Update– see the correction in the first two paragraphs reflecting that there are four National Officer candidates attending Oklahoma State University this fall.
Out of a total of 35 national FFA officer candidates who will be in Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention this coming week to compete for six spots in the next National FFA officer leadership team, four of those 35 candidates are students at Oklahoma State University studying in the Ferguson College of Agriculture. (Check out the pictures of all thirty five Candidates at the bottom of this story)
Those four students include Braden Heisler of Waukomis, Oklahoma, Erynn Allison, from Tifton, Georgia, Amara Jackson of Durand, Michigan and Justin Sharp of Oregon. Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, had the chance to visit with Allison about what inspired her to run for a national FFA office.
Early on, Allison said she knew the FFA was where she was meant to be.
“I participated in over 14 career development events through my time that ranged from prepared public speaking, where I gave a speech on prescribed burns, to floriculture and environmental natural resources,” Allison said.
Allison also participated in livestock shows and took on many leadership roles throughout her FFA career.
“I found my place in leadership,” Allison said. “I was an area officer for two years, and eventually, I served as Georgia FFA State South Region Vice President my senior year of high school,” Allison said.
Allison said FFA is the reason she chose to attend Oklahoma State University in hopes of pursuing a career as an agricultural educator. When asked about her experience at OSU, Allison said it feels like home.
“I went on my tour, and a city full of orange became home in 30 minutes,” Allison said. “Driving around the town, I knew immediately that this was where I was supposed to be.”
The thing that Allison said motivates her most to be a national FFA officer is to have a chance to recognize the students within the organization.
“National FFA has 945,000 members, and those 945,000 students deserve to have their name and story heard and to know that it matters,” Allison said. “As a national officer, I hope to recognize those students.”
Our coverage of Oklahoma FFA engaged at the National FFA Convention is being powered by Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Watch for our stories and interviews from Indianapolis on our Website, Daily Email, our statewide Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and our Social Media Channels. Click here for the OKFB website to learn about how they are making a difference in lives of Oklahomans. Oklahoma Farm Bureau supports the youth of rural Oklahoma year round- and reminds you- Together- We Are Rural Oklahoma!
