New York FFA alumni member Courtney Taibi talks to a current FFA member at the National FFA Convention & Expo.
Did you ever think that after graduation, your time being part of an organization that some people will call the best times of their lives would end? Graduate Courtney Taibi from Greenville Central School District did not have to think twice.
Although Taibi has graduated, she still ensures that she supports an organization with over one million student members by keeping in touch with members (current and past), being a resource to current members, and volunteering as much as she can as an alumni.
The National FFA Organization is filled with so many opportunities and options for everyone! During the annual National FFA Convention & Expo, students, advisors and supporters are given many options to better themselves and expand their knowledge, as well as start thinking about what their future could entail.
While walking around the National FFA Convention & Expo, you will see what is commonly known as “a sea of blue jackets.” Those blue jackets (FFA members) interact with representatives from multiple companies throughout the United States. Some of those representatives are FFA Alumni!
Taibi was a member of the Greenville FFA Chapter in New York and served her home state as an officer. She was the 2023-24 New York FFA vice president. When asked to describe her year of service as an officer in three words, she had to take her time because it was “the biggest year of her life.” After some thinking, she concluded that her three words were “connections, leadership, and legacy.”
Courtney Taibi addressing the crowd at the New York FFA Convention.
Taibi continues her time and experiences in the world of agriculture. She is a current student at Cornell University studying animal science on a pre-vet track.
At the expo, Taibi volunteered at the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) booth, educating and informing expo attendees about what the university can provide for them. Along with Taibi were other students and past FFA members and an admissions representative. Taibi believes this is a great opportunity, not only for herself but also for the members because of the outcomes.
Past FFA member and New York FFA officer Courtney Taibi volunteers at the Cornell CALS booth. She’s pictured with two current New York FFA members.
Although you no longer wear the blue jacket, does it still have that same impact? When asked, Taibi said, “It’s humbling being outside of the jacket; you feel like an outsider, but you still gain the same experiences. It keeps up the same values and memories as being in the blue jacket.”
