WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A new Indiana FFA officer team stepped up to serve the Hoosier state for the 2015-16 term last week at a ceremony on Purdue University’s main campus.

Seven positions were elected, granting responsibility to the following new officers (listed with their chapter): President Kenzie Kretzmeier of Benton Central, Secretary Annalee Witte of Eastern Hancock, Northern Region Vice President Brett Roberts of Columbia City, Southern Region Vice President Mason Gordon of Rushville, -Treasurer Sean Harrington of Tri-County, Reporter Courtney Adams of Sheridan and Sentinel Joshua Calhoun of Hope.

The new president, a Benton Central High School graduate, recognizes ag is a progressive industry that needs to be appreciated. "We, as agriculture advocates, must stand up for advancements in our ag-related careers," said Kretzmeier. "Agriculture is my background, my family tradition and the sole reason I was able to find my passion in life."

She plans on attending Butler Community College on a livestock judging scholarship, and later transfer to Kansas State University to study ag law. For her, FFA is about service to others, whether it be neighbors, friends or fellow members.

"The way we are able to serve through FFA is second to none. I wanted to be a state officer because I wanted to continue to impact members by assisting them to grow in their leadership abilities," Kretzmeier said.

Roberts agrees on that point. With his new office, he said he truly wants to "Live to Serve" as an FFA member. "My desire was to serve the 11,000 members of the Indiana FFA Association and to give back to the organization that has given so much to me."

Recently graduated from Columbia City High School, he will attend Purdue University to study agricultural economics and ag communications. For him, agriculture carries certain values.

"Agriculture means the future, with a hearty respect for the past," Roberts said. "It will need to continue to lead the charge in technological advancement in order to feed this growing population, and stand committed to the strong values on which it has thrived upon in the past."

Witte matches the other officers in her unwavering spirit toward the experience to come in the next year. "There is no greater honor than to lead and serve the Indiana FFA Association for the next year and help it grow," she said.

The new secretary has a strong passion for mentoring younger students, and one of the greatest appeals of the organization for her was the way FFA can "push you, pull you and drag you way outside your comfort zone" to ultimately "make you a better person."

Witte graduated from Eastern Hancock High School and plans on attending Purdue to study agricultural communications, agribusiness and Spanish. She hopes to represent all types of farming equally for her term, including urban agriculture.

"Agriculture is a collection of caring, hard-working individuals and families," she said. "I love the feeling of being a part of that group."

Though they have only just been elected, the new officer team already has plans for tackling the next year. These include increasing FFA National Conference attendance, promoting the diversity of agriculture and, above all, doing their best to serve all FFA members in the state of Indiana.