Retiring Address

We go through life hiding behind a mask suitable for whatever situation we are currently a part of, hoping to be accepted. In this retiring address, 2018-19 National FFA President Luke O’Leary shares how it is important to allow others to see us for who we truly are.

In this retiring address, 2018-19 National FFA Secretary Layni LeBlanc shares how we need to continue asking questions and enter into the “gray space” to grow and learn.

In this retiring address, 2018-19 National FFA Southern Region Vice President Jordan Stowe discusses how we need to remember and respect the small moments that happen every day because that is where we can learn, be present and find where we are.

In this retiring address, 2018-19 National FFA Eastern Region Vice President Adrian Schunk discusses the importance of making moments in life meaningful because that is the time in which we can really give something meaningful to others.

Many believe that learning stops once you graduate from your last step in the world of academia, whether that is a high school diploma or a doctorate. However, to truly succeed, we must strive to be lifelong learners. In this retiring address, 2017-18 National FFA Central Region Vice President Piper Merritt discusses the importance of becoming a forever learner.

From the day we are born, there is a value and purpose for our life. It is important to remember everyone is different and brings different skills, talents and knowledge to the table. Everyone is valuable in their own unique way. In this retiring address, 2017-18 National FFA Eastern Region Vice President Gracie Furnish discusses how valuable each person is and why we need to see ourselves as valuable too.

Success boils down to two important components, persistence and focus. In this retiring address, 2017-18 National FFA Southern Region Vice President Ian Bennett discusses how we encounter challenges on our path to success and how we need to be persistent and focused throughout these many challenges to achieve success.

Fear is a feeling that creeps up in everyday life, anything from fearing the judgment of peers to bigger feelings such as being unwanted. We should not let fear control our lives. We need to learn to combat the fears. Erica Baier discusses fear and why we need to overcome our biggest obstacle … ourselves.

A lesson plan to accompany the 2017-18 National FFA President Breanna Holbert's retiring address.

The following activity is designed to help guide students through keynote speeches and retiring addresses from National FFA Convention. Students will have the opportunity to think critically and apply messages conveyed through the presentations.

This educators’guide is a resource for advisors who bring students to national convention and/or have students remain at school during convention and also includes a follow-up component for use after convention.

Videos showcase various parts of FFA and SAE information, ideas, testimonials, and experiences.