96th National FFA Convention Broadcast Interns
Lydia Johnson
Lydia Johnson is a senior at Iowa State University studying Agricultural Communications, Journalism and International Agriculture. She grew up on her family’s diversified crop and livestock Heritage Farm in Bondurant, Iowa, where her passion for agriculture is rooted.
At Iowa State, Lydia has served as President of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Student Council. She also participates in the professional agricultural sorority Sigma Alpha, CALS Ambassadors, and the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club.
Lydia has gained experience as an intern with the agriculture policy news service Agri-Pulse Communications, “The Big Show” on Newsradio 1040 WHO, agriculture and food lobbying firm Torrey Advisory Group, and at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Beyond graduation, she plans to pursue a career that combines her interests in agriculture policy, broadcasting, and journalism.
This will be Lydia’s third year serving as a Broadcast Desk Intern for the National FFA Organization.
John Ching
John Ching is a freshman at Drake University studying clinical and medical health sciences on a pre-med track with a concentration in jazz bass. He grew up in Sac City, Iowa.
A native of the Storm Lake FFA chapter, Ching was an active member of his local chapter, where his passion for agriculture began. He participated in a variety of events in FFA from being a chapter officer, participating in LDEs to playing the national anthem at the Iowa FFA State Convention.
John’s involvement in ag broadcasting began with his SAE. Not coming from a background of agriculture, he wanted an outlet to share agriculture with those who may be unfamiliar with it. Ching created a segment with his local radio station called Friday’s with FFA, where he interviewed FFA members and advisors from local chapters, state officers, and government officials. Currently John is developing a podcast called All Hat No Cattle, where he continues to spread stories in agriculture.
Michelle Stangler
Michelle Stangler is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. With majors in Agricultural Marketing Communications and Journalism and a minor in Agricultural Business, she plans to keep sharing the positive story of agriculture in her future career.
Stangler grew up in Watertown, Wisconsin on her family’s small dairy farm. After selling the cows in 2018 and 2019, she knew she wanted to stay involved in the agricultural community. A few short months later she was elected to serve over 20,0000 FFA members as the Wisconsin FFA State Vice President. The pandemic finished off the year unexpectedly, but one of many firsts. During the year, she was also chosen as a National FFA #SpeakAG Ambassador. Throughout these experiences, she found how important it is to share FFA member stories.
She’s interned with the Fabulous Farm Babe Pam Jahnke and the team at the Mid-West Farm Report and Brian Winnekins at WRDN Radio. She’s also expanded into freelance reporting for a community television station and the Wisconsin State Farmer Newspaper. This fall, she’s interning with a television station in Eau Claire, WEAU 13 News, as a multimedia journalist. Stangler has found a love sharing stories for the agricultural community through many different platforms. Besides sharing the positive story of agriculture, she loves to take adventures hiking and hanging out with her family of two older sisters and friends. She credits her FFA advisors to getting her involved in the poultry industry and now enjoys taking care of her small flock at home.
Besides various internships and freelance roles, she hosts the Positivity in Ag Podcast hearing from people involved in agriculture. Finding a love and passion for reporting on stories that matter, this will be Stangler’s third year part of the team at the National FFA Convention & Expo.
Hannah Whetstone
Hannah Whetstone is a sophomore at Kansas State University studying Mass Communications: News and Sports Media, with minors in Agricultural Communications and Education, as well as Leadership Studies. She grew up on a commercial cow/calf operation in Southeast Kansas and gained a passion for the industry through competitive livestock exhibition.
At Kansas State, Whetstone is involved in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, and Silver Key Sophomore Honorary. She also enjoys her work at Wildcat 91.9 FM, producing an agriculture segment titled, “Feel Good News from the Farm,” and hosting a sports talk radio show.
Whetstone continues to grow her passion for storytelling and broadcast journalism through her work as a sideline reporter for K-State HD.TV and K-State Athletics.
As an FFA alumni, Whetstone is excited to share the stories of FFA members across the nation.