Louisiana FFA Area Officers Meet for State Leadership Delegates Conference

Twenty-three Louisiana FFA Area Officers gathered at South Louisiana Community College in Lafayette for the annual State Leadership Delegates Conference (SLDC). Conference attendees worked to formally kickoff the 2022 Louisiana FFA delegate process, a student-led program in which FFA members drive positive change for the organization.

State FFA Officers facilitated training for the Area Officers to prepare them for roles as leadership delegates at the State FFA Convention. The Area Officers will lead four committees of FFA members to debate issues affecting agricultural education and FFA and develop committee recommendations to address those issues. Training focused on parliamentary procedure and committee facilitation techniques.

At the State FFA Convention, each FFA chapter is entitled to two delegates to conduct business. Over 400 delegates work in their committees, set annual membership dues, approve State FFA Degree recipients, and elect State FFA Officers. The process highlights FFA’s focus on student leadership development and demonstrates the organization’s core value of being student-led.

Annie Heard, Area II President from Winnfield, says, “FFA has allowed me to develop authentic leadership skills. Students often have a difficult time understanding what leadership really means. It’s more than speaking in public. It’s engaging people, giving others a voice, and inspiring others the be their best. At SLDC, we get to actively work as students to make positive change in our organization. We hold the keys to determine how the future of FFA and agricultural education will look in Louisiana.”

Louisiana FFA delegate committees will meet at the Randolph Riverfront Center in Alexandria on June 6 as part of the State FFA Convention. Approved committee reports will be forwarded to the State FFA Executive Board for further action in September.