State FFA officers wrap up 2024

It took six hours and 12 rolls of wrapping paper for the state officers to finish the project. At first, smiles appeared, but then laughter at the sight of Sean Welch’s office hidden by Christmas wrapping paper. The computers, desk, chairs, walls, door, shelves, contest materials and pens in the FFA Associate Director of Student Recognition’s office were carefully covered in paper with snowflakes, candy canes, Christmas trees, red trucks and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The officers climbed ladders to reach the top of the wall, used flashlights and lamps to continue wrapping Mr. Welch’s office during a power outage, and sang along to “Little Saint Nick” as they individually wrapped paper clips.

The FFA Center in Springfield is officially decorated for the holidays after calling it a wrap on the high-intensity, chapter-visit season. In just 30 days, the state officer team traveled 26,191 miles to visit 361 chapters and impact 8,544 students across Illinois. Dubbed “Mission: Impact,” this initiative and tradition left a positive impact as the state officers paired with section officers to visit nearly all chapters in Illinois to expose them to opportunities through the FFA.

Recent events such as middle school conferences and the PAS Fall Conference show growing strength and interest in agricultural education. Attendance at the PAS Conference increased 20% year over year and participation in the relatively new middle school conferences increased by 35%. Additional middle school conferences for seventh- and eighth-grade students will be offered in the spring to reach more students.

Just before Thanksgiving, the BUILD Conference attracted a record 750 junior and senior FFA members at Illinois State University, which is a 30% increase from 2023. Recent state-level contests in ag sales, dairy foods and agronomy continue to develop student leadership and career-readiness.

Putting a “bow” on the team’s busy schedule for 2024, the state officers experienced National FFA training, the Soy Impact Awards Banquet, the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and service through packaging holiday boxes for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Checking these items off the list leaves only a few events before the Illinois FFA Center doors close for the holidays. During the upcoming state officer retreat, planning will ensue for the Illinois FFA State Convention in June.

Throughout a fast-paced six months, the team has created incredible memories and we are excited for the next six. As we “wrap up” 2024, we wish you a merry Christmas, a happy New Year and many memories with family, friends and funky wrapping paper.

Sidney Stiers from the Williamsfield FFA Chapter is the 2024-2025 Illinois Association FFA state reporter.