At FFA, we believe that what we grow changes how the world grows.
The Forever Blue Network is about reconnecting with those who made a difference in your life, reaching out to those you can impact now and finding a new world of opportunities. As a result, we launched a new series called Five Questions to explore the lives of Forever Blue Network members.
Among other things, we’ll find out:
- Who they are.
- Where they are now.
- What do they do.
- How they do it.
Our first Five Questions featured Lesli Sharp of Loveland, Colo. Lesli is a former FFA member and is currently product coordinator, phosphates, at Nutrien.
Q1: Tell us about how FFA made an impact on your life.
Lesli: FFA opened my eyes to an even larger world of agriculture and opportunities. Traveling across Texas and to the National FFA Convention, developing speaking and facilitation skills, along with the people I met, collectively impacted my life in many ways. Each of these opportunities allowed me to see the industry and the people around me in new ways.
Q2: What made you decide your career path?
Lesli: I’ve always known I wanted to work in the ag industry. Growing up with parents who work in the cattle business, I was passionate about the lifestyle, necessity and diversity agriculture offers. One thing I’ve learned in my career is that many career opportunities come unexpectantly. I’ve always been open to new and very different roles, which has provided me with a holistic view of the company I work for and allowed me to learn more about my strengths. My career path has taken many turns, but each turn got me closer to work that I enjoy and where I can perform the best.
Q3: What was your SAE or project in FFA?
Lesli: I grew up raising and showing registered Simmental and Simbrah cattle. I enjoyed traveling the state of Texas to show cattle and connect with fellow FFA members I met during my time in the organization.
Q4: What is your favorite FFA memory?
Lesli: I have many fond memories and close friends from my time in FFA. My favorite memory was serving as an area officer and developing great friendships with my fellow officers, area officers from around the state, and our district officers. My year as an area officer was one of immense growth as I led our area, but it was also a lot of fun to facilitate camps, serve as a voting delegate at national convention and host our area’s career and leadership development event competitions. It was a year I learned what kind of leader I truly could be.
Q5: How did FFA prepare you for your career?
Lesli: FFA allowed me to develop confidence in myself — confidence to speak, to learn, to work hard for a goal, and to develop meaningful relationships with teammates and colleagues. These skills and many others have served me well in my career as I have taken on challenging roles and sought to learn more aspects of the ag industry while working with diverse individuals from across the world.
To learn more about and join the Forever Blue Network, visit https://foreverbluenetwork.org. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming Five Questions, email Joanne Sergi, jsergi@ffa.org, with your request.
