The 84th annual Indiana State FFA Convention concluded Thursday afternoon with tears from the retired state officers and big smiles on the new team led by Allie Abney of Franklin FFA. As president for the coming year she will continue her passion for agriculture that’s been brewing for a long time.
“Well I was born and raised in Johnson County and grew up on a small family farm and showed Belted Galloway cattle,” she told HAT. “From there my passion for agriculture started and then FFA really helped that passion take off and increase my leadership skills and abilities, so I’m so blessed and so excited to be serving the Indiana FFA with the other state officers. We’re going to have a blast this year and we all are really excited to watch all 10,000 plus members grow.”
Her dream of state office started 4 years ago when she was a high school freshman.
“One of the Franklin members, Daniel Bechman, served as the state treasurer and that is when I first saw that is something awesome. That’s when is became a dream for me and it’s grown ever since, but I never thought I would be here slated and elected as president, but I am so excited.”
Cameron Frazier from Riverton Parke (3rd from left) is the new state treasurer and state office is a goal achieved.
“It’s probably one of the greatest feelings knowing all I’ve worked for in FFA these four years has finally paid off and I have another year to serve and give back to the organization that gave me everything and is what made me, myself.”
Frazier added in the coming year he would like to “impact as many kids and just tell my story and connect with people. They have stories and I want to hear theirs and just meet as many as I can and share my story.”
Joe Martin, Program Specialist for the FFA, is one of those saying a bittersweet goodbye to the outgoing officers.
“They have been an awesome group. I couldn’t have asked for a better group this year. They’ve worked hard together as a team. They’ve worked together with state staff and they’ve really done a great job every single conference and convention that we’ve had throughout the entire year.
Rounding out the new officer team are: Secretary Kayla Hoenert from North Posey FFA;
Rebecca Frey of Prairie Heights FFA for Northern Region Vice President; Ethan McNeely of Scottsburg FFA for Southern Region Vice President; Reporter Shelby Sigman from Benton Central FFA; and Sarah Dirksen from Jay County FFA for Sentinel.