Eliza Schmidt is a junior involved in the ADM FFA program. Recently, she interviewed for the district office for the South Central FFA district. “I am a part of a five person team that is in charge of organizing, encouraging, and promoting FFA as well as working with state officers to promote leadership opportunities.” said Schmidt. To get this leadership role, Schmidt filled out an application and took an FFA knowledge test. She then did group interviews, followed by one on one interviews which led to her being put on the ballot. Her memorized two minute speech for the delegate body was what led to her securing her sentinel spot in office, as she went up against a student who had been in office the prior year. Schmidt will now hold this spot for her upcoming senior year. 

“I first got involved in FFA because my older siblings were in it. We all show animals so we started showing in FFA. I then started competing in leadership and speaking contests and I had a lot of success. I decided to run for office and have held a chapter office spot for 2 years now. Chapter office is a group of seven people who lead chapter events and expose FFA to more people than just Ag kids. I am now also a part of a five person team that controls the South Central FFA District. There are six total districts in Iowa.”

As sentinel of the South Central District, Schmidt will attend multiple state leadership conferences with her team to bond and to learn responsibilities. At regular meetings, the team will talk about their upcoming events and chapter visits to other schools. The future of ADM FFA might look slightly different in the next year. Currently, six of the seven officers at ADM will be graduating this May. This means that the new officer team will be very young.

“Being in FFA has taught me that being in a club is so much more than just participating in an extracurricular activity. It has influenced my way of life. I now look at my opportunities differently and am more thankful for them.”