The Wisconsin FFA Association has a new President. After much anticipation it was announced during the closing session of the 89th Wisconsin FFA Convention that Amelia Hayden of the Big Foot FFA Chapter was elected to the president position. Hayden served as a state FFA vice president this past year and now takes over for the out-going president Ciera Ballmer of Cliton FFA.
Hayden is 17-years-old and is the daughter of Edward and Claire Hayden. Amelia is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Microbiology and hopes to pursue a career in agriscience research since that was her first experience in supervised agriculture education was founded.
Amelia has some large shoes to fill as Wisconsin State FFA President, but she is excited for the opportunity to continue to lead and serve the Wisconsin FFA organization. She also has a few goals for her time as president such as increasing membership, connecting FFA members with alumni and establishing FFA affiliates. She told Wisconsin Farm Report Assistant Farm Director Jenna Lee,
“I have a couple things I like to focus on. We just had a 39 year membership high with 21,173 FFA members across Wisconsin FFA. It would be really cool to get that to a 40 year membership high in the upcoming year, “said Hayden.
Hayden has many things she is excited for during her presidency. She is most excited to help other continue to serve their communities.
“I’m excited to see how FFA members are serving their local communities, and to see how my teammates can continue to inspire others to serve,” said Hayden.
Unlike many involved in the FFA organization Amelia did not grow up in agriculture. She was very involved in 4-H and always knew she wanted to join FFA. Research is where she felt like she could really shine in FFA and will continue to do in the future. As an FFA member and now the state president Hayden believe that FFA gives students like involved and agriculture and not a great way to connect with the food they eat and their community.
“FFA allows our students to connect with the food they eat everyday and gives them ways to better connect with their community and agriculture,” said Hayden.
Along with Hayden elected as state president the other members of the 2018-2019 Wisconsin State Officers team was announced during the convention as well.
2018-2019 Wisconsin State Officers Include (In order of picture starting at top left):
- Mitchell Schrowpfer, Antgo-Treasure
- Alexis Kwak, Prairie Farm-Vice President
- Gaelan Combs, Verona-Sentinel
- Amber Patterson, River Ridge-Vice President
- Collin Weltzein, Arcadia-Vice President
- Amelia Hayden, Big Foot, President
- Jillian Tyler, Granton-Vice President
- Paige Nelson, Ellsworth-Secretary
- Emily Kruse, Elkhorn-Parliamentarian
- Sarah Calaway, Denmark-Vice President
- Ashley Hagenow, Rio-Reporter
The annual conference was held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Over 3,500 students, family and supporters were in attendance this year to participate and support the Wisconsin FFA organization.
For more information on the Wisconsin FFA organization, visit http://www.wisconsinffa.org/
