When Liberti Sell moved from urban Las Vegas, Nev., to rural Rappahannock County in Virginia, she had no interest in agriculture or joining FFA. That changed when her younger sister, an eighth grader at the time, purchased a pig during an agriculture class tour of the local sale barn.
“She called me and was like, ‘Hey, I bought a pig. Don’t tell Mom and Dad, but I’m bringing it home,’” Sell says. “So, we had a registered show pig named Pork-A-Hontas living in our house for two weeks before we got everything ready for it.”
Owning and caring for Pork-A-Hontas enabled Sell to interact with Michele Fincham, the Rappahannock County FFA advisor, who has since become one of her biggest supporters.
Becoming Part of Agriculture
Shortly after interacting with Sell for the first time, Fincham recruited her to compete on the veterinary science career development event team, which included taking an agriculture class. As she deepened her involvement, Sell quickly said “yes” to other opportunities like attending the Virginia FFA State Convention, helping with her chapter’s adopt-a-family holiday project, becoming a chapter officer and shadowing a veterinary clinic for her supervised agricultural experience.
As 2023-24 Virginia FFA state officers, Sell (right) and her teammates lead and inspire members throughout their state.
“Liberti always asked me what we were going to do next,” Fincham says. “She was — and is — such a go-getter.”
Sell’s experiences helped her understand where her interests were in agriculture and, perhaps more importantly, find community in FFA. Inspiration from former Virginia FFA state officers instilled a sense of confidence to run for a position herself, along with the self-assurance that she could learn about agriculture, despite growing up disconnected from the industry.
In June 2023, just four years after Sell’s chapter rechartered, her dream became a reality — she became the first Rappahannock County FFA member to be elected to a state office.
Finding Confidence in Your Abilities
In her current role as the 2023-24 Virginia FFA state reporter, Sell interacts with members from all kinds of backgrounds during chapter visits and through facilitating conferences and events within her state. Sell also represented Virginia FFA while attending the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO), which was held in Australia in January.
Sell’s advice to others carving their own unique path in agriculture is simple, yet profound: Don’t sell yourself short.
“You’re capable of more than you think, and you can do whatever you put your mind to,” she says. “Don’t go in thinking you are less than everyone else because you’re not. You’re just as important, and you deserve to be there just as much as everyone else does.”
Attention, State Officers
If you’re embarking on a year of personal growth, service and leadership, check out our State Officer Toolbox resources. Access podcast episodes, workshop curriculum, mentorship opportunities and more at ffa.org/my-toolbox/dashboard-state-officers/.
