COVINGTON—Emily Rodgers, a member of the Effingham County High School FFA chapter, began her term as the Area 4 Secretary on Aug. 8-9, when the Georgia FFA area officers met for the Area Officer Training Conference.

Eight new area officers from each of the six areas of the state attended the two-day training conference, held at the Georgia FFA/ FCCLA Center near Covington. The objective was to orient the new officers to their position as area leaders. Each area team met with a member of their regional agricultural education staff, as well as the Georgia FFA program manager for leadership, to discuss their roles and responsibilities. The officers discovered what it means to be an ambassador for the FFA and began setting goals for the coming year.

Throughout the school year, Rodgers and her fellow officers will have the opportunity to represent Area 4 FFA members at a variety of teachers meetings, career development events, leadership conferences and area training activities.

The first assignment given to the new area officers was the FFA Day at the Fair. On Oct. 7, approximately 1300 middle school students will meet in Perry to attend the FFA Day at the Georgia Fair. Their hosts for the morning program will be the Area Officers. Each officer team has been charged with creating booths and displays that exemplify the benefits of FFA and agricultural education.

Next spring, each Area Officer team will be responsible for conducting their respective Area banquet and award assemblies. The officers will also serve as courtesy corps at the 81st State FFA Convention in Macon on April 23-25.

The Georgia FFA Association has a membership of more than 28,000 making it the third largest Association in the nation.

The FFA mission is to make a difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.