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State FFA President is a big job in Alaska

Being a State FFA President can be a very demanding job, especially if you are the State President of the Alaska FFA. Jarett Tormey says his first challenge is that a lot of Alaskans don’t even know what agriculture is so they have little understanding of FFA.

Then there is the fact that there are about 200 members in eight chapters sprawled across 770 miles from Kodiak to Fairbanks. One of those chapters is also quite unique; the Midnight Sun Chapter is made-up of home-schooled students across the state.  It is the first chapter of its kind in the United States.  Tormey is one of about 40 members in the Midnight Sun.

State officers apply for the position, they are interviewed by a nomination committee followed by a state board interview. Tormey sought the office because he wanted to help improve communications among the members across the state.  As president he wants to build the knowledge of agriculture and in turn the presence of FFA in the state.

After his year as State President, he plans to attend the University of Alaska-Anchorage to study veterinary science and become a veterinarian for his home area around Palmer.  Tormey talks about his State Association: