COLUMBUS, Ohio – Anna Moeller, a freshman at Wilmington College and alumna of the Talawanda/Butler Tech FFA, has been elected state president of the Ohio FFA for 2024-25. She is “over the moon,” she said.

Moeller, daughter of Jo Ann and Danny Moeller, grew up on a small farm where, among other things, she helped bale hay every summer. They also raised livestock, mostly for her 4-H projects.

“Horses, goats, cattle, sheep hogs, turkeys, you name it, I’ve probably shown it at some point,” she said.

At this point, she is excited for her FFA role during the upcoming year.

“It hasn’t really set in yet and I don’t know when it will, but I am absolutely over the moon,” said Moeller, who was also a state officer last year. “I can’t believe it. I am excited for the upcoming year.”

One of the qualifications for individuals who want to run for any state office, including president, is to have their state FFA Degree, said Katy Endsley, program manager for Ohio FFA. They then submit a written application and a teacher recommendation. They go through a process that has multiple parts including writing an essay about why they desire to hold state office. They are scored by a committee of judges.

“At state FFA convention the ballot is announced,” Endsley said. “Then we have a delegate business session where chapters send delegates; there can be two delegates per chapter. Those individuals who are on the ballot present a live version of why they desire to be a state FFA officer.”

Another Talawanda/Butler Tech FFA student, Kaydence Morris, also ran for president. Their FFA advisers, Kari Beckner Roberts, and Chyann Kendel, said they considered both girls “rock stars” and thought their names might both be on the ballot for president. However, Moeller ended up opposing Lauren Thornhill from Anna, Ohio, High School FFA, currently attending the Ohio State University.

The delegates then vote for the president and other state officers. As president, Moeller will take a gap year from Wilmington College, where she is finishing her first year, majoring in agricultural education and agricultural business.

“This past year as one of the state officers I had the opportunity to travel around and visit well over 35 chapters in Ohio,” she said. “I should be able to visit about double that number, so my opportunities greatly increase.

“When we go to see a chapter the most common thing is called a chapter visit,” she said. “We go to visit a school for an entire day. We give a workshop for each one of the class periods. In these workshops, we make all of our own curriculum and then we deliver these workshops.”

She and her teammates will do leadership nights, conducting a workshop with several schools gathered together and for as many as 300 students. She will give a speech at many FFA banquets in the spring.

“One thing I always preach about this organization, if you give it everything you’ve got, it will give it back to you tenfold,” Moeller said. “My life is living proof of that. The community that FFA offers is unlike anything else I have ever experienced, just in the form of the people who are there to support you. It is pretty incredible.”

The spring banquets are sometimes bittersweet as seniors prepare to leave their chapter. Moeller experienced that when she left Talawanda/Butler Tech.

“So, the point of that speech is, yes, you will outgrow the jacket, but you will never outgrow the experience,” she said. “Yes, it is changing, but you only have to let go of this organization if you want to. You still have an opportunity to have an impact.”

All her mentors think Moeller will continue to have a strong impact on the organization.

“I worked with Anna when she served on last year’s team,” Endsley said. “I think she will make a wonderful president. She has all of the leadership skills necessary to not only lead her team, but also to serve as a voice for agricultural education and FFA in Ohio.”

Her FFA advisers echoed that sentiment. Beckner Roberts said Moeller embraced every part of the state officer experience.

“She is genuine,” she said. “She is not going to put up a fake front. She is always there for any type of member.”

Added Kendel: “Anna is committed to the mission of agricultural education. There is no doubt that what she has done this past year for FFA and what she will do as president will help build a good foundation for her future career.”

After college, Moeller plans on being an agriculture educator and FFA adviser somewhere in Ohio or Indiana. She hopes to move to a farm and maybe raise cattle, have some horses and goats.

Other FFA officers for the 2024-25 year are:

Vice president: Carter Boyd, Hillsboro FFA

Secretary: Lacie Bachman, Bloom-Carroll FFA

Treasurer: Layna Gordon, Licking Valley FFA

Reporter: Daniel Hartzell, Mississinawa Valley-MVCTC FFA

Sentinel: Caleb Bennett, Miami Trace Great Oaks FFA

State vice presidents at large:

Ryan Bowsher, Spencerville FFA

Jayden Hicks, Greenville FFA

Josie Jennings, Global Impact FFA

Julia Silvus, Fort Frye FFA

Gracie Sprague, Genoa-Penta FFA