Kentucky student named to 2012-13 National FFA Officer team as Eastern Region vice president
2012 - 2013 Eastern Region Vice President Joenelle Futrell
INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012/National FFA Organization) – Joenelle Futrell of Kentucky vividly remembers her high school FFA advisor tell her that she was is on Earth for a reason and a purpose.
“My objective in life is simple,” she said. “I strive to live by her words and my own personal motivations to succeed and make a difference.”
Today, to conclude the 85th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Futrell was elected National FFA Eastern Region vice president for 2012-13.
Joining her on the 2012-13 National FFA Officer team are Clay Sapp of Florida as national president, Kalie Hall as national secretary, Lindsey Anderson of California as Western Region vice president, Brennan Costello of Nebraska as Central Region vice president and Wiley Bailey as Southern Region vice president.
For the next year, the group will travel more than 100,000 miles across the country to engage top leaders in business, government and education. The national officers will lead personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members. The team will help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.
“My ultimate career goal is to become a teacher,” Futrell said. “I want to earn undergraduate degrees in agricultural education and political science, get a master’s degree and ultimately a doctoral degree in educational leadership or policy. I’d like to teach, mentor and research new methods to affect high school, undergraduate and graduate students, agricultural teachers and industry professionals while being a lifelong advocate for FFA and the agriculture industry.”
She was a six-year member of the Daviess County High School FFA chapter in Owensboro, Ky., led by advisors Jason Smith, Chad Askins and Craig Howard. In high school, Futrell held the titles of state vice president, regional and chapter president and chapter recruitment and retention committee chairwoman. She won a host of state and national FFA awards from 2007-2010.
In high school, she graduated with honors and was in the top five percent of her graduating class. She was named a Kentucky AP scholar, received a national Merit Commendation and was a four-year member of a variety of clubs, including the Fine Arts Society and Key Club.
Today, Futrell is studying agricultural education and political science at University of Kentucky at Lexington while working for the Tennessee Department of Education.
“As a national FFA officer, I will constantly encourage members to become engaged in agricultural education, work on their own personal growth and foster an attitude of hope in their schools and communities,” she said. “I will strive to be purposeful by being a consistently positive role model for members and stakeholders.”
Futrell is the daughter of the late Charles Futrell. Her mother, Ann Futrell, survives.
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