Brad Etheridge instructs Williston FFA members competing in the livestock evaluation career development event.
For former FFA member Brad Etheridge, service has always been the foundation of his blue corduroy jacket.
In the Williston FFA community in Florida, Etheridge is the first to come to mind for career and leadership development event (CDE/LDE) coaching due to his vast agricultural knowledge and unwavering support of Williston FFA chapters. He is a reliable source of guidance, hands-on help and genuine care for students. His service has been essential in shaping the future of agriculture in Florida through supporting youth within the FFA organization.
Etheridge served as Florida FFA state president in 1993-94. He was a member of the Williston FFA Chapter, where his grandfather served as the chapter’s first president. His roots within FFA and agriculture run deep and have been a driving force in his life as an agriculturist and supporter of the blue corduroy jacket.
Etheridge on the campaign trail before he was elected Florida FFA state president in 1993.
Etheridge was also a member under former Williston FFA advisor, the late Robert Philpot. “I was blessed to have a legend of an ag teacher. Mr. Philpot gave of the most important thing: time. He invested his time into people who were willing to work and make themselves better. I believe service is one of the best parts of the FFA organization. The organization, Mr. Philpot and my family taught me through example that the most rewarding thing in life is the ability to give,” Etheridge said.
Etheridge, alongside his former FFA advisor, Robert Philpot, and daughter, Baylee, during the 2016 construction of Williston Middle High School.
Williston FFA has always held a “tradition of excellence,” and Etheridge is a prime example of that tradition. This organization has always put an emphasis on giving back, instilling service into every member who recites “Learning to do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” When asked what the FFA motto meant to him, Etheridge replied, “It’s my core. It’s what’s built my love for agriculture. Every day I wake up and thank God for allowing me to help take care of what He created. It keeps me grounded. The motto is what has built the foundation on what I believe to be right. We make a living from the ground God gave us. We serve our community that’s given that much, but most importantly, we serve the God that has given us everything.”
Current Williston FFA advisor Natalie Couey says it best. “The Williston FFA community is truly like a family—one built on tradition, pride, and a shared commitment to agriculture. Generations of students, alumni and supporters have helped shape the chapter into what it is today. Our community stands behind our members in every way, from sponsoring events and coaching teams to providing meals, equipment, and encouragement. People like Brad Etheridge are the heart of that spirit, showing that Williston FFA is more than an organization—it’s a community that works together to build leaders, celebrate success, and ensure the next generation of agriculturalists have every opportunity to grow and thrive.”
Etheridge’s support for FFA is evident in the service to his community, faith in the next generation of agriculturists and hope for the future of the organization that he continues to inspire.
