By DOUG SCHMITZ

Iowa Correspondent

QUINCY, Ill. — As FFA officially marks its 90th anniversary at the 2018 National FFA Convention & Expo this month, past chapter officers in this region reflected on how the Indianapolis-based organization has shaped their lives, personally and professionally.

Among the seven past FFA chapter presidents herein, FFA has helped turn out two lawyers, two entrepreneurs, one university food science instructor, one Farm Bureau insurance agent and a student still in college, majoring in communications, who plans to pursue a career in agricultural leadership.

George Lewis is a past FFA president of Brown County High School in Mt. Sterling, Ill. Growing up on a small 117-acre livestock and grain farm as the sixth of nine siblings in Hersman, he can’t give enough credit to the FFA for helping him in his personal and family life – and his nearly 60-year career as a lawyer.

“As a freshman in high school, I was very timid and unsure of myself,” said Lewis, who lives in Quincy and just retired last year, at age 88. “But the many opportunities in FFA to participate in activities such as public speaking, parliamentary procedure, presiding at chapter meetings, showing livestock, et cetera, built my confidence and helped intensify my interest throughout my high school years.”

Graduating in May 1948, Lewis was high school FFA president. “Perhaps the highlight of how the FFA helped me in my career as a lawyer was the unbelievably tremendous experiences resulting from my election as the 1949-50 National FFA president,” he explained.

“Then, a highlight of all highlights was the honor of joining John Kraft, president of Kraft Foods, for a visit with President Harry S Truman in the Oval Office of the White House.”

While serving for two years in the U.S. Air Force in Topeka, Kan., Lewis attended night classes at Washburn University Law School, then graduated from the University of Illinois with a doctorate in law. He was licensed to practice in Illinois in 1958. In 1969 he even served as a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention.

Regardless of what career choice students might be thinking of now or in the future, he said joining the FFA can be of invaluable aid. “By doing so, you will be inspired and will resolve to be involved in many of the activities and opportunities FFA offers.”

Mark Timm, past FFA president of South Putnam High School in Greencastle, Ind., is the CEO of Xponential, Inc. in Norcross, Ga. It is a partnership formed with Kevin Harrington on “Shark Tank.” Timm has successfully started more than 12 companies, selling seven of them.

Growing up on a farm in Fillmore, he and his family grew corn, soybeans and some wheat. While in high school, where he graduated in 1989, Timm was president of the FFA chapter and went on to be National FFA president in 1990. He said the organization has helped him greatly in his career.

“I do a lot of presenting, and FFA gave me the foundation for public speaking,” explained Timm, who attended Purdue University and the University of Maryland, graduating in 1993 with a degree in agricultural economics. “In fact, FFA is where I developed the confidence and ease in front of any crowd, as well as the foundation for a successful speech/presentation.

Timm, who resides in Bainbridge, Ind., and is also CEO of Ziglar Family – a partnership with the children of the late Zig Ziglar – added, “I also learned about leadership and team dynamics, and synergy, through FFA. There is no chance I would have the position or success in my career without my time in FFA.”

So what advice would he have for students considering joining FFA? “What are you waiting for? This organization took a farm boy from Fillmore, Indiana, to 48 states, seven foreign countries and face-to-face meetings with the president of the United States three times.

“It seems impossible to believe, but it is not. Once you join and believe in yourself, anything is possible.”

Past FFA president of Sibley-Ocheyedan High School in Sibley, Iowa, and growing up on a fifth-generation dairy farm, Steven Brockshus said the cornerstones of his childhood were “feeding calves with my brothers, milking cows with my dad and doing fieldwork with my uncle.”

“As I kid, I dreamt of being a farmer when I grew up,” he recalled. “In high school, I was involved in sports, the arts, church, 4-H and FFA. I served as our chapter’s secretary and reporter.”

After graduating high school in 2011, he said he was blessed to serve as northwest state vice president (2011-12), state president (2012-13) and then National FFA Central Region vice president (2013-14).

“I took two gap years from college to serve FFA,” said Brockshus, who graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in agricultural education and a minor in entrepreneurial studies, and lives in Grimes. “I love rural Iowa, cutting-edge technology and God’s greatest creation: Humanity.”

