The spotlight shifted from competitions to leadership Wednesday at the Indiana FFA Convention as student delegates gathered to elect the organization’s next generation of leaders.
Representatives from FFA chapters across the state cast ballots to select new regional directors and district officers who will help guide Indiana FFA during the coming year. The election process gives members a direct voice in choosing the students who will represent their regions, lead conferences and events, and serve as a link between local chapters and the state association.
Lennon Woods was just voted in as the new Region 1 Director.
She says, “This opportunity will really put me out of my comfort zone a little bit, and allow me to grow my leadership skills in the sense that I will get to connect with people that I would have never probably talked to otherwise, just from being a little bit nervous sometimes. So this will really allow me become a better leader and more genuine.”
The Delegate Business Session is one of the few times each year that FFA members conduct the official business of the organization, demonstrating the leadership, teamwork, and parliamentary skills they’ve developed through the program.
Korben Marshall district 3 officer says the tradition of delegate business is one of the most important elements of the FFA convention.
“The delegate business sessions are such an important tradition because they are kind of the foundation of this association. They make all the decisions for the association and everybody’s voice is heard,” says Marshall.
The process is about more than electing officers…it’s about preparing young people to become leaders in agriculture, business, and their communities long after they leave the blue jacket.
