| FFA Nation

National FFA President Riley Pagett

12/29/2010 |

Your new national FFA president calls Woodward, Okla., home, where five generations of his family have lived and where he says he was raised on mashed potatoes, dirt roads, country music and the Bible. Learn more about Riley and what he has in store for the coming year.

Q: Can you walk us through your experience in the national FFA officer selection process?

A: Each FFA association can send one national officer candidate to the national FFA convention each year. In 2010, 36 candidates went through the national officer selection process, which is a week long and consists of five rounds of interviews, speech development and delivery, workshop facilitation, tests and essays. I honestly did not even hear my name called at the final session. All I heard was, “From the great state of Oklahoma,” and I ran onto stage to meet my new teammates. It felt good to realize that I would be serving members who had come before me, members currently involved in FFA and all of the members to come.

Q: During the election process, you said that your mission this year is to be a “seed planter.” What does that mean?

A: My primary goal this year is to plant seeds of inspiration and hope inside every member I meet. My teammates and I will be able to share this message with FFA members by remembering that every hand we shake, every smile we give, every speech we deliver, and every workshop we facilitate will impact the lives of every member, sponsor or supporter in some way.

Q: National FFA Week is coming up. Do you have any ideas for FFA members to implement in their own chapters?

A: I would encourage every FFA member to wear their FFA official dress to school at some point during National FFA Week. There is no greater conversation starter than the blue corduroy jacket. Wearing official dress to school and around town allows students to share their FFA stories.

Q: Is there anything else you want the FFA membership to know about their new national FFA president?

A: I enjoy Sunday mornings. I drink my pop and tea through a straw most of the time. It helps keep teeth white. I believe it is okay to have more than one best friend. I love registered Angus cattle. I was born on the 4th of July.