CHEYENNNE— The Wyoming FFA Association elected a new team of students to lead its members as the 2016-2017 Wyoming FFA Officers on April 7, 2016.
The newly elected officer team is (student, office, hometown chapter): Mark McConnell, President, Lander FFA; Taitlyn Bethea, Vice President, Sundance FFA; Aften Peterson, 2nd Vice President, Ten Sleep FFA; Matthew Winterholler, 3rd Vice President, Gillette FFA; Katie Schilt, Secretary, High Plains FFA (Cheyenne Central); Kinsey Ashby, Treasurer, Powell-Shoshone FFA; Brianna Jolley, Reporter, Paintrock FFA (Basin); Logan Despain, Sentinel, Snowy Range FFA (Laramie); and Wilson Stewart, Parliamentarian, Casper FFA.
“Our state officers are the public face of the Wyoming FFA. They serve as ambassadors for our organization and provide a link between local chapters and our state association,” said Wyoming FFA State Advisor Stacy Broda. “We look forward to working with this team to promote agriculture, FFA and Wyoming.”
Serving as a state FFA officer requires meeting leaders in business and education; organizing meetings and statewide activities, motivating members; and leading events like the Wyoming FFA Leadership Camp, Chapter President’s Conference and the State FFA Convention in Cheyenne. The officers’ responsibilities will include providing personal growth and leadership training for students, setting policies that shape the future of the Wyoming FFA and promoting agricultural literacy.
“State officers commit to a year of service to the Wyoming FFA,” said Broda. “Each of them will travel several thousand miles to interact with business and industry leaders, hundreds of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials and the general public. It’s a prestigious and important position.”
The nine student officers were selected from almost 30 students vying for the positions by a committee of FFA members and agriculture industry representatives. Each officer participated in more than three days of interviews during the convention.
Each officer will return to their hometown to wrap up their school year before beginning their official duties as a state FFA officer.
“The state officer year really begins in June, with an orientation and training on how to be a quality leader,” said Broda. “From there, the officer team will participate in Wyoming FFA Leadership Camp, the National Leadership Conference for State Officers, and Wyoming State Fair to round out their summer.”
The Wyoming FFA Association is part of the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America. This youth organization has more than half a million student members nationwide, and more than 2,500 in 51 chapters in Wyoming. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Nine new students were elected to Wyoming FFA State Office on April 7, 2016, as part of the Wyoming FFA Convention. Pictured are (top row left to right): Treasurer Kinsey Ashby; 2nd Vice President Aften Peterson; Vice President Taitlyn Bethea; Reporter Brianna Jolley; Secretary Katie Schilt. Front row, left to right: 3rd Vice President Matthew Winterholler; Sentinel Logan Despain; Parliamentarian Wilson Stewart; and President Mark McConnell.
Source: Wyoming FFA Association
