FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Chase Willis of the Colquitt County High FFA and Carolyne Turner of the CA Gray 8th Grade FFA chapters recently attended Area Officer Training. This conference is for a select 48 students who were chosen to serve as Area FFA Officers.

 Area Officer Training was hosted at Camp John Hope in Fort Valley. The theme for this year’s training was “Excavate: Dig Deeper.” Participants attended workshops that focused on self-discovery, teamwork, creating a mission statement, the Georgia Agricultural Education Program, and preparing for the FFA Day at the Fair Program. Officers were encouraged to make an impact in their school and community and gained ideas for member involvement, fundraising, and promoting the FFA, according to a press release from the organization.

The Georgia FFA Association is the third largest state association in the nation with more than 43,000 members. The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, changed its name in 1988 to reflect the growth and diversity of agriculture. The mission of the FFA organization is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.