Indianapolis, Ind. (Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025) – More than 70 FFA student members serving as state officers in their respective states started the new year by exploring the history, culture and agricultural practices of Spain and Portugal.

National FFA’s International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO) is an annual program designed to develop awareness of global agriculture and enhance cultural competency of student members. Traveling state officers help lead more than 1 million members in 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Throughout the trip, students had opportunities to demonstrate foundational knowledge of global values and diversity while learning about the diverse agriculture landscape in both Spain and Portugal,” said Joe Martin, program specialist, advocacy, literacy and ag based experiences at the National FFA Organization. “The pre-work the students did prepared them to have an incredibly rich and impactful experience.”

SPAIN: THE ‘ORCHARD OF EUROPE’, HORSES, AND OLIVE OIL
The students explored Madrid, Granada, and Seville while in Spain, experiencing the rich history of the cities by visiting the John Deere Innovation Center for High Crops in Parla and visiting the Picualia Olive Oil Company while in Granada. They also toured the Almeria areas, often known as the ‘Orchard of Europe,’ where they saw three different types of greenhouses. While in Seville, they visited Yeguada de la Cartuja, known for their Andalusian horses.

PORTUGAL: THE WORLD’S TOP CORK PRODUCER
While in Portugal, the world’s top cork producer – producing 52% of corks, students visited a cork producer before visiting the Escola Superior Agraria de Santarem, Portugal’s oldest and most prestigious agricultural education school.

Students who participated in the trip are:

Alaska
Inga Peterson, Fort Wainwright
Alabama
Lilly Kaiser, Woodland
Emily Rezek, Opelika
Arkansas
Taylor Moffett, Judsonia
Delaware
Kathryn Argo, Harrington
Edwina Chen, Newark
Kyle Gares, Bear
Jetta Hastings, Milton
Andrew Nowotny, Laurel
Kailyn Pippin, Harrington
Florida
Afrifa Amoah-Mensah, Sorrento
Jocelyn Eubanks, Grand Ridge
Braley Hines, Trenton
Gabrielle Howell, Lithia
Macy Jordan, Bascom
Raelynn Paniagua, Clewiston
Caitlynn Robertson, Lakeland
Iowa
Collin Bauer, Ames
Kadence Boender, Doon
Brooklynn Booth, Manning
Cody Messer, New London
Creed Monroe, Decorah
Tucker Rohrig, Orient
Chloe Zittergruen, Keswick
Idaho
Aislyn King, New Plymouth
Joshua Nelson, Troy
Illinois
Benjamin Bremmer, Pearl City
Kansas
Natalee Bray, Scandia
Quinn Browning, La Cygne
Jory Ratzlaff, Galva
Louisiana
Camille Sonnier, Iowa
Maryland
Katelyn Bullock, West River
Ella Burrier, Thurmont
Mia McGuffin, Jefferson
Minnesota
Miriana Eiden, Rogers
Mississippi
Laynie Dodson, Nettleton
Montana
Ryan Bal, Bozeman
Reagan Long, Livingston
Haley Rigler, Bozeman
Nebraska
Brynn Almgren, Spencer
New Mexico
Victoria Lopez, Las Cruces
New York
Jack Beyer, Lowville
Ohio
Caleb Bennett, Washington Court House
Carter Boyd, Hillsboro
Layna Gordon, Newark
Jayden Hicks, Bradford
Josie Jennings, Springfield
Gracie Sprague, Genoa
Oregon
Julie Amos, Roseburg
Hunter Bingham, Haines
Taft Rice, Madras
Spencer Romans, Nyssa
Vivian Seaholm, Tillamook
South Carolina
Lyle Fulmer, Prosperity
Alex Vega, Beaufort
South Dakota
Emily Robbins, Aurora
Tennessee
Skylar Baird, Lebanon
Elijah Julian, Sparta
Paige Pardue, Hendersonville
Alexis Rush, Portland
Shelbi Wallace, McEwen
Emily Whitehead, Seymour
Troy Williams, Liberty
Virginia
Keller Cooley, Stephens City
Jackie Diaz, Timberville
Braelyn Durbin, Gore
Ryan Livesay, Warsaw
Grayson Long, Rockingham
Allison Rhodes, Weyers Cave
Blair Rutherford, Glade Spring
Washington
Makenna Barron, Waitsburg
Levi W. Kukes, Quincy
Ashley Landt, Reardan
Emily Ryder, Ellensburg

ILSSO is supported by FFA corporate donors Bunge and John Deere.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.