Q&A: National FFA Western Region Vice President David Lopez

INDIANAPOLIS — Navigating the waters of uncharted territory can seem impossible, but that is exactly what David Lopez, who is serving as the 2020-2021 National FFA western region vice president, is doing.

Lopez talked with AgriNews about his time as a National FFA officer.

Since being elected to office in October, how have you been able to connect with FFA members across the country with strict regulations and restrictions in place to help stop COVID-19?

“Although COVID-19 has brought a lot of negativity into our lives, I do believe it has done something good for our organization. It has allowed us to connect with more students. What I mean by that is, sometimes we see there are certain restrictions with more students. What I mean by that, sometimes we see there are certain restrictions such as a socio-economics or health that restrict certain interactions. This virtual world eliminates that and is allowing us to connect with all.”

Obviously, this isn’t how you thought your time as a National FFA officer would go, but what have you accomplished so far that makes you proud to serve as a National FFA officer?

“As of right now, my teammates and I have had the chance to participate in a board meeting. Through our time serving on the board, we are discussing how to move the organization forward and continue to impact students.”

What are some events and activities you and your teammates have planned for 2021?

“My teammates and I still plan to do the job we signed up for, which is to serve our members. We plan on engaging through workshops and keynotes in whatever form that takes place. The work is just getting started.”