“Whatever you’re working toward in life, you have to have a purpose in everything that you do,” said former Texas FFA Vice President Aron Hutchins, who set the tone for the first leadership development workshop held at the 83rd Annual Texas FFA Convention.

More than 450 Texas FFA members attended three different leadership development workshops Tuesday afternoon. These workshops included “Powerful Purpose” presented by Hutchings and former Texas FFA Vice President Tyler Bradfield; “Help the Deck” by current National FFA Secretary Landan Schaffert; and “No Excuses, Just Results” by Oklahoma FFA President Emily Beanland. 

“Be you,” said Schaffert. “You have to be willing to not listen to peer pressure and that’s the most important thing that I have learned from this organization.  It has taught me to treat every person with dignity and respect no matter what their race or background is like.”

Beanland was welcomed with open ears as she learned about members and their interests. Through asking members about excuses that they’ve made for themselves for certain situations, she was able to help others figure out how to move past those excuses and strive toward their dreams.

Bradfield and Hutchins shared some personal experiences and discussed how members can fulfill a purpose not only in their chapter, but moving up through the state rank as well.

“You have to be able to define your motivation, recognize talent, utilize skills and identify goals. That is what makes this organization so unique,” says Hutchins.  All workshops presented included information for members to take home.