Attendees of the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo had the opportunity to meet Ezekiel Mitchell, one of the most prominent bull riders in America, and the first African-American bull rider to make it to the PBR finals five times.
Mitchell was available in the Grit & Grace booth at the Expo, helping that organization spread its leadership and empowerment message for young women.
While he wasn’t an FFA member (his high school didn’t offer it), Mitchell says the themes of his journey parallel that of FFA: hard work, perseverance and inclusivity.
“That’s one of my biggest messages in life,” he says. “I want to inspire people with my story. I didn’t come from a traditional rodeo family, nor did I have the funds or the means. Then, to be quite frank, I don’t look like a lot of people in my industry, so I had to overcome some obstacles, but with hard work and keeping your head down and focusing on your goals, you can accomplish anything you want to.”
Mitchell says he’s motivated by what he’s seen at national convention. “FFA is building leaders for our future,” he says. “Who knows, one of these kids could be the president of the United States one of these days. I was just really excited to get to meet them.”
Article edited by FFA New Horizons editor Justin Davey.
