be a support system for members. He also wants to learn from others.

“(I want to) be a listening ear and then a voice that continues to connect National FFA with the priorities and needs of local chapters and state associations. (I want to) promote agricultural education and FFA and its unique ability to provide leadership development rooted in agriculture, service opportunities, and build advocates for production agriculture.”

Manley graduated from Menifee County High School and is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky. He’s majoring in agricultural education and advocacy. After graduation, he said he plans to become an agriculture teacher.