Through her numerous service opportunities, Lilly Campbell has witnessed firsthand how small acts can have a significant impact.
Leadership can take on many forms within a community. But for Lilly Campbell of the Dyer County FFA in Tennessee, it starts with being honest and committed to service. In our interview, she reflected on how FFA has allowed her to not only inspire others, but also develop her love for livestock. Campbell’s story demonstrates how the FFA motto of “Living to Serve” isn’t just a phrase, but a way of life.
During our interview, one of the main topics we discussed was leadership and what it takes to be a leader within a community. Campbell described that being an honest leader who has faith in integrity is a substantial part of building trust and teamwork within communities. Whether it is taking part in a large service project or having a one-on-one conversation with a new member, to Campbell, “Living to Serve” means discovering other ways to help others.
At the West Tennessee Junior Livestock Expo Goat Show held at the University of Tennessee, Lilly Campbell celebrates her victory of achieving Level 1 Showmanship in breeding does.
Campbell traces her love for leadership back to her first interaction with FFA. During her sisters’ first goat show, an advisor from the local chapter encouraged Campbell to show livestock alongside her sisters. This interaction sparked a passion that would last for years to come, and taught a lesson that she would apply in FFA and her personal life.
Like many other leaders, Campbell has faced and conquered various different challenges; juggling her responsibilities between school, clubs and community service hasn’t been easy. Consequently, she had to learn how to manage her time wisely while maintaining different commitments. Even after all of these obstacles, Campbell gained valuable experiences that helped further her deep understanding of leadership.
Campbell also shared a time that she had to step up as a leader within her FFA chapter. During the last school year, member activity had a serious decline. Therefore, Campbell knew she had to step up and rise to the occasion. For example, she not only tried to encourage new people to join, but also spoke to her peers, invited old and new members alike to chapter meetings and discussed how rewarding being in FFA can truly be. At first, she felt scared and nervous about the challenge, but she soon embraced it and discovered that it could be highly rewarding.
While reflecting on her long FFA journey, Campbell said that “Living to Serve” has shaped and formed who she is today. Through her many service opportunities, she has seen firsthand how small acts can create big impacts on someone’s life. One of Campbell’s proudest accomplishments is when she advocates for the public’s knowledge of agriculture. She wants people within her community to know that agriculture isn’t just tractors and crops; it’s about advocating, education and community.
In every aspect, Campbell lives out the phrase “Living to Serve.” Her compassion and dedication to benefiting others are just a few examples of how leadership can inspire growth within not only an organization, but also a community.
