New Leadership Steps Up at FFA

By TAYLOR McNAMARA
NYS FFA REPORTER for EMPIRE FARM & DAIRY MAGAZINE
 

:Photo by Catie Rowe
The new state officers for FFA. Top, left to right: Katherine Killenbeck, Seth Brower, Camille Ledoux. Bottom, left to right: Matthew Currie, Taylor McNamara, Jacob Ax

When looking back on life, May 2016 may very well stand out as a month to be remembered for a group of high school students.
 
Camille Ledoux, a student at Beaver River Central (Lewis County), Seth Browe who attends Granville (Washington County), Katherine Killenbeck, a recent graduate of South Jefferson (Jefferson County), Jacob Ax, a student at Stockbridge (Madison County), Matthew Currie who attends Tully (Onondaga County) and 
Taylor McNamara, a student at Madison (Madison County), represent a broad swath of New York state schools. 
 
All of these students were elected to serve as part of a six-member team for a year and perform duties as New York state FFA officers.         
 
On May 6, Camille Ledoux traded in her cherished Beaver River FFA jacket for a brand new New York State Association jacket.
 
As each position and the newly elected members were announced, Camille listened intently for her name to be called. Soon every position had been filled except for president, and the moment they called “Camille Ledoux” onto the stage to stand with the rest of the team is a moment she will remember for the rest of her life.
 
Camille is the first New York State FFA president from Beaver River. Throughout the year, she will be working closely with the rest of her team to serve the FFA and its members by inspiring young leaders and advocating for all aspects of agriculture.
 
Camille recently joined Vice President Seth Browe, at the State President’s Conference in Washington D.C. to discuss delegate proposals and help make important decisions for the betterment of the organization. She will also be traveling to Indianapolis in October to represent New York FFA as one of four delegates at the National FFA Convention and Expo.
 
Camille and her team will be traveling a lot throughout their year of service, visiting chapters and meeting with different people in the agriculture industry.
 
The FFA, a national youth organization, once known as the Future Farmers of America, offers leadership and career development opportunities for students interested in agriculture-related careers.
 
One in five American careers is founded in agriculture and students studying agricultural education in New York high schools are preparing for careers that are essential (food safety), current (“Green” technology and renewable fuels) and lucrative (veterinary science). 
 
As elected state officers, this group of six highly motivated students will have the chance to promote these opportunities throughout the state to students, school administrators, businesses and legislators.
 
Camille and her team recently launched a campaign called “No Member Fights Alone” to raise money and awareness for cancer research and treatment. The team will be selling bracelets at various FFA events over the course of this year and the proceeds will go to a different organization each season.
 
This year’s officer team is excited to make a difference and hopes that future teams will take initiative to give back to causes that are close to their own hearts.
 
For more information about New York State FFA or how to join, check out our website (www.nysffa.org) or call (607) 254-2880.