INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013/National FFA Organization) - Steven Brockshus of Iowa was to say at least an active high school student.
At Sibley-Ocheyedan High School in Sibley, Iowa, he was active in concert, marching and jazz bands. He was a choir member and performed as lead in several high school plays and musicals. Brockshus was a member of the varsity football, wrestling and track teams. And he belonged to groups including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, 4-H and more.
"I joined so many activities in high school to find out where I belonged," he said. "While I didn't feel out of place in any of them, I found something special in FFA."
FFA inspired Brockshus, he recalls. "The organization itself is empty without people. FFA creates an atmosphere in which anyone can find their place, regardless of background, family structure, age, skin color, language or accent."
Brockshus was elected to the 2013-14 National FFA Officer team as Central Region vice president at the 86th National FFA Convention & Expo.
Other members of the team are Brian Walsh of Virginia as president, Mitch Baker of Tennessee as secretary, Jackson Harris of Alabama as Southern Region vice president, Wes Davis of West Virginia as Eastern Region vice president and Jason Wetzler of Oregon as Western Region vice president.
Originally from Sibley, Iowa, and today an agricultural education and global resource systems major at Iowa State University, Brockshus previously served as Iowa FFA Association president and northwest state vice president. In high school, he served as his FFA chapter's reporter and secretary.
Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as National FFA officers. Delegates elect a president, secretary and vice presidents representing the central, southern, eastern and western regions of the country.
National officers commit to a year of service to the National FFA Organization. Each travels more than 100,000 national and international miles to interact with business and industry leaders, thousands of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state FFA leaders, the general public and more. The team will lead personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.
After graduation from Iowa State, Brockshus hopes to develop agriculture, teach and be involved in missionary work in a third-world country to encourage community development, spur innovation and motivate people in need.
"I am excited to help members find their belonging by serving as a role model, unconditionally loving every person I meet," he said. "I want to make every interaction a moment of positive influence by being vulnerable and sharing my passion.
"I hope to foster an atmosphere of belonging in every member I come in contact with while serving as a national officer. I want to empower members by creating opportunities for self-discovery and express the value of living in the moment with every interaction."
The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 579,678 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,570 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
# # #
About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 579,678 student members as part of 7,570 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at www.FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.
