Josiah Cruikshank – The Life That’s Chosen Us

This is Josiah Cruikshank's 2022 retiring address as 2021-22 National FFA Western Region Vice President, introduced by his three sisters. Drawing on childhood stories including a makeshift rope ladder escape and a grueling three-day backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail, he argues that risk, failure, and discomfort are unavoidable and that developing a tough mindset now prepares members to lead and endure hard times later. He encourages FFA members to seek out discomfort, take risks for the sake of reward, and embrace the idea that a hard life has already chosen them.