One of the most famous quotes, often attributed to Alexander the Great, states, “An organization is only as good as its leaders.” This quote is especially true of Louisiana FFA, which is currently led by 10 extraordinary leaders. Each one of these officers embodies the motto of “living to serve,” and I was honored with the opportunity to speak to the Louisiana FFA State President Owen Kelly.
Kelly’s journey to where he is now was not an easy one, but it is one he feels has taught him lessons that have built who he is today. When asked where his story in FFA began, Kelly vividly remembered the moment that marked the start of it all. During his freshman year, he received a worksheet, and the last question on it read, “Do you plan on joining FFA?” After researching FFA, he simply said he wasn’t interested.
This simple decision could have shaped his future in a completely different direction if not for his ag teacher, Billy Wilhite. Kelly says that “He saw something in me before I saw anything myself.” After receiving encouragement from his peers and teacher, Owen decided to join FFA. Owen described that while his first year in FFA wasn’t necessarily extremely involved, he remembers one specific moment where his ag teacher spoke these words: “This is something you are going to have to commit to. You have to want it, and I will be with you all along the way.”
With this motivation and support from Mr. Wilhite, Owen served as a chapter officer that year, marking the beginning of his remarkable journey in FFA. Soon after, he attended multiple FFA events that sparked his passion for FFA. In 2023, Owen ran for an area office position. While he may not have received a spot on the team that year, Owen left with a newfound understanding: he was not defined by his mistakes or accomplishments, but by the lessons they left behind.
Throughout the next year, Kelly continued to push himself for more. Competing in multiple contests, such as Gulf of Mexico Speaking, where he won the title of state champion, Meat Evaluation and Technology, and several other activities, gave him experiences that set the foundation for his path in FFA. Approaching state convention towards the end of that year, he decided to run for an area officer position as well as for a state officer position. Owen recounts that the nominating committee process was one that was tiring but rewarding. That year, Owen found out he didn’t make the state officer team, but he didn’t let that bring him down. He proceeded to run for an area office position, where he was elected to the title of Area I President.
While most would deem this moment a defeat, Kelly says that it was the most valuable and important moment that led him to where he is today. “If you learn from your ‘defeats’, then you haven’t truly lost.”, remarked Owen. “I may not have seen it at the time, but this moment was a part of a much greater plan I couldn’t see. Looking back, I understand how I may not have been prepared and how much I still had to learn.”
So Kelly took the next year to continue learning – learning lessons about humility, responsibility, and growing into the leader he hoped to become. Serving as the Area I President provided him with the opportunity to reach members across the state and finally understand why he wanted to be a state officer. Kelly learned that he could not be a perfect leader; however, he could be one who worked towards bettering themselves every day. Not for himself, but for the members who needed someone to give them the motivation he wished he had at the time.
Once again, Owen returned to run for a state officer position at the 2025 State Convention. This year, he felt that he came into the room with a new sense of acceptance. He believed that regardless of whether he was elected or not, FFA had given him a lifetime of discoveries, insight, and understanding. “The night before the committee report, everyone was nervous, and of course, I was nervous too. But I think what made me feel okay was that even if I found out I wasn’t on that team tomorrow, nothing could take away from the people I met through this process, the people I’ve met throughout my years in FFA, the challenges that made me into me, and the love this organization has given me.”
As the time for elections came, Owen’s mind was racing, along with the other 19 candidates standing beside him. As the positions reached closer to president without his name being called, his nerves reached an all-time high. As his name was called for the Louisiana FFA, 2025-2026, State President Owen was speechless. What once felt impossible to him became his reality.
“When I reached the stage and looked out to the 2,000+ members in front of me and 13,000 members across the state, I knew that I would dedicate myself to serving them with everything I had.”, said Kelly. Owen is honored to now serve as the state president and works effortlessly to do everything he can to ensure members statewide have the chance to make the most of their own stories in FFA.
Today, Owen is a freshman at Louisiana Tech University and often looks back on his younger self. When I concluded our conversation with the question, “After your term ends, what impact do you hope you leave behind for members?” Owen gave me a response that left me lost for words. “I hope that every member knows that it’s not about where you come from, it’s the path you pave. If you had told me 4 years ago that I would even run for state office, I wouldn’t have believed I could do it. My goal this year is simple: I want every member to believe in themselves. Even on the discouraging days, on the days when you lose, on the days when you feel lost— remember that something great is waiting for you ahead. Your future is bigger than your doubt.”
