Article Submitted: FFA Atlantic FFA Reporter Addalyn Sonntag
(Atlantic) Each year, the Southwest FFA district and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest district. Atlantic FFA welcomed 210 members from 36 FFA chapters from all over the Southwest district on Monday, June 1st.
While at Atlantic on Monday, district and state officers led four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of whom are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter programs focused on advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. Aly Dreager said, “Being a leader doesn’t mean making the right decision all the time; it’s leading others to do the right thing.” FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter. “I enjoyed talking to the other newly elected presidents about the unique activities they did in their chapter. I hope to bring those ideas and incorporate them into our own program,” stated Jacquie Freund.
Iowa FFA Southwest State Vice President, Lauren Comes, stated, “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district, and other chapter officers.”
COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year training rotation for local leaders. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about tools that will help them succeed in whatever they are part of throughout high school and beyond.
Many of the other Atlantic FFA members who attended loved meeting new people and hearing other chapters’ ideas to incorporate into the Atlantic chapter. They learned new leadership techniques to help build up their chapter.
The COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation.
Photo: Left to Right-Back row Jacquie Freund, Keaton Schroeder, Grant Petty, Walter Freund, Jovie Richter Front Row Aly Dreager, Addalyn Sonntag, Chloe Sonntag.
