A Gift to the Future: The Alaska FFA Association’s Time Capsule
On April 14-17, 2026, Alaska FFA held its 50th Annual State Convention and celebrated a half-century of its official National FFA charter. The 2025-26 state theme was “Forget Me Not,” named after Alaska’s State Flower. It also served as a reminder to past, present and future members to always be conscious of our history and roots, just as E.M. Tiffany wrote in the FFA Creed: “The promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.”
A key event of the week was the sealing of the time capsule, which has now been locked and will only be opened on the 100th state convention in 2076. Students were asked throughout the week to write messages of encouragement or leave a historical memento behind.
A top-down view of the time capsule’s contents before being closed. Stickers, notes, buckles, shirts and pins can be spotted throughout.
Members added a wide range of items that reflect both their personal experiences and the spirit of Alaska FFA today. Handwritten letters shared advice, goals and memories from their time in the organization. Some included photos, pins and patches from competitions and conferences. Others left small keepsakes, such as chapter merchandise, notebooks and items tied to their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects.
Each contribution captured a snapshot of what it means to be an Alaska FFA member in this moment, giving future members a clear look at the people and stories that shaped this chapter of the organization. Even the visiting state officers and 2025-26 National FFA Southern Region Vice President T. Wayne Williams added their own submissions.
2025-26 Oregon FFA State President Alex Wise’s note for the future.
On top of all the submitted items was a letter addressed to the 2075-76 State Officer Team, which was written by the 2025-26 State Officer Team. The letter read:
“Dear 2075-76 Alaska FFA State Officer Team,
We’d like to begin by congratulating you on this great achievement as you complete your year of service and celebrate 100 years of Alaska FFA. Currently, Alaska FFA has just over 500 members and we are seeing consistent growth. We have twenty one chapters and are proud to say we are seeing a positive trajectory. While we might not know what Alaska FFA will look like for you, we hold nothing but hope and confidence for the years ahead.
Exactly six years ago, we experienced our lowest year where Alaska FFA was down to around forty members and six chapters. This past year we officially surpassed 500 members and broke our previous record membership count.
This current officer year is made up of six close friends from around the state:
- Emily Faulkner, President- Silent Springs Chapter
- Liam Wade, Vice President- North Pole Chapter
- Morgan Carlson-Kelly, Secretary- Ninilchik Chapter
- Aaron Siegel, Treasurer- Midnight-Sun Mat-Su
- Faith Stewart, Reporter- Mat-Su Career Tech
- Jakob Bergey, Sentinel- Palmer Chapter
- Taylor Nelson, Advisor
On April 18, 2025 we were elected to serve from a candidate pool of eight, it was the first time in many years that we had so many candidates. Since April, we have fought, cried, laughed, hugged, screamed, and many other emotions that cannot be properly conveyed with simple words. Despite our differences, we approach our retirement with heavy hearts and closer than ever. In the process of preparing for the next fifty years we have discussed where we hope to be once our 100th convention arrives. We are between 17-19 years old and the concept of looking forward to fifty years later is monumentally hard.
Oftentimes, we ask ourselves the question of “Will we still be friends in fifty years?” While we don’t know the exact answer to this question, we can count on our impact being there, even if we are gone. Just like the original 1976 team, those friendships might have faded and their stories or memories might’ve been lost to time yet their impact still remains.
The original team’s impact resulted in thousands of lives changed, careers and job opportunities created, the development of the next generation of Alaskan Agriculturalists, and the cultivation of American leaders. We only tell this to you now to remind you of your impact, you might seem small or insignificant in the grand scheme of the organization but you are a page in the greatest story ever written.
Be Proud.
As you close out your year, we thank you. We hope our stories will be forgotten, our young faces remembered only through misplaced photographs, and our names lost amongst dozens of other state officers this state has been blessed with.
We can only hope that among the many things we aren’t remembered by or present to see, that we are still present in our impact and change that we created during our year of service. Be proud, stand tall, and always remember that you are what makes this organization beautiful. There are a few things we’ve learned this year that we want to pass on to you:
“You don’t need a spotlight to make a difference. Sometimes the greatest light we can offer is simply staying, encouraging, and helping someone believe they can shine.” – Emily Faulkner
“From the moment we decide to take a risk, even a small one, we open a door to opportunities that never existed when we choose the safe option.” – Liam Wade
“We have to let people know us, to love us. Because to be loved is to be known, and to be known is to be loved.” – Morgan Carlson-Kelly
“The moment we decide to move forward in the face of a roadblock, is when those obstacles start to lose their power. Because the best opportunities in life are almost always waiting for us on the other side of those roadblocks.” –Aaron Siegel
“Life rarely tells us which moments will matter most. That’s why we must choose to live fully in the ones we’re given, because one day they will be the memories we hold onto the tightest.”– Faith Stewart
“The hardest step is the first step.”– Jakob Bergey
The best parts of this year weren’t the titles or the big moments. It was the conversations, the people, and the little things that didn’t seem important at the time but ended up meaning the most to us.
We’re rooting for you, even from 50 years back.
– The 50th Alaska FFA State Officer Team”
The 2025-26 Alaska State Officer Team. From left to right: Jakob Bergey, Faith Stewart, Morgan Carlson-Kelly, Emily Faulkner, Liam Wade and Aaron Siegel.
