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Oklahoma student wins spot on National FFA officer teamOklahoma Laila Hajji didn't aspire to have such a decorated FFA resume. In fact, she stumbled across the organization by accident when she was placed in an agriculture class. She had no idea then that it would eventually lead her to find her purpose in life: to serve. She will have more than enough opportunities to do just that now that she is the National FFA Organization's 2008-2009 Central Region Vice President. The Guthrie High School FFA Chapter member from Oklahoma will serve more than 500,000 fellow FFA members as she steps into this revered role. She was elected at the 81st National FFA Convention in Indianapolis October 22 to 25. She was among six individuals selected from a field of 38 to hold a national office. She is the daughter of Fouad Hajji and Lisa Stephens, and her FFA advisors are Craig Smith, Becky Smith and Jerry Brooks. Fulfilling her position will require traveling more than 100,000 miles, meeting top leaders in business, government and education, visiting approximately 40 states, and participating in an international experience tour to Japan. Her responsibilities will include providing personal growth and leadership training for students, setting policies that shape the future of the organization and promoting agricultural literacy. The national FFA officer selection process is intense and represents an assessment of years of academic and extracurricular accomplishments made by each student running for office. Nominees must first qualify on the state level to represent their particular state FFA associations. They then submit a thorough application, detailing their accomplishments and contributions to the community, along with an essay explaining their desire to be elected to national office. Once at the convention, candidates participate in five rounds of interviews, take an in-depth written test on the organization and agricultural education topics and complete two writing exercises. A panel of nine state FFA officers comprises the nominating committee that proposes the slate of six officers for approval by the convention delegates. Hajji attends Texas Tech University with a major in agricultural education. While in college, she has participated in the College of Agriculture Student Council, the President's Leadership Council, the homecoming committee, Agricultural Ambassadors, and has served as collegiate FFA vice president. FFA has provided Hajji with many opportunities, including her supervised agricultural experience, which began small as an agricultural placement and agricultural communications program and grew into a sheep production entrepreneurship program, eventually earning her enough money to reach her ultimate goal--owning beef cattle. Her other FFA accomplishments include serving as the 2006-2007 Oklahoma State FFA secretary, taking second place in the 2005 National FFA Extemporaneous Speaking FFA career development event (CDE) and placing third in the 2004 National FFA Prepared Public Speaking CDE. "My heart is filled with experiences, faults, humility, compassion, love and desire," says Hajji. "I am here to serve wholeheartedly and become an influential note in an FFA member's life." The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 507,763 student members--all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture--as part of 7,439 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.
Date: 12/4/08
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