|
|
| |
Visiting State Officers Bring Leadership Insight to Texas FFA Convention
Monday, August 4, 2025 | Author: Arianna Sandley, Meridian FFA
At the 2025 Texas FFA Convention, the Lone Star spirit wasn’t just celebrated by members from across the state, it was shared with FFA leaders from across the nation. This year, ten state associations sent their officers to experience firsthand the energy, tradition, and hospitality that define Texas FFA.
For New Mexico FFA State President Jayda Goodson, the week made a lasting impression.
“Coming here, and there are over 15,000 members, that’s absolutely incredible,” said Goodson. “But also, the love of FFA stays the same, no matter your number, that’s really cool that we can each share that.”
The size of the convention was one of the first things visiting officers noticed, but it was the spirit of Texas FFA members that left the biggest mark.
“Our whole convention is about the size of your Lone Star Degree ceremony,” said Presleigh Jennings of the Kentucky FFA Association, laughing. “Texas FFA members are so happy to be Texas FFA members.”
Ethan Parks of Georgia FFA agreed, praising the energy that filled the convention hall.
“Even though Georgia’s the third-biggest state in terms of membership, Texas just brings the energy. The opening sessions here are crazy,” said Parks. “Just seeing how excited people were to walk across the stage, it was amazing. The excitement filled the whole room.”
For many officers, the convention offered a chance to celebrate long-distance friendships and witness growth in others. Gabby Howell of the Florida FFA Association cherished the opportunity to watch the retiring addresses of the 2024-2025 state officers.
“My favorite part so far has just been watching all the retiring addresses,” said Howell. “It’s been a rewarding experience watching them culminate such a great year of hard work and service to the state of Texas.”
Returning to the convention for a second year, Reese Mitchell, former 2022–2023 Arkansas FFA State President saw the impact of time and growth.
“The coolest thing is connecting the dots, seeing someone who was a district officer last year now serving as an area officer, or having someone stop you and say they remembered your workshop,” said Mitchell. “That full circle moment is just incredible.”
Throughout the week, visiting officers also reflected on the power of FFA to grow leaders, no matter where they’re from.
“You’ll get out of things what you put into them,” said Ty McDonald of the North Dakota FFA Association. “The more you put into something, the more you’re going to get out of it, and FFA is full of opportunities that can truly change your life.”
For Windsor Leighty from Colorado FFA, the level of engagement from Texas FFA members was unforgettable.
“I wasn’t expecting that coming into such a big convention,” said Leighty. “Y’all have more members at your convention than we have in our entire state.”
Julie Amos from Oregon FFA echoed that sentiment, applauding the attentiveness and focus of the attending FFA members.
“One of the things that I’ve respected so much is the level of attention and engagement from the members,” Amos said. “It’s really hard to have a room that big, that quiet, when you have that many people in there. Everyone is just so engaged, and same for our workshop.”
Her teammate, Taft Rice, added that every convention he has attended feels as if it brings its own distinct energy, and Texas was no exception.
“But you can definitely tell there’s a lot of pride in the FFA and a lot of pride in Texas,” said Rice.
Even quieter moments had a powerful impact on the visitors. For Joey Nowotry of Delaware FFA, it wasn’t a packed session that stood out, but a small, meaningful workshop conversation.
“We were able to have deep conversations about family and how we can uplift individuals like the people we work with,” said Nowotry. “It was awesome and I am so thankful for those individuals who attended that workshop.”
And for Isabel Hauser of West Virginia FFA, it was the sense of connection that stood out most.
“It’s just so much bigger, everything is!” Hauser said. “But even though we come from different parts of the country, FFA gives us this space where we all feel connected.”
As the week came to a close, the message was clear: whether you’re in a state with 1,000 members or 183,000, the heart of FFA beats the same. The 2025 Texas FFA Convention wasn’t just a celebration of state pride, it was a reminder of the national unity, leadership, and purpose that define this organization.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|