RINCON — The ability to cultivate friendships paid off with a big yield for Erik Robinson.
The Effingham County student was elected Georgia FFA president Saturday during the Georgia FFA State Convention in Macon.
“He has been training for this for the last four years and maybe a little before that when he was in middle school” Effingham County agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Meredith Arrington said. “In the past two years, for sure, is when he has hit the road hard with his goal (of becoming president) in mind.”
Robinson’s election is historic on two fronts.
“We’ve had a state officer (from Effingham County) but never a state president — to my knowledge,” Arrington said. “Erik is also the first African-American to be the state FFA president.”
Arrington said Robinson’s victory is easily explained.
“To me, it’s his work ethic and his charismatic personality,” she said. “The kids are drawn to him. He’s a crowd favorite everywhere we go.
“Anytime we go to a contest at FFA events, the other kids are always wanting to get their picture made with him and they always want to talk to him and shake his hand.
“He never meets a stranger and he is definitely a celebrity when it comes to Georgia FFA.”
Robinson, previously elected Area IV FFA president, is still savoring his achievement.
“It’s been a wild few days. That’s for sure,” he said.
Robinson said thoughts of becoming the president of Georgia FFA first entered his mind during the 2015-16 Georgia FFA convention when Franklin County’s Avery Duncan was elected.
“When I saw that happen, I realized that I wanted to be in that position one day,” Robinson said.
Robinson appreciates the cultural significance of his election.
“I don’t even know how to react to it,” he said. “It’s just a dream come true and I’m so proud that I can be someone who can start a legacy. I’d like to see more diversity in FFA as the years go on and I am glad I can start right now.”
Robinson’s circle of FFA influence has grown exponentially since his first state convention.
“I think what got me here is — whenever we see people who are sitting by themselves or in their little groups — we would go talk to them and make friends with them,” he said. “Once you make those connections, they are there for a lifetime. Just making those connections throughout my four years of high school and throughout this year’s service as an area officer contributed to where I am today.”
Robinson’s friendships are his primary attraction to the club.
“Through FFA and agriculture, I’ve met some people who have completely changed my life, — including all the ag teachers I’ve had throughout middle school and high school,” he said. “I want to be able to impact people the way that I was impacted by my ag teachers and the people that I’ve met. It’s the camaraderie through this agricultural community.”
Robinson’s career goal is to become an agriculture eduction professor at a major university.
“Before that, I want to be an ag teacher at a high school or middle school,” he said.
Arrington is confident Robinson will reach his goal.
“If all my students were like Erik, it would be a dream world at ECHS,” she said.
Before embarking on his career journey, Robinson has a couple more immediate concerns. One is to walk without the aid of a cane. He recently underwent surgery to repair a torn knee ligament.
“I’ll only be on the cane a little bit longer,” he said. “I can almost straighten my knee out all the way, which is all I need to be able to walk normally. This is week number seven post-operation so I’ve been making progress ...”
Losing the walking aid will help Robinson achieve another major goal.
“I would just like to see (FFA) grow,” he said. “We just grew to 43,000 members in Georgia FFA this year and I would like to see that number get higher and higher as we keep going.”
Robinson is thrilled to be in his position.
“I give all the glory to God and I am just very grateful to be where I am,” he said. “I’m very thankful to have had the ag teachers who have helped me get here. I definitely didn’t get here alone.”
