REDMOND, Ore. — One by one, Oregon FFA’s 2024-25 state officer team unzipped and took off their blue corduroy jackets, showing the emblem on the back and drawing cheers.

One by one, they left those jackets on a clothes tree onstage at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, their jobs finished with one final, symbolic task.

A new crop of leaders was elected to take their place March 23 at the Oregon FFA State Convention:

• Alex Wise of the Baker FFA chapter is the state president for 2025-26.

• Vice president is Livvy Sturm of the Union chapter.

• Secretary is Lydia Cruikshank of Bend.

• Treasurer is Ethian Webb of Mohawk.

• Reporter is Kendall Holcomb of Elkton.

• Sentinel is Henry Bennett of Sandy.

New officers are high school seniors who will take a gap year and work together, traveling around the state as they visit every school with a FFA chapter.

Making a difference

In brief interviews, teens talked about the coming year and FFA.

“I can’t wait to serve this organization as we embark on this journey,” Webb said.

Cruikshank wanted to make members feel loved, valued and like they have a place in the agricultural industry.

“We have 15,000 FFA members in the state of Oregon. I believe that’s 15,000 opportunities to make a difference,” she said.

Holcomb joined FFA because of her upbringing in agriculture and showing beef cattle in 4-H. She learned it was about much more than farming.

“The biggest thing I’ve gotten out of FFA is understanding other people’s needs and how I can make an impact on their lives,” Holcomb said.

One of the best decisions

Some didn’t decide to try to become officers until relatively late, while others knew from the moment they attended state convention as freshmen.

“It’s been something I’ve been thinking about for quite a while now and it feels absolutely surreal,” Bennett said.

Wise joined FFA because he heard about it in an intro to ag class his freshman year.

“Everything about it seemed really cool. I thought, ‘Well, I might as well give it a try.’ And so I did a couple of competitions, got a jacket and the rest is history,” Wise said.

“It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It opened up so many doors and possibilities in my life,” he added.

Sturm said FFA also is important to members’ communities and Oregon.

“We are growing the next generation of agriculturalists. … Seeing FFA be optimistic for the future is huge,” she added.

New chapters, other awards

New chapters welcomed in 2025 were Gaston, Silvies River and Burnt River, which was rechartered.

Several awards were announced during the March 23 afternoon session.

Francesca Whiteman of Joseph won Spanish creed speaking.

Wise, the new president, took first place in the job interview competition.

Hermiston won ag issues.

Dayton took first in ag marketing plan competition.

Henley won farm business management.

Lost River won for ag youth awareness.