National president visits Wyoming FFA Convention

Cheyenne – Each year, one National FFA officer visits Wyoming’s convention, and National FFA President Ryan Best, who is originally from Portales, N.M., spent the week with Wyoming’s FFA members at the 2012 Wyoming State FFA Convention.
    “In my keynote address, I’m really going to talk about not overlooking the little things in life, and especially not letting those little things add up,” said Best at the beginning of the week. “Most importantly, it’s about how, in life, we can’t wait to start living. We have to live now, because we never know when it might be too late.”
    Best added that he enjoys visiting state conventions across the nation, and Wyoming’s is his third of nine total State FFA Conventions this year.
    “My favorite part of convention is interacting with students and getting to know them, their story and what makes them tick,” he noted. “It is so neat to see all of their backgrounds and what brings us together to make this organization what it is.”
    “I’m really enjoying visiting with FFA members and making every interaction with them positive,” added Best.
    Outside of attending FFA conventions, Best has also had the opportunity this year to testify in front of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee.
    “I testified about how we can get more students involved, not just in production agriculture, but in the agriculture industry in general,” he said. “It really comes down to continuing and strengthening support for agricultural education.”
    “Our ag education programs have really done a great job in promoting agriculture and preparing students for careers in agriculture, and we just need to continue to strengthen the support for them.”
    Saige Albert is editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr.net.