INDIANAPOLIS – When Lilly Nyland heard her name announced as a member of the 2025-26 National FFA officer team, she said she realized all her hard work had paid off. T. Wayne Williams said he thought of all the people who had helped him achieve his goal.

Nyland (secretary) and Williams (southern region vice president) were elected Nov. 1 during the 98th annual FFA convention in Indianapolis. Nyland is a former member of Careerline Tech Center FFA in Michigan, and Williams is a former member of Woodbury FFA in Tennessee.

“Words can’t describe the surreal feeling I had in the moment when I was called on stage as a national officer,” Nyland recalled. “It was so sweet to hear Michigan called first. You can see in the video that my mouth was wide open the whole time I ran up.

“I thought of the personal growth, how this process has changed my life, the countless hours of prep, and the inspiration others have had on my life. As I looked out into Lucas Oil (Stadium) and saw the members I get to serve, the excitement for this year was overwhelming and something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to shake.”

Nyland said she was inspired to run for national office by a chapter alumna, a classmate and two state officers. She said those people – and others – had been lights in her life, and she wanted to have that same impact for others. FFA and the agriculture, food and natural resources industries offer the perfect environment for students to discover who they truly are, Nyland noted, adding she’s grateful for how those spaces and the people within them have given her this opportunity for self-discovery.

Williams said when his name was called, the first thing he felt was complete shock.

“As I was running up on stage, I kept thinking about all the people who helped me get there, my FFA adviser who talked me through moments of fear and stress, my parents who supported every crazy dream I chased in this blue jacket, and the mentors who met with me every week since May, pushing and encouraging me to grow,” he said.

“All of their faces just started flashing through my mind, and I couldn’t wait to see them afterward. It was one of those moments where you realize this accomplishment isn’t yours alone – it belongs to everyone who believed in you along the way.”

A worse-than-hoped for showing at the Tennessee Trapshooting Championship in 2021, and supportive words from his grandfather afterward, helped to guide Williams’ decision to run for national office. That moment, he explained, taught him to stop fearing failure and to focus on what really matters: character, courage and support. Williams said FFA has given him that same kind of foundation – a place to grow, lead and serve.

Nyland and Williams have goals for their time as national officers.

“This is a year of total service,” Nyland pointed out. “Service is the act of valuing others over myself, and that is my commitment this year. Something I’m excited for is all the travel and getting to experience different areas and cultures of our beautiful country and world. As a national officer, we get to chat with people from all of these places. First, I’m excited to hear their stories and learn from them. Secondly, hearing their point of view and bringing that to the National FFA office and board of directors.”

Williams said it’s truly a privilege and blessing to be a national officer.

“I want to learn from FFA members across the country, to hear their stories, their challenges and their dreams,” he said. “There’s something really special about the FFA community. Whether it’s a small chapter meeting in a rural town or a state convention with thousands of people, you see this shared passion for agriculture and leadership that connects us all.”

Williams said he hopes to experience the diversity of agriculture firsthand from farmers and ranchers to researchers, educators and policy leaders.

He said he wants to make connections with FFA members. “I’m really looking forward to helping them find their passion and purpose because that’s what so many mentors did for me.”

Nyland said she’s looking forward to “being a light to anyone and everyone I interact with, especially in the small moments. For members, I want to share the message that each of us has incredible things that make us unique, and when we are authentic within that, we can reach our fullest potential.”

Williams was previously Tennessee FFA state president. He’s studying agricultural communications at Tennessee Tech University, and eventually hopes to attend law school to study agricultural law and policy. Nyland is a former Michigan FFA state secretary, and is taking a gap year while serving as a state officer and national officer candidate. She plans to pursue a career in agricultural communications.

“It is also my mission to highlight our members to stakeholders and show them our members’ unique strengths, because our industry needs each student,” she said.