Although Paige Lacerenza didn’t know much about agriculture when she joined Southington FFA in Connecticut, it didn’t stop her from getting involved. Lacerenza participated in the creed speaking leadership development event and received the Star Chapter Greenhand award.
As her state’s president, Lacerenza wants to help other first-generation FFA members find their place within the organization — and she’ll continue on that path long after her term ends.
“I want to be an agriculture teacher,” she says. “FFA is for everyone, and there’s always something you can learn that will truly benefit you.”
Kayla Poling is the first female to serve as Oklahoma FFA State President in 12 years. She says Oklahoma FFA state officers had a significant impact on her experiences as a Silo FFA member. She plans to spend her term encouraging future FFA leaders.
“Oklahoma FFA gives me such a platform to make others feel empowered,” Poling says. “Empowering someone isn’t just about making them feel good; it’s about making them feel capable. I’ll feel good if I can do that before I retire my jacket.”
For Jack Beyer, the best part of attending the Washington Leadership Conference was meeting FFA members and hearing their stories. The Lowville FFA member from New York realized running for state office would allow him to have a positive influence on others’ FFA experiences.
Beyer knows that feeling nervous can prevent FFA members from pursuing leadership roles. The state president offers this piece of advice to members who feel this way: “Even if you’re scared, do it anyway. You'll be able to grow more than if you sat on the sidelines.”
In 2020, Kenneth Matsuda recruited friends to start the Koalas FFA Chapter on The Big Island of Hawaii. He participated in competitions, started a supervised agricultural experience and was elected as his state’s president. Most of all, Matsuda enjoys showcasing his culture through his FFA experiences.
“My most impactful experience was going to a national convention,” Matsuda says. “I got to see how big this organization was and how small the Hawaii delegation was. I want to show that even though we have different agriculture than the [mainland], we can still compete when we put in the work.”
Elkmont FFA was one of the few organizations offered at Jessa Usery’s rural Alabama high school. She joined, participated in the creed speaking LDE, fell in love with public speaking and leadership events and set a goal to serve on the state officer team.
During her year as state president, Usery is excited to meet students across Alabama.
“I want to connect with individual members, especially the quieter ones who sit in the back of the class,” she says. “I want to let them know there is someone who can help them get involved.”
Participating in the FFA forestry competition didn’t just help South Summit FFA member Braxten Blazzard build his resume — it also led to personal growth.
“Meeting people, becoming better at communicating with others and feeling that passion of being part of something made me realize I wanted to continue to see that growth,” he says.
Blazzard wants to use his term to encourage Utah FFA members to get more involved. “I want to show them they have a home in FFA and the many ways FFA can provide opportunities for growth.”
