Creating My Own Path Through FFA
My name is Leah Pruitt, and I am a sophomore at St. Joseph-Ogden High School in Illinois. Along with being involved in volleyball, track and field, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, student council and FFA, I also serve as an assistant coach for the fifth and sixth grade volleyball team at Prairieview-Ogden Elementary School, where I attended elementary school myself.
Throughout my life, I have been very fortunate and blessed with many opportunities. However, coming into high school and starting my FFA journey also came with a lot of pressure. My older brother, Cole, was very successful in FFA, and because of that, many people already knew the Pruitt name before I ever walked through the doors of high school.
At first, being known as “Cole Pruitt’s little sister” was funny to me. But over time, I realized I wanted to create my own identity and reputation within our chapter, community and organization. While I have always been extremely proud of my brother and everything he has accomplished, constantly being compared to him motivated me to work even harder toward my own goals.
Instead of allowing that pressure to discourage me, I decided to take every opportunity I was given and make the most of it. One of the biggest moments for me came when I found out I had been selected as one of the National FFA in the USA Reporters. I was ecstatic. For the first time, I truly felt like all of my hard work had paid off and that I was beginning to make a name for myself within the organization.
Later during my sophomore year, I was also given the opportunity to serve as the St. Joseph-Ogden FFA Chapter president for the 2026-27 school year. When I found out I would be president, I immediately started thinking about the type of leader I wanted to become.
I didn’t want to be someone members felt intimidated by. Instead, I wanted to be approachable and supportive. I want members to feel comfortable coming to me not only for FFA advice, but for anything they may be struggling with in life. I know how important it is to have people you can lean on during difficult times, and I want to help create that kind of environment within our chapter.
I also hope to show members that leadership is not defined by a title. You do not have to hold an officer position to be a leader. Some of the strongest leaders are the people who encourage others, step up when needed and make a positive impact without receiving recognition for it.
Throughout my FFA journey, I have learned that success is never achieved alone. My parents have supported me through every challenge and accomplishment, while helping me find the lesson in every situation. My brother, Cole, has shown me what true leadership looks like, and continues to inspire me every day.
My friends have always been there to support me, even if they may not fully understand everything involved in FFA. My grandparents have shown me the importance of hard work and faith, while my advisors, Mrs. Nekolny and Mr. Knott, have encouraged me to believe in myself and trust that my hard work will pay off.
As I continue my journey in FFA, I hope to inspire others the same way so many people have inspired me. Most importantly, I hope to continue building my own path, while helping others find confidence in theirs.
