A natural explorer, Tiffany Rogers of Niles has charted her future with experiences ranging from raising livestock and horses to promoting agricultural awareness in rural elementary schools. Yet this horse lover is entering a new race with a burning passion and strong desire to serve others as an agricultural advocate.

For the next year, the Cassopolis Ross Beatty FFA Chapter member will motivate and inspire more than 500,000 fellow FFA members as the 2010-2011 National FFA Eastern Region vice president.She was elected to that office last week at the 83rd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

It is only the fourth time a member from Michigan has held a national office.

Rogers is among six individuals selected from a field of 36 to hold a national office. She is the daughter of David and Cheryl, and her FFA adviser is Caroline George.

Rogers attends Michigan State University in Lansing with a major in agricultural business. While in high school, she was a member of the soccer team, involved in women’s choir and National Honor Society. In 2010, Rogers served as the Michigan FFA state president. Rogers maintains associations with the Persheron Horse Association of America and Michigan Draft Horse Breeders Association and develops classroom lessons with the Agricultural Materials Attributed To Teaching Elementary students Rural Significance (MATTERS) program with the University of Michigan.

“It is my goal to serve as an advocate for agriculture, agricultural education and the National FFA Organization in order to bring all three the attention and respect they deserve,” Rogers said in discussing her future opportunities as a national officer. “I have dedicated my past, present and future to giving my whole heart to FFA and agricultural education by giving everything I have to offer.”

Fulfilling her position will require traveling more than 100,000 miles; meeting top leaders in business, government and education; visiting approximately 40 states; and participating in an international experience tour to Japan. Her responsibilities will include providing personal growth and leadership training for students, setting policies that shape the future of the organization and promoting agricultural literacy.

The national FFA officer selection process is intense and represents an assessment of years of academic and extracurricular accomplishments made by each student running for office. Nominees must first qualify on the state level to represent their particular state FFA associations.

They then submit a thorough application, detailing their accomplishments and contributions to the community, along with an essay explaining their desire to be elected to national office. Once at the convention, candidates participate in five rounds of interviews, take an in-depth written test on the organization and agricultural education topics and complete two writing exercises.

A panel of nine state FFA officers comprises the nominating committee that proposes the slate of six officers for approval by the convention delegates.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members as part of 7,487 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress, and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs.