The Journey I Never Expected, A Purpose I’ll Never Forget
Louisiana FFA Area l Reporter Curtis Hall, Jr.
My name is Curtis Hall, Jr., and I am an upcoming senior and proud member of the Delhi Charter FFA Chapter in Delhi, La. I currently serve as my chapter’s vice president and the Louisiana FFA Area 1 Federation reporter. While I have only been in FFA for two years, it has changed my life in ways I never expected.
I did not join FFA because I had it all figured out. Instead, I joined because someone believed in me. My advisor saw something in me before I ever saw it in myself, but what kept me in this amazing organization was something even greater: the love, the support and the sense of belonging I found. The FFA has become more than another club I can be a part of at DCS. It has become a family that has helped me grow into someone I never thought I could be.
Watching my advisor and state officers lead with confidence inspired me, but I did not just want to follow in their footsteps. I wanted to become a leader who creates and inspires other future leaders. I wanted to be the person who reminds someone else that they can do anything, even when they are scared, because I remember what it felt like to be that person.
This passion has pushed me beyond my comfort zone and led me to serve as the 2025-26 Louisiana FFA Area 1 Federation reporter. It also gave me the courage to apply to become an FFA in the USA reporter. I did not apply because I thought I was the best candidate. I applied because I had a story to tell, and I hoped maybe other members like me may want to listen.
Officers of the Mangham FFA Chapter, along with several Louisiana Area l and state officers.
The moment I found out I was selected is something I will carry with me forever. I was at a chapter visit with Mangham FFA when my advisor called. As she shared the news, I felt a wave of emotions—joy, shock and overwhelming gratitude. I could not believe that someone like me would have the chance to help tell the stories of members across the nation.
To me, serving as a FFA in the USA reporter means more than writing because it means giving people a voice. It means sharing stories that inspire someone, somewhere, to believe in themselves just a little more. Storytelling is powerful. It connects us, it moves us and it reminds us that we are not alone.
I have seen that power firsthand. During my time in the 2025 National FFA Chorus, I watched complete strangers become family in a matter of days. Each person came with a different story, and each one left with something that would change them for the better.
Serving in this role has changed me deeply. It has taught me to look beyond the surface and truly see people. It has reminded me that everyone has a story, you just have to take the time to find it.
I do not come from a strong agricultural background, but that has not held me back—instead, it has fueled me. It has pushed me to work harder so that every member, no matter their story, feels seen, valued and represented.
Curtis Hall, Jr. facilitating a workshop at the Chapter Officer Leadership Training titled ” Racing to Your Why.”
To younger members, I say this: do not be your own roadblock. I once let fear convince me I was not enough. But the moment I stopped believing that, everything changed.
If there is one thing I hope you take from my story, it is this: all things are possible if you believe. For me, wearing the blue jacket is not just about FFA; it is proof that dreams still come true.
My lasting advice to the over 1 million members across the nation is simple: live everyday like it’s the best day of your life, and when you need the courage to go on, venture deep inside yourself and say, “I can be. I will be. I am.”
