Brad Core is a lifelong leader living the FFA motto, “Living to Serve.”
For Brad Core, service is not just something you do — it is a way of life.
As an FFA Alumni member with leadership roles in the community, he makes a lasting difference in Spencerville, Ohio, and the surrounding counties. He shows what it truly means to live by the FFA motto, “Living to Serve.”
FFA has always been deeply rooted within the Core family. This is due to Core’s father, Robert, who was the longest-serving agricultural education teacher Spencerville employed, as well as his sister, Beth Seibert, who served as an Ohio state FFA officer.
“That is just the normal thing you did in my family,” Core says. “So, I cannot remember a time where I did not plan on joining FFA.”
During his packed FFA membership, Core learned many lifelong lessons that he continues to practice in his day-to-day lifestyle. He owns an engineering business, runs countless meetings using parliamentary procedures and delivers impactful speeches. He is also a prime example of the amazing education and FFA opportunities that led him to where he is today. After graduation, he knew he was not going to leave the organization. Instead, he decided to give back in more ways than one.
Throughout his professional career, Core has served in many different aspects of agriculture. For instance, back in the 1990s, he served as the Ohio FFA Alumni president. Core also regularly donates money, time and food to the Spencerville FFA Chapter. He buys livestock projects at the three county fairs that the Spencerville School District lies within.
“I mean, pretty much, if the FFA needs it and picks up the phone and asks me for it, it would be pretty rare for you guys to get told no,” Core says. He has also found himself judging and coaching many career development event competitors for Spencerville FFA and beyond. The list does not stop there, though.
When asked about his biggest “Living to Serve” moment, Core said, “My involvement with helping train the agricultural technology and mechanical systems CDE team from Spencerville. With the hard work and dedication of the team, they earned a spot at the Big E, which is in the Eastern States Exposition.” After winning second place in Ohio, this team, coached by Core, went on to win the Big E competition!
When asked why he continues to give his time and energy, Core said, “The fact that the people who preceded me in the same situations gave so much to me, I think it’s just natural to pay it forward in multiples of what you received it in.” He is truly committed to paying it back to the very chapter that gave him his start. It is not just about giving; it is about honoring the foundation that helped build who he is today.
Through his selfless actions and continued dedication, Core reminds us that the FFA motto does not end at graduation — it is a lifelong call to action. In every way, Core is a shining example of what it means to live to serve.