Now, as founder and CEO of an early-stage technology startup in the land real estate sector, Terva, he and his team are building a Web-based platform at FarmlandFinder.com that makes it easy for landowners and real estate teams to find, analyze and secure land.

He said FFA gave him “connections, communication skills and, most importantly, self-confidence.” He advised those contemplating joining FFA to “sign up for an event, whether it’s a conference, CDE (career development event) or anything – even if you don’t think you’ll like it.

“Why? Because you will grow more in an uncomfortable situation and your future self will be a better person for it.”

For Howard Downing, past FFA president of Nicholasville High School in Nicholasville, Ky., FFA has been “lifelong and life-altering.

“The educational opportunities under my vocational agricultural teacher, Harlan H. Veal, in Jessamine County have influenced participation in local, state and national activities,” he said. “Participation in public speaking, parliamentary procedure and other FFA activities gave me skills that are used daily.

“Lifelong friendships resulted from participation in FFA programs at local, state and national level.”

Graduating from high school in 1955, Downing became National FFA president in 1957 and went to earn a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Kentucky and an LLB from its Law School.

“Joining FFA will present opportunities to prepare and develop skills related to personal development and community service, as well as friendships and relationships within the local, state and national organizations,” said Downing, a lawyer in his hometown of Nicholasville.

Although Adrian Schunk was never raised on a farm, she grew up showing pigs at her county fair. “But aside from that, I was unaware of the opportunities of the agriculture industry until I walked into my agriculture classroom my freshman year of high school,” said Schunk, who served as FFA president of Mason High School in Mason, Mich., from April 2015-April 2017.

“After competing in the creed speaking leadership contest, I quickly came to love the National FFA Organization, the agriculture community, and the passion of the people around me.”

She is studying communications at Michigan State University. “I hope to pursue a career in agriculture leadership development, helping professionals in our industry gain the skills necessary to make a difference and be a voice for agriculture,” she noted.

“The FFA has allowed me to gain leadership skills, a wider perspective of the agriculture industry and a network of people who are passionate about the same topics I am. These three contributions have been unbelievably helpful in directing me towards a future career path.”

Schunk said no matter what one is passionate about, “you have a place in this organization. The FFA provides opportunities for just about anything: public speaking, band, choir, research, leadership development, career exploration – you name it.”

Having worked as an Ohio State University extension educator for six years in Coshocton County (most of those as the agriculture and natural resources educator), Emily (Buxton) Marrison most recently became a family and consumer sciences extension educator.

“Certainly, learning about a wide variety agricultural and leadership topics has been helpful, but I’d say the interpersonal skills like time management and public speaking and teaching skills are most beneficial to me now,” she said of her FFA experience as chapter vice president of River View High School in Nellie, Ohio, where she graduated in 1996.

In 1998 she became National FFA Eastern Region vice president. Growing up just a mile from her grandfather’s farm, she raised sheep and beef cattle.

“FFA really does have something for everyone,” said Marrison, who holds a B.S. and an M.S. in food science from The Ohio State University, and lives in Coshocton. “The more we understand the complexities of our modern food system and how to be the best stewards of our environment, the better decisions we can make and help others to make as informed citizens.”

Raised on a Jackson, Tenn., sheep farm until the fifth grade, Stephen McBride’s family eventually transitioned to a registered Black Angus cattle operation.

“Today, we have over 100 mama cows,” said McBride, past FFA president of Coffee County Central High School, in Manchester, where he graduated in 2012. In 2014 he became National FFA Southern Region vice president.

From there, he went on to the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he graduated magna cum laude in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business.

Now an auto, home, and life insurance agent for Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance, he said FFA’s mission has always been to ensure all members develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

“I’ll use a different nugget from my time as a member nearly every day in my job,” said McBride, who lives in Decherd. “Whether it’s the basic people skills I’ve polished, extemporaneous explanations I’ll give to clients, or simply just the professionalism I exhibit daily in my job, I have FFA to thank for who I am today.

“You’ll never meet an alumni who regrets his or her involvement in this organization. If you’re considering joining, an incredible journey lies ahead. You’ll be better prepared for college and your career by diving in and getting involved.”