At the National FFA Organization, South Dakota FFA member Hunter Eide is running to serve as a national FFA officer for the coming year.

From Gettysburg, S.D., Eide, a junior at South Dakota State University, served as the 2020-21 state FFA secretary.

Eide says FFA has been a large part of his life. When he was younger, he was standing outside an FFA luncheon when a member in official dress came up and introduced himself as Ken Quick. Quick asked what Eide was doing, and Eide shared how he loved meeting different people at conventions and was eager to be a member wearing his own jacket. Quick took off his FFA tie and handed it to him saying, “This isn’t a jacket but it’s a start.” Eide says that moment left a monumental impact on his life, and he felt part of something bigger. 

VYING FOR NATIONALS: Eide served as the 2020-2021 state secretary, and is currently a junior studying human biology at South Dakota State University.

Hunter says his No. 1 goal if elected as a national officer is to help members find their home within the organization. In the role, he would travel over 100,000 miles visiting FFA chapters and state associations nationwide, and advocating for ag education and the industry at state FFA conventions and leadership retreats. He would also be able to meet with leaders in Washington, D.C. 

As one of the 35 candidates, Hunter will begin interviews in October in Indianapolis and will continue with candidate activities until the 2022-23 National FFA Officer team is selected at the final session of the 95th National FFA Convention at the end of October.

Source: South Dakota FFA Foundation