You Can, Despite the Doubt: Gracie Oliver’s FFA Journey
Portrait of Gracie Oliver.
“At the end of the day, it isn’t about what you know, it’s about who you know,” says Gracie Oliver, a junior at East Nicolaus High School and a third-year FFA member. “The connection that FFA members have with each other is like no other, and I want to connect with more members.”
Her journey in FFA began in the pig pen, raising hogs for the Yuba-Sutter Fair alongside her sisters. Her first year, her hog didn’t make weight, but that didn’t stop her. The following year, she qualified for the final drive for market and placed eighth overall in novice showmanship. “It genuinely was such a joy raising hogs,” she says. “I will continue raising them for the rest of my time in FFA.”
Oliver’s passion extends beyond livestock. Her second Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), “Ag in the Classroom,” is a collaborative effort with her best friends, Ella Rolland and Alexis Phillips. Together, they help teach middle school students about the four Fs- forestry, fuel, fiber, and food. Using pre- and post-surveys, she tracks student learning while inspiring a new generation to explore agriculture. “My SAEs have genuinely changed my life, and they are what I love to do,” she says.
Leadership has also been central to her FFA experience. She served on the Marysville FFA chapter officer team and was elected Sierra Buttes Section Secretary. She has attended the National FFA Convention & Expo, the California State FFA Leadership Conference twice, and the Chapter Officer Leadership Conference. “When I get into burnout,” she says, “I know that members need me to serve and need me to be who I am for them.”
2025-2026 Sierra Buttes Section Officer Team From left to right: Paulina Martinez, Izadora Delmue, Graham Gardemeyer, Malia Spotts, Gracie Oliver, and Diana Crisp.
Some moments stay with her forever. One of the most meaningful: helping a freshman pick up her first FFA jacket. “The feeling of getting a new jacket will forever be with you. Something that can be so materialistic means so much to an FFA member,” Oliver recalls.
Mentors and friends have shaped her journey, especially Piper Lakey, California FFA’s reporter during Oliver’s freshman year. “Piper changed my FFA journey and my life,” she says. Alongside her family, friends, and faith, Piper’s example continues to motivate Oliver. “I believe that God will do amazing things with the members around me,” she explains.
Oliver has learned to overcome doubt, both from others and herself. “So many people in my life, especially in high school, tell you that you can’t do it,” she says. “Sometimes it can be in your own mind or in others’ words. But what matters most is that you can do it no matter what it may be. Someone will always doubt you. But as a person who has always been stubborn and strong-minded, it was so important to me to know that I can, and so can you.”
Through raising hogs, teaching students, and leading her peers, Oliver has learned the essence of FFA: service, connection, and inspiration. “You can do it,” she says. “I became my own person. You can do absolutely anything you put your mind to. Everyone goes through something; everyone’s personal mind is always running, but be that person for someone, help inspire people, and be yourself through it.”
Gracie Oliver’s story is a reminder that FFA is more than projects, competitions, or leadership positions. It’s a community where members grow together, support one another, and create memories that last a lifetime.
