Arkansas Agriculture — Edition 26
Change Language:
Spotlight On Youth — Believe In Service
New state officer team makes service top priority
All with heart. Never done. Never six. Always one.
This is the motto the 2012-2013 Arkansas FFA State officer team is vowing to live by throughout its year of service to the state association and its 12,000-plus members.
Elected on June 7 at the 85th State FFA Convention, the six state officers made it clear they’re not in it for the title. They are in it to serve and make a difference. Most importantly, they want to serve with heart, thus the reason for the words they’ve promised to live. As a team, they hope to make a lasting impact and inspire members just like previous state officer teams inspired them.
Dausen Duncan, president, has been involved with FFA since he was in eighth grade. He says he attended the Arkansas Leadership Conference for the first time his ninth-grade year, and that was when he decided he wanted to run for state office.
Amie Wilcox, reporter, and Jarrett Turner, Northwest vice president, are both children of agriculture teachers, so they were introduced to FFA at a young age. It wasn’t until joining FFA, though, that they realized how big an impact they could make as members of the organization. That realization is what drove them to run for state office.
The theme of this year’s state convention was “I Believe,” which can be interpreted in many ways. This team strongly believes in the FFA and everything it has to offer. They want to show others the opportunities that await them if they get involved and help them believe in FFA as well.
John Brian Kirksey, secretary, believes in the FFA because of “the drastic impact” it can have, while Wilcox believes in the FFA because “it has the ability to change lives.” Turner thinks FFA is worth believing in because it “builds leadership and prepares you for the real world.”
“It’s the organization that made me who I am today,” said Vicky Gallaher, Eastern District state vice president.
During the next year, these six will have opportunities they wouldn’t have been given anywhere else. They have already been through BLAST Off (Building Leaders And Strong Teams Of Officers) training and attended the National Leadership Conference for State Officers, both of which are sponsored by National FFA.
These trainings help the state officers not only grow as individuals, but also as a team. They help reinforce the notion they are there to serve the members, not themselves. Less than 8 percent of FFA members are state officers, so they are consistently reminded how lucky they are to be in that position of service.
They also got to facilitate three weeks of the Arkansas Leadership Conference in July, and Duncan and Kirksey attended the State President’s Conference in Washington, D.C.
Four high-school members will join the team of six to be a part of the delegate process at the National FFA Convention in October. During the delegate process, they will vote on issues decided at the State President’s Conference.
Next January and February, the team will facilitate three weekends of the Arkansas Greenhand Conference where they will work solely with first-year FFA members.
“I want to help them come out of their comfort zones like I was helped to do in ninth grade,” Duncan said.
Spring will bring about chapter banquets at which they’ll speak, attending judging contests and preparing for state convention in June where they’ll each give a retiring address, chair sessions and, then, take off their blue FFA jackets for the final time.
“I’m looking forward to challenging the members at banquets to push themselves to new heights,” said Gallaher.
Despite the many once-in-alifetime activities they get to be a part of, the team knows this year will still bring about times of discouragement. They all know what their driving force will be when times get tough, though.
First and foremost, the members will be their focus. Without them, these six would not be where they are today, and many of them often look to the state officer team for inspiration and guidance.
Kirksey and Wilcox say looking back on the good times and remembering how they felt when they were first elected also will be a huge help. Duncan and Lucas Head, Southern District vice president, agreed that not losing sight of the goals they set at the beginning of the year, along with doing everything “with heart,” will be important for getting through the tough times.
Throughout the many ups and downs, though, these six want to focus on service the most. At BLAST Off, they created a team mission statement that will constantly remind them why they are doing what they’re doing. It states, “Working together to develop the best influence for a positive impact.”
The team added the word “together” to ensure they never forget, “Never six. Always one.”
“As a state officer, I want to help us grow as a team, because we’ll accomplish more as a team than as individuals,” Turner said.
There’s no doubt this year will fly by for these six. On top of their state officer duties, they also will be starting their first year of college, with the exception of Kirksey, who will be starting his senior year. But, with each other’s support and keeping “All with heart. Never done. Never six. Always one” in mind, the 2012-2013 state officer team will reach its goal of serving Arkansas FFA to the fullest.
