(SANILAC COUNTY) – FFA is among the largest student youth organization in the Nation. Its mission is to change the lives of students and prepare members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Each state FFA association elects officers to represent them; Michigan FFA has more than 5,300 members that cross 111 local chapters.
On Friday, March 11, the Michigan FFA announced the 2022-2023 State FFA Officer team at the annual Michigan FFA Convention. Clara Milarch, a Sanilac FFA member from Carsonville-Port Sanilac, was elected to be the Michigan FFA President for next school year!
Clara had a pretty intense schedule to earn this honor. In January, she submitted an extensive application. In February, she went through a regional-level interview process where she was then chosen to move on to the state level interviews.
During the weekend long state-level interview process she went through four different interview scenarios: personal one-on-one, team dynamics, agricultural education/agricultural issues, and committee’s choice.
As an elected state officer, she will wear many hats. They are expected to represent the student membership. They are to be teachers of leadership and teamwork, motivational speakers who will inspire members and non-members to heights they did not think they could achieve.
They are communicators and public relations specialists on behalf of the Michigan FFA Association, building positive relationships with each activity. They are teammates to the other ten state officers and the state staff.
Moreover, and perhaps most importantly, they are learners’ eager to absorb and grow to the fullest extent possible to fulfill the roles of their office.
Throughout the history of the Sanilac FFA Chapter there has only been four others represented on the state level. Nathan Clark (President in 1998-99), Amanda Sollman (Secretary in 2007-08), Jonathon Brewer (Region 3 Vice President in 2009-10), and Lauren Heberling (Reporter in 2016-17).
