10/13/2026
π½In case you missed it! Catch up with Junior Show Ambassador Kashley Brown as she encourages making the most of your FFA experience. Best of luck to all headed to National FFA Convention!π½
Itβs October, which means the new FFA year is in full swing! Whether youβre preparing for CDEs or LDEs, or competing at the National FFA Convention this month, there is a lot to look forward to this coming year. However, the new year can also feel overwhelming. By relying on teammates and stepping out of our comfort zone, we can make this FFA year exciting and rewarding!
For me, this year will be one of my busiest yet. I will be competing at the National FFA Convention in livestock judging, serving as the Washington FFA District V President, and competing in many CDEs and LDEs, including parliamentary procedure, agricultural issues, and horse evaluation. Looking at the year ahead of me, it has felt a bit stressful, but luckily I have found an amazing support system through FFA. My livestock judging teammates and I have continued to lift each other up while we practice, go to camps, and compete at other contests. Moreover, through my time as a district officer, I have made amazing friends from across Washington State that share similar passions and interests as I do. Although we only see each other a few times a year, we have built relationships where all of us feel comfortable reaching out to one another.
In addition, one of my biggest goals for the new year is to step out of my comfort zone. I want to put myself in hard situations in order to learn. For example, last year I filled in on my chapterβs floriculture team with a day's notice before a contest. I knew almost nothing about floriculture, but I still put in all my effort into teaching myself on the drive to the contest. I learned not only about floriculture itself and the people involved, but it gave me a new perspective on the contest. My district officer team is also planning a leadership day for the first time this year, and I plan to give a leadership workshop. This will allow me to practice my public speaking skills while hopefully inspiring other FFA members.
I encourage everyone to meet new people, inspire others, and try something new this year! By making new friends, supporting your peers, and learning something new that you wouldβve never done before, youβll make memories that will last for years to come. FFA is more than competing, itβs about the experiences that help us grow. So, as we begin the 2026-2027 FFA year, make the most of every opportunity. You never know where it will take you!