Indiana Ag Connection - Former Indiana FFA State Officer Sets Sights on National Post

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Former Indiana FFA State Officer Sets Sights on National Post
Indiana Ag Connection - 10/18/2017

A Hoosier student will once again vie for the chance to represent Indiana on the new National FFA officer team at the 90th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Annalee Witte, Wilkinson, Ind., served as the 2015-2016 Indiana FFA Secretary and will be competing against students from across the country for one of six officer positions on the 2017-18 team.

"FFA transformed me into the person I am today, and I want to help students realize their own transformations," Witte said. "While being a National FFA Officer would be an honor, for me, this role is the greatest opportunity to serve the organization and its members by being an advocate for agriculture and them."

Witte grew up on a small grain and livestock operation and is a graduate of Eastern Hancock High School. She was an Indiana FFA member for four years and participated in a variety of leadership Career Development Events, such as extemporaneous public speaking in which she won the 2015 national championship. While in high school, she was also involved in 4-H, Junior Leaders, and the Hancock County Women's Resource Center, where she developed her own program called Little Princess to teach young girls about positive self-image.

It was through these experiences and her time as a state officer that Witte learned how the simplest gestures could make a big impact for others.

"I learned how powerful a small conversation can be. You never know where people are at in their day or their life when you talk to them. Taking five minutes to chat with someone can make a huge difference," Witte said. "Showing others that they are important is essential for good professional and personal relationships, and I want to carry that lesson on to students across the country."

Currently, Witte is a sophomore at Purdue University majoring in Agricultural Communications, Marketing, and Sales and minoring in Spanish, Communications and International Studies. She has been involved in a variety of organizations on campus such as Purdue Student Government, Collegiate Farm Bureau, the Honors Society and the Honors College Global Committee. Her future goals include finding a career in agriculture communications and marketing.

"Annalee is an excellent student and continues to demonstrate her dedication to serving others through her work with various organizations, not just FFA," said Tamara Neighbors, Indiana FFA Association Director. "We are proud of what she's accomplished so far and wish her the best in her future endeavors."

In order to become a National FFA Officer, candidates must take part in a rigorous, week-long selection process, which includes everything from written and verbal exams to facilitating mock classroom discussions. After the process is complete, the top six candidates will be selected by a committee of delegates, who will announce the winners on the last day of the National FFA Convention & Expo.

According to the National FFA Organization website, National FFA officers will travel more than 100,000 miles during their year of service interacting with the general public, business and industry leaders, FFA members, government and education officials, and many more. They will lead personal growth and leadership training conferences for the 649,355 FFA members nationwide and will help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.

Visit www.ffa.org to learn more about the National FFA Organization, or visit www.inffa.org to learn more about Indiana FFA.

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