Elanie Mason served as the Florida Watermelon Queen before being crowned National Watermelon Queen in late February.
The blue corduroy FFA jacket may not be worn forever, but for many FFA members, its lessons last a lifetime. Brielle Carter and Elanie Mason are living proof. From agriculture classrooms to national stages, both queens credit FFA with building the skills and confidence that launched them into success far beyond their FFA years.
Today, they proudly wear crowns instead of jackets, having served as high-profile ambassadors for agriculture. Carter was the 2023 Mar-Del Watermelon Queen and Mason is the current National Watermelon Queen. Both brought the skills they learned in FFA, including public speaking and leadership, into influential roles that connect consumers with agriculture across the country.
For Carter, agriculture was more than a subject — it was a lifestyle. When her school offered agricultural education classes in seventh grade, FFA helped her dive deeper. Through officer roles and speaking competitions like FFA Creed speaking and prepared public speaking, Carter did more than just participate — she cultivated the skills that would later take her to national stages, media platforms and leadership roles.
Brielle Carter advocated for watermelon producers as the 2023 Mar-Del Watermelon Queen.
Those experiences laid the foundation for her role as the 2023 Mar-Del Watermelon Queen, where she proudly represented Delaware and Maryland farmers through the Mar-Del Watermelon Association. From farm shows and fairs to marathons, baseball games and radio shows, Carter used her voice to promote watermelon, uplift the agriculture community and connect with people of all ages — all with the confidence she cultivated through FFA.
“FFA prepared me in every way,” Carter says. “It gave me communication skills, leadership opportunities and pushed me out of my comfort zone.” Today, she continues growing her skills as an intern with the Delaware Farm Bureau, applying everything she learned from FFA and beyond.
Mason’s FFA journey began in the show ring, following her older brother’s involvement in livestock. It didn’t take long for her to carve out a path of her own, though. From the classroom to the state convention stage, she embraced every opportunity FFA offered, falling in love with leadership, public speaking and the connections that would last far beyond high school. Her experiences, including serving as the 2018–19 Florida FFA state secretary, taught her how to collaborate across differences, lead with conviction and represent agriculture with purpose and pride.
Elanie Mason put her skills gained in FFA to use as the National Watermelon Queen.
As the 2025 National Watermelon Queen, Mason represents U.S. watermelon growers at more than 150 events annually, promoting agriculture, educating consumers and connecting with communities both nationally and abroad. From grocery store visits and school programs to international agriculture events, she brings professionalism, passion and a deep-rooted commitment to the industry she proudly serves.
“Communication is everything,” Mason says. “The skills I gained through FFA have shaped every part of my professional life.”
Looking ahead, Mason plans to continue serving the agriculture industry, with dreams of working in extension and using her skills to support farmers on local, state and national levels.
For Carter and Mason, FFA wasn’t just a chapter of their lives — it was the launchpad for a lifetime of leadership. Whether they’re promoting farmers, speaking to thousands or building strong professional networks, both queens show the lessons learned in FFA grow far beyond the blue jacket, leading to crowns, careers and futures as bright as their passion for agriculture.
