FFA officer focuses on contributing to lives of others

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The 94th Illinois FFA State Convention was jam-packed with numerous award presentations, speeches, musical performances and a keynote address by National FFA Officer Josiah Cruikshank.

Cruikshank, the National FFA western region vice president, talked with AgriNews during the three-day event that was attended by over 5,000 FFA members, advisers, parents and guests.

Q: Tell me about yourself.

A: I was raised in a family with a big history in FFA. Both my parents were state FFA officers. I am one generation removed from the family farm. My grandpa was an ag teacher for 30 years and he raised Scotch Highland cattle.

Q: What FFA activities have you been involved in?

A: I got involved in the ag sales career development event and then I started an SAE raising hogs. I also was involved in some of the officer roles, leadership development events and public speaking. I served as the Oregon state president.

Q: Did you set a goal to be a national officer?

A: It was not a goal I set for myself, but I did have a goal of adding value to the lives of people around me and for me that was being a national FFA officer. I’m a believer it looks different for everybody to add value to people around them, but with the skills I have working with people and empowering the next generation of agriculturists, this was a natural fit.

Q: What has the year as a national officer been like for you?

A: I’ve logged over 50,000 airline miles and visited at least 20 states and nine state FFA conventions. It is fun to travel from place to place and see what FFA looks like in different regions of the nation. National officers sit on the National FFA board of directors, so it means a lot to be able to gather perspectives from different people and share those during board meetings.

The overarching message is we need to keep production agriculture in focus as an organization. It’s easy to become consumed with the leadership side because sometimes it’s more glamorous. But it’s also important we realize our roots are from 1928 when production agriculturalists got together to start this youth organization.

There’s always a place for people who come from non-traditional backgrounds. However, it is important we continue to move students into careers that support the industry that feeds, clothes and fuels the world.

Q: Has this year as a national officer been what you expected?

A: It is similar to what I expected. I’ve been impressed on how fast we’ve moved back to in-person and the quick reduction of COVID restrictions. I’m very happy about that. It’s great to be back in a room of thousands of people because at the beginning of the year I wasn’t sure that was going to happen.

Q: What is your message to FFA members?

A: The national officer team has been focusing on the theme of exemplified and how we can exemplify the values of FFA and hold each other accountable as FFA members to live up to those standards whether that’s how we dress, how we talk or how we interact with others. It’s also about the respect we show to our flag and country, this industry and our elders.

Personally I’m really passionate about contributing to the lives of people around us. I want to find fulfillment in what I contribute no matter what it is. Maybe it’s a feeling or contributing love to the people around us.

Q: What are your future plans after completing your officer year?

A: I am attending Oregon State University, but I’m looking for options to transfer out of state to go to an ag communications program. I don’t have a specific career goal yet, but I will figure that out as I go along.