By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-0400Source(s):
Chris Vitelli cvitelli@ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1961
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida junior Erica Der has been elected southern region vice president of The National FFA Organization, one of the country’s largest youth groups dedicated to agricultural education.
A native of Plant City, Fla., Der was one of six national officers elected during the FFA annual convention in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 26-29. She received an $8,000 scholarship as part of the honor.
Der and her five new colleagues – a president, secretary and three other vice presidents representing various parts of the country – will serve one-year terms of office, she said. They were chosen from a field of 37 candidates, based on tests, essays, interviews and previous accomplishments.
An agricultural communications major in UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Der will put her studies on hold temporarily to make time for her duties as vice president, she said. The college, part of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, promotes FFA activity among students.
In 2006, Der will travel more than 100,000 miles and visit about 40 states. Her duties will include visiting FFA members and supporters, agriculture teachers, business leaders and elected officials.
Besides promoting FFA, agricultural education and the agriculture industry, national officers provide leadership and personal-growth training to FFA members, Der said.
“I’m really looking forward to passing along some of the things I’ve learned,” she said. “I want to help other young people fulfill their potential.”
As southern region vice president, Der will represent nine states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee – as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
She will attend chapter meetings and state conferences, meet with FFA leaders throughout the region and provide their perspective at national board meetings.
“There’s going to be a lot work ahead, but also a lot of fun,” Der said. “This next year is going to be one of the highlights of my life.”
Der has always been around agriculture. Her parents, Dennis and Lori, operate a feed and farm supply business in Plant City, and Der grew up near an orange grove owned by her grandparents.
She joined FFA while in the sixth grade and has earned numerous awards during her nine years with the organization. While a senior in high school, Der became an area vice president of Florida FFA, which led to her eligibility as a candidate for national office.
“Being elected southern region vice president is the pinnacle of my FFA career, but the nice thing is that I’ve had so many other rewarding experiences along the way,” Der said. “I want others to know that FFA and agricultural education can have a wonderful, positive effect on their lives.”
The presence of a national FFA officer in the UF college will inspire other students to excel, said Chris Vitelli, the college’s director of student services.
“Erica is just an incredible example of a student who set goals for herself, worked hard and accomplished what she set out to do,” Vitelli said. “We’re eager to have her back on campus in 2007, and I think she’s going to be looked upon as one of the college’s outstanding student leaders.”
Founded in 1928, The National FFA Organization, previously known as Future Farmers of America, has almost 500,000 members, hailing from all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin islands.
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