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 are launching 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.
- Why.
This month’s Five Questions features Kevin Summers of Angola, Ind. Kevin is a former FFA member, past Indiana FFA state officer, and is currently vice president of business development for AgHires and president of N&C Claims Service of Indiana.
Q1: What are some of the biggest professional challenges you have faced, and how did/does your FFA background help you navigate those?
Kevin: The biggest challenge has to be the ever-changing field of agriculture. Agriculture has evolved more in the last five years than it has in the last 50 years, and the next five years will be no different. FFA taught me early on to prepare, prepare, prepare! Whether it was judging contests, leadership, parliamentary procedure, or public speaking, prepping for the expected and unexpected set you up to handle anything life may throw your way. I believe George Washington said when asked if you had 60 minutes to cut down a tree, what would you do, his response, “I would spend 45 minutes sharpening my blade.”
Q2: What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard/been given?
Kevin: It’s probably not what I’ve heard, but what I’ve told my kids for years. I say, “Don’t stop now,” and they respond, “Straight to the top now.” It means keep pushing for what you want to achieve and never stop reaching for the top.
Q3: Why do you support FFA?
Kevin: It really is the greatest organization in the world. From being a kid with no idea of what the future was to bring to becoming a state FFA officer, business owner, husband, and father—FFA played a major role in my success.
Q4: What was your favorite part about being in FFA?
Kevin: The members. That means from my friends at the local level all the way to members throughout the state that I had the opportunity to serve at a state level.
Q5: If you could have lunch with one person, who would it be?
Kevin: MLK [Martin Luther King Jr.]. He was a visionary and a leader who was able to bring people together.
If you would like to be considered for an upcoming Five Questions, email Joanne Sergi, jsergi@ffa.org, with your request.
