The Idaho FFA Foundation Ambassador Program blog series continues with more highlights from some of our 2024 student Ambassadors! In this blog series, some of our Ambassadors discuss their experience in FFA, what they are currently up to in their FFA chapter, and more! Check out the below blog from our Ambassador, Lizzie Mueller!
“This fall has been packed with exciting activities for our chapter here at Salmon FFA! As the newly elected district and chapter president, I have had the opportunity to help lead our chapter in several events and contests that have made this semester special. One of the season’s highlights was our Recruitment Rodeo, which was an event we put together to introduce new students to FFA and encourage them to get involved. The rodeo had various fun activities such as musical brooms, line dancing, and a potato sack race in a barrel pattern. It was incredible to see so many students excited about joining our chapter and learning more about what FFA has to offer. The enthusiasm from everyone, especially our younger members, reminded me how much of an impact FFA can have.
We also hosted a Career Development Event (CDE)/ Leadership Development Event (LDE) Exploration and Parent Night, where members got to compete in miniature versions of the contests that we compete in. It was also a great opportunity for parents to see their kids’ hard work in these competitions, whether it was livestock judging, public speaking, or horticulture events. This was a successful evening, and I am proud of how well our chapter members represented Salmon FFA. This event not only showcased the talents of our members but also strengthened the support from our families.
In addition, we had a fantastic time participating in the Eastern Idaho State Fair Judging Contest, where several members of our chapter competed in livestock, horse, and potato judging. It was an incredible learning experience, and I’m proud to say that our teams performed well. In addition to the contest, I had the honor of organizing our district’s first Opening Social at the fair. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, meet other FFA members, and build stronger connections within the district. We also had the state officers that attended the judging event introduce themselves to our district members and play some games with us. Putting the event together was a challenge but seeing everyone enjoy themselves throughout a fair scavenger hunt and bond over shared experiences made it all worthwhile.
My journey in FFA has been nothing short of transformative. Since joining FFA five years ago, I’ve grown in ways I never could have imagined. From my first county fair competition to leading our chapter as president, FFA has taught me the value of leadership, dedication, and service to my community. I have gained so much confidence speaking in front of others, organizing events, and learning about agriculture. The skills I have developed, such as teamwork and problem-solving, will stay with me for the rest of my life. FFA has not only shaped me as a student but also as a leader and a future professional in the agricultural industry.
We are currently preparing for upcoming contests, which will be happening at the district and state level, as well as our biggest event of the year: attending the 97th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Our chapter is excited to head to the convention, and we have been putting in long hours of fundraising to make sure that we can make it to the convention. The journey to Indianapolis will be just as memorable as we will be driving all the way there, making stops at various museums and agriculture industry sites along the route. This will give us a chance to not only see parts of the country we have never been to before but also to learn more about the agricultural industry from a hands-on perspective. The enthusiasm and dedication of everyone involved in these preparations are truly inspiring, and it is moments like this that remind me of why I love being part of FFA.
This fall, I have also been working on my senior project called “Thank-a-Farmer,” which was a huge success! Nearly two hundred people from the community came out to enjoy a free hamburger and hot dog meal and to support our local agriculture programs. It was amazing to see so many heartfelt Thank-you notes written to our local farmers and ranchers. The kids especially loved checking out the farm equipment, like honking the horn on the swather and running around in the brand-new aluminum cattle semi-trailer. I am incredibly grateful to Steve and Janna Herbst who generously provided me with this equipment to make the day extra special. I am excited to share that I raised just under $900, which will go back to support our local 4-H and FFA programs! A huge thank you to Murdoch’s for letting me host the event at their store, our local Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, to my mentors, Paul and Lori Fisher, to my parents, Nate and Frances Mueller, and to anybody else I may have forgotten to mention, for all of your support in making this happen. I could not have done it without you all! I was so glad to see this project come to life and make an impact in my community!
FFA has been a huge part of my life, from the opportunities to lead, to the hands-on learning experiences. I have learned valuable lessons in teamwork, problem-solving, and community involvement, and I am so thankful for the chance to be a part of this amazing organization. I am looking forward to what is next this school year!”
-Lizzie Mueller, October 19, 2024
About the Idaho FFA Foundation Ambassador Program:
The Idaho FFA Foundation Ambassador program provides opportunities to FFA students to build their networking, professional, and leadership skills through this program during the Idaho State Convention and throughout the next year. Students who are selected having various opportunities to work with the Foundation and our FFA supporters.
The Idaho FFA Foundation Ambassador applications for 2025 will be available before Idaho FFA State Convention that occurs in April 2025. For more details about eligibility and the application, please check out our website here: https://www.growidahoffa.org/ambassador-program/.