Each member of the 2021-22 national officer team has collected a host of memorable moments over their past year of service. We asked them to select just one favorite; some of their answers might surprise you.
Curious? Click through the slideshow to learn the national officers’ most unforgettable experiences.
“I’ll never forget my experience at the 2022 Louisiana FFA State Convention,” says National FFA President Cole Baerlocher. “The Walker FFA Chapter members took me out to dinner and shared their favorite Cajun foods with me, including crawfish, fried alligator, frog legs and boudin. It was such a special opportunity to learn more about the area’s culture and cuisine while also connecting with FFA members.”
“During National FFA Week, I was fortunate to meet the Shiprock FFA in Shiprock, N.M., which is part of the Navajo Nation reservation,” says National FFA Secretary Jackson Sylvester. “I learned about Native American culture and the many ways they embrace agriculture in their daily lives, and they taught me how to prepare a traditional Native American food called fry bread. Being from the East Coast, this was an entirely new experience for me. I’ll remember it forever.”
“I went to the Wyoming FFA Leadership Camp in Lander, Wyo., and it was the best week ever,” says Southern Region Vice President Erik Robinson. “There’s no cell phone reception, so I was really in the moment without distractions. I formed bonds with just about everyone there through team sports, leadership development workshops, breakout groups, and other events and activities. I plan on serving as a counselor next year. I can’t wait to go back.”
“I went to the 2022 Alaska State FFA Convention and made so many wonderful memories,” says Eastern Region Vice President Mallory White. “There were about 60 people in attendance, and I remember looking around at everyone and realizing how special it was that I had the chance to get to know them all. Due to the smaller size of the convention, I was able to spend more time with each person and form meaningful connections, and I really valued that.”
“As national officers, we don’t always see much of one another once we start traveling to attend state conventions, visit FFA sponsors and meet chapters across the country,” says Central Region Vice President Cortney Zimmerman. “But thanks to some schedule changes, I got to spend a full week with each of my teammates one-on-one. Although meeting new people is a wonderful part of being a national officer, I’ve also enjoyed getting to know my team members on a deeper level.”
“My teammate Erik Robinson and I visited the Domino’s Pizza corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich., and to say it was memorable would be a massive understatement,” says Western Region Vice President Josiah Cruikshank. “Together, Erik and I made pizza and breadsticks, which we ate with the Domino’s leadership team while we learned more about how the company supports the National FFA Organization. It was fun, educational and absolutely unforgettable.”
