“What makes a great leader?” is a question 17-year-old Julia Silvus has asked herself for years.

FFA and community have always been important to Silvus. From organizing community service projects for her high school FFA chapter (Fort Frye FFA) to being selected as an Ohio FFA state officer in May 2024, Silvus has been involved in FFA for a few years. From competing in the Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event (CDE) to introducing guest speakers at meetings and now serving as her chapter’s FFA president, she continues to create her own path of success and uplift her peers in the process.

The Journey Begins

Julia Silvus poses in front of Lock No. 4 Coffee House in Beverly, Ohio.

At the beginning of her junior year, Silvus began working at a local coffee shop, Lock No. 4 Coffee House. Throughout her time at Lock No. 4, Silvus became a key part in the success of the business as she learned more about teamwork and customer service.

The skills she continues to learn there translate into her role on the Fort Frye FFA officer team. As president, Silvus has been a vital part of the chapter’s growth, bringing new ideas and leading activities that gave back to the community. Silvus has also created strong bonds with local businesses that donate and support the chapter regularly.

“Julia is a hard worker, encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves and maintains involvement in several organizations,” said Fort Frye FFA Reporter Kallie Boley. “She’s making an impact on a variety of students through these organizations.”

Julia Silvus poses with her chapter officer team.

A New Beginning: Ohio FFA State Office

Silvus first expressed interest in running for state office at the beginning of her junior year. From researching and crafting a resume to coffee shop meetings with her advisor, Abby Campbell, Silvus worked for months to perfect an application that highlighted her strengths, abilities and connections.

As the curtains opened for Session 1 of the 97th Ohio FFA State Convention, Silvus and her chapter awaited the state officer slate announcement. Silvus was announced as the first candidate for state sentinel, and was later officially elected as a vice president at large. For the first time in decades, a Fort Frye FFA member achieved the high title of state officer.

Silvus poses with her Ohio FFA state officer team.

Since that day in May, Silvus has given her all to being a leader and role model for thousands of Ohio FFA members to look up to. Although it might not have been easy at first, Silvus has learned to balance all of her roles in a healthy manner.

“I can attest that at the beginning of the year, balancing state office with everything I normally do was not easy,” Silvus said. “I’ve learned throughout the year that one of the most important parts of time management as a whole is to make time to reflect and recover. If you are constantly drained and tired, you most likely won’t be able to have many positive interactions with others. So, as the year has gone on, I have balanced everything by keeping a calendar updated and making sure to schedule out rest time for myself.”

As a state officer, Silvus works with her team to facilitate statewide activities and lead group sessions that inspire growth, learning and teamwork, all while encouraging FFA members to be the best versions of themselves.

“It may sound cliche, but the best advice I can give to a younger member is to be comfortable with things that are outside of your comfort zone,” Silvus said. “A lot of things in FFA are ones we have never tried before or we may be scared to do, but if we push past these fears and give it a chance, we may find things that we succeed in or are passionate about. Take it from me — starting out, pretty much everything in FFA was outside of my comfort zone. But, by taking a chance, I was able to find things I was passionate about and want to spend my life pursuing.”