This year, Greenslade and her team have been focused on increasing the involvement and opportunities available to students, she said.

“By going into our year of service with this goal set for ourselves, we have been able to have more impactful and intentional interactions with FFA members all across the state and even outside of Iowa. While this may seem like a super small thing compared to some of the other work we have done as officers, I believe it is one of the things that has made the biggest difference in the way we have served,” Greenslade said.

“By making these small interactions more meaningful and gaining deeper connections with members, we are showcasing how life-changing the FFA organization can be to all members and opening their eyes to the opportunities in front of them,” she continued. “Going into the future, we hope and know that this impact will continue to have a domino effect on members for years to come. By sharing our stories with one another and making valuable connections, we are making the organization a place where more people can feel at home and be impacted by all FFA has to offer.”

As a state officer, Ferrie focused on planning multiple conferences that included various workshops.

“Each of these events and workshops allow students to develop their communication, leadership and teamwork skills; additionally, they have been able to learn more about the National FFA organization and the agricultural industry as a whole,” Ferrie noted.

As a state officer, Pickhinke relished the opportunity to travel to Spain for the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers where she learned about global agriculture and networked with state officers from across the country.

“As a state officer, I also serve on the Iowa FFA student board of directors,” she said. “While serving on this board, we have voted to make changes to certain career development events to make them easier for members to understand and compete in.”

Memorable Projects

One of Greenslade’s favorite FFA projects she was involved with each year as a high school member was ADM Ag Day.

“We would invite all ADM third-grade classes, as well as a local preschool to come visit with our FFA members at the Dallas County Fairgrounds. Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to interact with high school FFA members by working through different stations. They got to learn about pigs, cows, goats, corn, tractors and so much more,” she said. “This was always one of my favorites, because when working with students at this young age you get to see the pure joy in their learning and make it a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved.”

Ferrie said his time with FFA has encouraged him to develop various supervised agricultural experience projects.

“Some of my favorites include farm labor, agriscience research and turfgrass management,” he said. “Each of these allow me to develop my passion for agriculture and have shaped what my future will look like.”

A project that stands out for Pickhinke was a supervised agricultural experience called Fridays with FFA where she interviewed FFA members, edited the audio and broadcast the segments weekly on a local radio station.

“This was an especially rewarding experience because it allowed me to meet many FFA members and share their stories with the general public,” she said. “The goal of this SAE was to inform the public about the impact FFA has on students’ potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

Looking Ahead

When Greenslade wraps up her time with the Iowa FFA, she will continue working on her ag education degree at Northwest Missouri State. She can’t wait to get involved professionally in agriculture.

“With my ag ed degree, I hope to either teach in a classroom setting or work with ag education in some form at events and things like fairs. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the organizations I am involved in at college and continuously advocating for agriculture and our future generations of leaders,” Greenslade said. “I believe FFA truly has a place for everyone no matter who you are, where you are from or your background. Through FFA, I have been able to have opportunities to learn and grow that I would not have had elsewhere.”

Ferrie plans to continue with his college education and has set his sights on horticulture and the sports industry. But he’s also open to returning to his rural roots one day.

“I plan to someday enter a job in turfgrass management. Ideally, I would love to work for the MLB or NFL. However, if given the chance, I would like to come back home to the family farm someday,” he added.

Looking ahead, Pickhinke said she plans to pursue an internship within the agricultural industry that will eventually lead to a full-time career.

Why FFA?

Greenslade encourages everyone to get involved in FFA.

“I have traveled to other countries to experience ag and leadership abroad, tried contests and found passions I never even dreamed of having, developed crucial life skills and improved my confidence level, and have overall become the person I always wanted to be. FFA is so much more than a group of farm kids — it is somewhere no matter your background you are welcome, have unlimited potential and opportunity, and is something that can truly leave a lasting impact on your life,” she said. “I am certain that if I never gave the blue jacket a chance, I wouldn’t be near the person I am today and I hope other people continue giving it a chance and allowing their lives to also be forever changed.”

Ferrie agrees that anyone curious about FFA should take that leap of faith and get involved.

“With time, you may find yourself wanting to be a part of the amazing industry. When you join FFA, you will find yourself becoming a more well-rounded person as well as meeting lots of new people,” he said.

Pickhinke recommended students get involved in FFA because “there truly is something for everyone, regardless of their interests.”

“There are livestock competitions, public speaking events, leadership conferences and opportunities to serve at the local level,” she said. “FFA is a formative organization that fosters personal and professional growth while building meaningful connections among students who share a passion for the future of agriculture.”