Lori Alexander as Kansas FFA state vice president in 2000.
From standing center stage as a Kansas FFA state officer to working quietly behind the scenes at the Kansas FFA Convention, Lori Alexander has spent years living out the FFA motto “Living to Serve.”
A graduate of Marais des Cygnes Valley High School in Melvern, Kan., Alexander was elected as the 2000–01 Kansas FFA state vice president. As a member, she shone in public speaking competitions and was known for her upbeat personality and dedication to others. Despite not having an agricultural background, Alexander’s enthusiasm and leadership quickly made her a respected and admired figure in FFA.
Years later, her role with FFA took a new direction. Instead of leading from her local chapter or as a state officer, she began working backstage at the Kansas FFA Convention. She helped run the technical operations that kept the event running smoothly. It was there that she experienced one of her most meaningful FFA moments. While reviewing state officer candidate applications, she came across a response to the question, “Why do you want to be an FFA state officer?” The candidate had written just two words: Lori Alexander.
“I was shocked that my name was on that paper,” Alexander says. “I was astonished that something I had done could have that kind of impact. It reminded me that leadership is about how you make people feel, not just what you achieve.”
Alexander believes that true leadership doesn’t depend on recognition. “Leadership is happening even when no one is watching,” she says. “The FFA motto, ‘Living to Serve,’ is exactly what the world needs — people who want to help others for the sake of helping, not for what they’ll get in return.”
Now part of the technical crew at the Kansas State Convention, Alexander helps make the magic happen behind the curtain — running lights, sounds and screens. For her, the reward comes in watching members light up when their names are called on stage.
“My job matters to me because that’s the moment the student gets to be recognized,” she says. “That joy makes all the hard work worth it.”
Alexander stands proudly with her husband, Bill, and daughter, Bridget, at state convention.
For Alexander, “Living to Serve” means leading with compassion and purpose. “If you don’t care about people, your service will be empty,” she says. “But if you serve with care, your work will always be meaningful. There is so much life in FFA and beyond — it is about doing the small things every day with a heart for others.”
Her advice to current members is simple: “Service doesn’t have to be big or extravagant,” she says. “It can be as small as running screens and lights — just find something you’re passionate about and confident in, and use it to make a difference.”
