Just a couple of weeks removed from the National FFA Convention, the moment of becoming the National FFA President still hasn’t entirely sunk in for Thaddeus Bergschneider of Illinois.
“I still can’t believe that a curly-haired freshman in high school who struggled to imagine himself on a big stage is now standing here,” he said, reminiscing the journey that brought him to the moment he was called on stage in his dad’s old FFA jacket.
Students from Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, California, Georgia, and Wisconsin were elected by National FFA Delegates to serve as 2024-25 National FFA Officers. They were selected for their subsequent year-long positions from 37 candidates, with Bergschneider, 19, becoming the first Illinois student to lead the national organization in three decades.
“This wasn’t just my moment; it was for my family, my teammates, and everyone who supported me,” he said.
Bergschneider, who had been a member of the Franklin FFA Chapter and previously served as Illinois State FFA President, credits his large family and agricultural upbringing for shaping his leadership style. Growing up as one of seven siblings, collaboration and teamwork were second nature.
“I didn’t get my own room until high school. Everything we did was a team effort,” he said. It was a value that seamlessly translated into his approach to FFA leadership.
Growing up on a family corn- and soybean farm and raising cattle, he gained a deep appreciation for the agricultural backbone of the nation — a perspective he carries into his role as president, even though he admits that he didn’t really think FFA was a good fit for him originally.
“My dad showed me that there’s a passion and place for everyone in FFA,” Bergschneider said.
The road to national office wasn’t just about interviews or speeches; it was about a mindset for him. Bergschneider believes leadership is not something to pursue for its own sake but something that emerges naturally through a commitment to personal growth and service to others.
“Great leaders don’t chase leadership — they’re called to it,” he explained. “It’s about the process: following what excites you, serving others, and striving to be the best version of yourself. Leadership follows when you focus on the right things.”
This philosophy carried Bergschneider through months of preparation for the candidacy process. From practicing interviews to long hours of reflection, he embraced the journey rather than fixating on the outcome.
“I reminded myself daily that the goal wasn’t to win but to live the process with integrity and no regrets,” he said.
This mindset was crucial, especially when self-doubt crept in. After a tough first interview, he leaned on strategies to stay grounded, from rereading Theodore Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena to watching Gladiator and finding strength in his family’s support.
“The toughest part wasn’t the rounds — it was the quiet moments in the hotel room after,” Bergschneider explained, noting that after countless hours of practice, he struggled through his first 6-minute interview.
When his name was announced as National FFA President, Bergschneider was wearing his father’s old FFA jacket, repeating part of Roosevelt’s famous poem to himself:
“The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
The moment was filled with emotion.
“I wore that jacket as a tribute — if I wasn’t elected, I wanted to leave the organization the same way I entered it, connected to my dad’s legacy,” he said. Instead, he stood on stage, overwhelmed by gratitude for the people who had supported him.
Now, as he prepares to step fully into his role, Bergschneider is balancing the weight of his new responsibilities with wrapping up his academic commitments at the University of Illinois. He’s working to complete his finals early, ensuring he can begin his 2025 calendar gap year devoted entirely to serving as National FFA President.
In that role, Bergschneider’s vision is rooted in service and inclusivity. With over 1 million members, the largest in FFA’s history, he’s focused on breaking down barriers and ensuring that every student feels they belong, whether they come from a farming background or not.
“FFA is for everyone — it’s for anyone who wants to contribute to agriculture in their own way,” he emphasizes, discussing how, over 36 years past the association’s name change from Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization, students from farming backgrounds and those who are not sometimes struggle to find a place in FFA.
He’s also dedicated to addressing the nationwide shortage of agricultural educators, who he has said are the foundation of FFA. To him, teachers provide the direction that can connect students with future opportunities in the ag space.
Also included in that vision is connecting the many stakeholders who make up the organization’s vast network.
“More than anything, we talk about member experiences and how we’re going to serve these million members. But at the end of the day, the role of a national officer is to connect the stakeholder who works for companies like Corteva, the policymaker on the Senate Ag Committee, and the student who’s struggling to open their high school locker is at the intersection on the Venn diagram of all three of those circles,” he explained.
For Bergschneider, this intersection is more than a responsibility — it’s an exciting challenge.
“I’m a business nerd, to be totally honest,” he admitted, citing his love for reading Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters and listening to business podcasts. “Walking into boardrooms this year, asking questions about a company’s strategy, their vision for the future of agriculture, and how FFA members are part of that — that excites me.”
His enthusiasm extends to working with policymakers at every level. Bergschneider emphasizes the importance of understanding those policymakers’ actions to broaden educational opportunities generally and specifically within career technical education in the agriculture sector. Ultimately, he says that his role will be in helping forge significant connections among these diverse groups.
Bergschneider is also particularly excited about initiatives that combine agriculture and technology, such as FFA’s partnership with Microsoft. These programs introduce students to soil monitors and data collection tools, equipping them to tackle agriculture’s evolving challenges.
“Our goal is to create a tech talent pipeline for agriculture,” he said. “We need the next generation of data scientists and engineers to understand farming so they can innovate in ways that truly help farmers and consumers.”
At the heart of Bergschneider’s vision is his belief in the transformative power of service.
“True leadership isn’t about seeking a title or recognition — it’s about focusing on the process, becoming a great person, and letting leadership come as a result of that,” he explained. He hopes to inspire members not by directing them but by showing how service and dedication to one’s goals can lead to meaningful impact.
As he starts his year of service, Bergschneider looks forward to learning from the varied experiences of FFA members nationwide. He believes that leadership is less about teaching others and more about learning from their experiences. For him, this year represents not just a role, but the ongoing journey of living out values, serving others, and answering a higher calling.
When asked what he hoped to learn from FFA members, Bergschneider spoke with clear excitement. For him, the chance to connect with members across the country and hear their unique stories is one of the most meaningful parts of his role.
“With over a million members, there are a million unique stories waiting to be heard,” he said. “I’m eager to learn about their homes, their communities, and the experiences that have shaped them. Those personal connections are what truly inspire me.”
Throughout their year of service to the National FFA Organization, Bergschneider, along with the team of officers: Secretary Luke Jennings, Ohio; Central Region Vice President Mary Schrieber, Wisconsin; Eastern Region Vice President Caroline Groth, Kentucky; Western Region Vice President Abigale Jacobsen, California; and Southern Region Vice President Jack Lingenfelter, Georgia will interact with business and industry leaders; thousands of FFA members and teachers; corporate partners; government and education officials; state FFA leaders; the general public; and more.
The team will lead personal growth and leadership training conferences for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies to guide the future of FFA and the next generation of leaders.
Heidi Crnkovic, is the Associate Editor for AGDAILY. She is a New Mexico native with deep-seated roots in the Southwest and a passion for all things agriculture.
