Fast Five: Indiana FFA president

TRAFALGAR, Ind. — Although the 2020 Indiana FFA State Convention was not held in the traditional format at Purdue University due to restrictions and regulations put in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the convention was still held virtually.

Since the convention was still conducted, the 2020-2021 Indiana FFA state officer team was able to be elected, including Julie Hamblen, who was elected as the Indiana FFA president.

Hamblen shared five fun facts about herself.

1. She knows how to play seven different instruments, including the guitar, ukulele, drums, trumpet, fiddle, piano and the kalimba.

2. Hamblen has a speech disorder, neurologic stutter disorder.

3. She is a first-generation FFA member from her family, and her school, Shelbyville Central, did not even have a FFA program until 2017.

4. Hamblen raises alpacas.

5. Her favorite leadership development event is prepared public speaking because it helped her learn to be more confident in her public speaking skills and learn to talk without a constant stutter. Hamblen won the prepared public speaking contest at last year’s Indiana FFA State Convention and placed in the top 16 at the National FFA Convention.