Breanna Holbert is an agricultural education major at California State University. (Image courtesy of National FFA)
A California State University student just made history as the first African-American woman to be elected president of the Future Farmers of America organization.
Fellow delegates elected agricultural education major Breanna Holbert to the coveted position Saturday, Oct. 28, at the 2017 National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, the organization announced last week. Holbert is now one of six Black Americans to hold a national office, following in the footsteps of Fred McClure, the first Black national FFA officer elected in 1974, and Corey Flournoy the first Black national FFA president elected in 1994, NBC BLK reported.
“This jacket, this experience of a lifetime means nothing without the family, friends, advisors, and mentors who have guided me and loved me without question,” she wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. “You are why I’m here. I’m so blessed.”
The FFA organization, founded in 1928, is devoted to making a positive impact in the lives of students by “developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education,” according to its website. As a national officer, Holbert will commit to a year of service, traveling over 100,000 miles to connect with FFA members, teachers, corporate sponsors, education officials and the like.
Five other students were elected to represent the organization as national officers, filling the roles of secretary and vice presidents for the central, southern, eastern, and western
regions.
“Together, she and her team will help tell the story of FFA and agricultural education and create awareness around premier leadership, personal growth and career success,” Mark Poeschl, CEO of the National FFA Organization, said. “[They] have the leadership skills to lead our organization during this year.”
Can you say #BlackGirlMagic?
