By Dennis Morgan
Publisher
Recognized as one of the best FFA programs in the state, the Elgin FFA Chapter under the guidance of Advisor Julia Schwartz, added another distinction, producing a state officer.
At the 90th Annual State FFA Convention held last week in Lincoln, two-year Elgin FFA Chapter President Marie Meis was announced as one of seven new state officers who will serve one year terms during 2018/2019. Her name was the third name called, when new officers were announced near the end of the final session of the convention.
“Hearing my name up there, I thought about all the people that were behind me, backing me,” Meis told The Elgin Review just moments after being selected. “Those things were running through my mind as I was walking up those stairs.”
Those “stairs” are just the beginning of what will be an exciting year for her. She said she knows the next 12 months are going to be busy, “but it’s going to be exciting too!”
Mrs. Schwartz, who has been the Elgin FFA advisor since 2010, said Meis was very deserving of the honor.
“Her commitment to this (the Elgin) chapter the past four years is above and beyond what any advisor could ask for,” she said.“She (Marie) puts in the work to interact with other members (students from Pope John and Elgin Public Schools) to talk to those members, to work with them and prepare for any events that may be coming up …When there’s stuff to be done, Marie is always going to be the person to step forward. … For the past four years she had done just that.”
Joining Meis as State FFA Officers for 2018/2019 are:
State President: Amanda Most – Ogallala FFA
State Secretary: Grady Johnson – Holdrege FFA
State Vice Presidents: Brooke Bell – David City FFA; Brytany Gama – Omaha Bryan FFA; Halie Andreasen – Boone Central FFA; and Jordan Popp – Broken Bow FFA
Meis is the first state officer to come through the FFA program under Schwartz’s tutelage.
Nebraska FFA state officer candidates must be at least a graduating senior at the time of applying for office. Additionally, candidates may be no more than one year out of high school at the time of applying for office. The selection process involves submitted an application, followed by two interviews — the first (preliminary) being held in Kearney in mid-March. “Finals” interviews were held April 3.
at the Downtown Courtyard Marriott in Lincoln. The interview progress is conducted by a committee that represents many aspects of agricultural education and the agriculture industry.
