Over the weekend, the 94th National FFA Convention and Expo wrapped up. With over 50,000 registered attendees waiting in anticipation and over 730,000 FFA members potentially watching from all across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the National FFA Organization announced its new National FFA Officer team. Students from Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin were elected by National FFA Delegates to serve as 2021-22 National FFA Officers.
These members were selected from 37 candidates vying for the honor. Candidates take part in an extensive interview process with the National FFA Officer Nominating Committee leading up to the selection. The new team was announced during the seventh general session of the 94th National FFA Convention & Expo on Saturday, Oct. 30.
The 2021-22 National FFA Officers are:
Cole Baerlocher, an agricultural education major from Washington, was elected national president. He attends Oregon State University. Baerlocher is Washington’s first National FFA Officer since 2001.
Jackson Sylvester, an agriculture major from Delaware, was elected national secretary. He attends the University of Delaware.
Cortney Zimmerman, an agricultural communications major from Wisconsin, was elected central region vice president. She attends South Dakota State University. Zimmerman is the first National FFA Officer to come from the Spencer FFA Chapter, and she is only the eighth Wisconsin FFA member named a National FFA Officer.
Erik Robinson Jr., a criminal justice major from Georgia, was elected southern region vice president. He attends the University of Georgia.
Josiah Cruikshank, a business administration and mechanical engineering major from Oregon, was elected western region vice president. He attends Oregon State University.
Mallory White, an agronomy major from Kentucky, was elected eastern region vice president. She attends Murray State University in Kentucky.
Each year during the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as national officers. Delegates elect a president, secretary, and vice presidents representing the country’s central, southern, eastern, and western regions.
Throughout their year of service to the National FFA Organization, the officers will 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 many more. The team will lead personal growth and leadership training conferences for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and the next generation of leaders.
