Caroline Groth is announced as the 2024-25 National FFA Eastern Region Vice President.
Realizing the power of positive thinking and leaning on Theodore Roosevelt’s words, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there,” have guided Caroline Groth since she was 6, with the quote hanging in her bedroom as a reminder of what’s possible. As a young girl, Groth used those words to chase her dream of becoming a cheerleader for the University of Kentucky.
Little did she know, this journey would lead her to a different kind of cheering. Now, the 2024-25 National FFA Eastern Region Vice President, Groth shared this message during her retiring address as the 2023-24 Kentucky FFA state president. In addition to acknowledging Roosevelt’s insight, she added, “Before you can believe in yourself, you need to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Support and encouragement from others turn dreams into reality.”
Amelia Tucker, former Kentucky FFA state treasurer and a close friend of Groth, remembers their first meeting at the 2023 Kentucky FFA State Convention. “We were both candidates for the 2023-24 state officer team, but our first real interaction came during the officer slate announcement,” Tucker says. “When I froze after being called as treasurer, Caroline — who hadn’t yet heard her name — grabbed my hand, squeezed it with a smile and gently pushed me forward. Her selflessness left a lasting impression. Even in her moment of uncertainty, she was more focused on celebrating my success than her own. That moment speaks to the humble, kind-hearted person Caroline is.”
Growing up in Lexington, Ky., Groth’s journey in agriculture began unexpectedly. Reflecting on her start during an episode of the Seeds of Success Podcast, she joked that it was a “4-H project gone wild.” Before high school, Groth had little agricultural experience, aside from living on her family’s farm she moved to in 2014 as part of her parents’ dream for their children to show sheep.
However, it wasn’t until she met her future agriculture teachers, Toni Myers and Daniel Bustle, at the county fair while showing sheep that Groth knew what FFA was. Myers and Bustle encouraged her to attend Locust Trace AgriScience Center. Despite knowing no one at the time, she took their advice — and that decision set her on a path to a lifelong passion for agriculture.
As a freshman, Groth was encouraged to get involved and attended the National FFA Convention & Expo. This experience opened her eyes to opportunities within FFA and sparked her passion for leadership and service.
In high school, Groth worked toward becoming president of her chapter, but was heartbroken when she didn’t achieve that goal. Myers reassured her, however, that it was just another chapter, not the end, and told her to “bloom where you’re planted.” These words set her on a journey of growth, teaching her about humble confidence and leadership — lessons that ultimately led her to become the Kentucky FFA state president.
It was this same growth mindset that guided her during the preparation for running to become a national officer. Regardless of the outcome, she says she could’ve found peace in knowing that she had become a better person than when she started. This process helped her grow both as an individual and in her faith, as her faith in the Lord is her top value. Groth adds that she strives to be a disciple for the Lord in both her actions and words in her time as a National FFA Officer.
“A true light to others” and “The word ‘me’ never leaves her mouth” are just a couple of the ways Groth was described at her celebration reception hosted by her home chapter, Locust Trace FFA, after being elected as the 2024-25 National FFA Eastern Region Vice President.
Nick Carter, chairman of the Kentucky FFA Foundation, announces the launch of an endowment made in Groth’s honor to support the FFA chapters in Fayette County.
Groth’s journey has come full circle. It’s clear that her dream of becoming a cheerleader has evolved into a reality and one rooted in faith, leadership and service to others. It’s a cheer she can now share on a national level.
Above all, Groth’s story is a testament to the power of belief, the strength found in community and the lasting impact of a selfless heart devoted to service.