All with heart. Never done. Never six. Always one.
This is the motto the 2012-2013 Arkansas FFA State officer team is vowing to live by throughout its year of service to the state association and its 12,000-plus members.
Elected on June 7 at the 85th State FFA Convention, the six state officers made it clear they’re not in it for the title. They are in it to serve and make a difference. Most importantly, they want to serve with heart, thus the reason for the words they’ve promised to live. As a team, they hope to make a lasting impact and inspire members just like previous state officer teams inspired them.
Dausen Duncan, president, has been involved with FFA since he was in eighth grade. He says he attended the Arkansas Leadership Conference for the first time his ninth-grade year, and that was when he decided he wanted to run for state office.
Amie Wilcox, reporter, and Jarrett Turner, Northwest vice president, are both children of agriculture teachers, so they were introduced to FFA at a young age. It wasn’t until joining FFA, though, that they realized how big an impact they could make as members of the organization. That realization is what drove them to run for state office.
The theme of this year’s state convention was “I Believe,” which can be interpreted in many ways. This team strongly believes in the FFA and everything it has to offer. They want to show others the opportunities that await them if they get involved and help them believe in FFA as well.
John Brian Kirksey, secretary, believes in the FFA because of “the drastic impact” it can have, while Wilcox believes in the FFA because “it has the ability to change lives.” Turner thinks FFA is worth believing in because it “builds leadership and prepares you for the real world.”
“It’s the organization that made me who I am today,” said Vicky Gallaher, Eastern District state vice president.
During the next year, these six will have opportunities they wouldn’t have been given anywhere else. They have already been through BLAST Off (Building Leaders And Strong Teams Of Officers) training and attended the National Leadership Conference for State Officers, both of which are sponsored by National FFA.
These trainings help the state officers not only grow as individuals, but also as a team. They help reinforce the notion they are there to serve the members, not themselves. Less than 8 percent of FFA members are state officers, so they are consistently reminded how lucky they are to be in that position of service.
They also got to facilitate three weeks of the Arkansas Leadership Conference in July, and Duncan and Kirksey attended the State President’s Conference in Washington, D.C.
Four high-school members will join the team of six to be a part of the delegate process at the National FFA Convention in October. During the delegate process, they will vote on issues decided at the State President’s Conference.
Next January and February, the team will facilitate three weekends of the Arkansas Greenhand Conference where they will work solely with first-year FFA members.
“I want to help them come out of their comfort zones like I was helped to do in ninth grade,” Duncan said.
Spring will bring about chapter banquets at which they’ll speak, attending judging contests and preparing for state convention in June where they’ll each give a retiring address, chair sessions and, then, take off their blue FFA jackets for the final time.
“I’m looking forward to challenging the members at banquets to push themselves to new heights,” said Gallaher.
Despite the many once-in-alifetime activities they get to be a part of, the team knows this year will still bring about times of discouragement. They all know what their driving force will be when times get tough, though.
First and foremost, the members will be their focus. Without them, these six would not be where they are today, and many of them often look to the state officer team for inspiration and guidance.
Kirksey and Wilcox say looking back on the good times and remembering how they felt when they were first elected also will be a huge help. Duncan and Lucas Head, Southern District vice president, agreed that not losing sight of the goals they set at the beginning of the year, along with doing everything “with heart,” will be important for getting through the tough times.
Throughout the many ups and downs, though, these six want to focus on service the most. At BLAST Off, they created a team mission statement that will constantly remind them why they are doing what they’re doing. It states, “Working together to develop the best influence for a positive impact.”
The team added the word “together” to ensure they never forget, “Never six. Always one.”
“As a state officer, I want to help us grow as a team, because we’ll accomplish more as a team than as individuals,” Turner said.
There’s no doubt this year will fly by for these six. On top of their state officer duties, they also will be starting their first year of college, with the exception of Kirksey, who will be starting his senior year. But, with each other’s support and keeping “All with heart. Never done. Never six. Always one” in mind, the 2012-2013 state officer team will reach its goal of serving Arkansas FFA to the fullest.
Message