From July 28 to Aug. 1, the North Carolina FFA Association held its State Leadership Conference at the North Carolina FFA Center at White Lake. The conference brought together North Carolina FFA members from across the state for a week of leadership training, workshops and experiences that would be remembered for a lifetime.
The conference consisted of sessions led by state officers, past state officers, and guest speaker National FFA President Thaddeus Bergschneider. Members had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities directed toward their leadership development and enhancing their love for agriculture.
Regarding the conference, Bergschneider said, “My experience at White Lake was one of my favorite parts of my year as a national officer.” I got to wake up every morning — with one exception — and look out at the beautiful White Lake sunrise. That, plus the slushies, made it great. You’ve got to be on a sugar high so you can make it through camp if you’re only sleeping four or five hours a night, but really, with the sunrises, with the slushies, the highlight was the members. Paying attention to the opening ceremonies competition, the traditions competition, and seeing teams like Green Level and Beargrass Charter — those are the people who give me confidence in the future of agriculture.
For many members, the week was more than a series of workshops. Lumberton FFA Chapter officer Riley Patterson called it life-changing. “Having the week with national and state officers opened my eyes to the FFA organization. With this experience, myself and other members have been able to develop the leadership skills to serve others.”
The North Carolina FFA Association continues to inspire and empower young leaders to build the next generation dedicated to advancing agriculture across the state and beyond.
