Ambassadors embrace Texas FFA motto
Wednesday, July 10, 2013 | Author: Tyler Allen, Diboll FFA
Cultivation and relationship building - these are the goals of the 2013 Texas FFA Foundation Ambassadors, according to the Texas FFA Foundation Executive Director Aaron Alejandro. While their work includes escorting corporate benefactors, special guests and dignitaries throughout the convention center, the ambassadors also engage in a great deal of "one-on-one time," Alejandro explained.
“Relationships [with sponsors] just don’t happen. It’s that behind-the-scenes cultivation that makes them possible, and the ambassadors are trained to help us cultivate those relationships,” Alejandro said. The ambassadors will be hard at work this week as they serve as representatives of the Texas FFA to friends and sponsors of the association.
The ambassador program began in 2008 and strives to embrace the FFA motto and develop servant leaders. Servant leadership offers the ambassadors the opportunity to gain communication skills and build relationships by engaging in conversations with friends and supporters of the organization.
A two-day training helps the ambassadors sharpen these skills and teaches them to utilize what they learn at a chapter level. “We’re trying to train high level students to serve at the highest levels,” Alejandro said.
Nicole Baker of the Huffman FFA Chapter describes her love of serving others and her will to maintain efficient sponsorships as her reason for joining the ambassador program. Baker stressed the importance of respecting corporate sponsors and properly representing the Texas FFA. During last year’s convention, Baker earned the Stewardship Award and looks forward to another successful week with the ambassadors.
Parker Dunkerley of the Henrietta FFA Chapter chose to join the ambassadors because he wanted to help others reach out to corporate sponsors and further his FFA involvement.
“I always wanted to get more involved in the FFA than I already was; since my dad’s an ag teacher, I’ve been around it my entire life,” Dunkerly said.
He describes the responsibilities of an ambassador as that of representing the Texas FFA, as well as catering to and escorting VIP guests to places they need to go. Dunkerley believes the ambassador program has helped him grow tremendously as an FFA member and as a person.
Lauren Grainger, a veteran ambassador and team leader for the 85th annual Texas FFA State Convention, describes the program as an eye-opener for opportunities that are essential for high school students.
“It really opens your eyes to the qualities of leadership, what you can do and what your purpose is, not only for the FFA but also to bring back to your chapter as well as your hometown,” Grainger said.
The ambassadors will use the skills they gain through the program to act as behind-the-scenes liaisons to corporate patrons, special guests and other benefactors of the Texas FFA.
|