The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Graduate leading state FFA
KristiAnn Frank wants to expand agriculture programs throughout New York
VERONA, N.Y. » NewYork FFA President KristiAnn Frank wants to see agricultural education programs grow across New York.
Frank, a graduated of VernonVerona- Sherrill High School, served as state sentinel in 2017 as part of the VVS FFA. She decided to go through the selection process once again and hoped to be re-elected. She didn’t expect to be given an opportunity to serve as president for the 2018 year, but was glad to be given the chance.
“No member from our FFA chapter has been elected as state president until this year,” Frank said. “And looking back at the records, it’s been around 31 years since a member has run as a previously-elected officer and been elected.”
Frank said since being elected, she and other officers have been through training and attending events. Her fellow officers include Vice President Ethan Bill-
man of Belleville Henderson FFA, Secretary Anna Bica of South Jefferson FFA, Treasurer Patrick Coombe of Tri-Valley FFA, Reporter Taylor Rollins of MadisonFFA, andSentinel Olivia Parkin of Warwick Valley FFA.
“We just finished an event at Empire Farm Days. We were at the farm show, talking with the public at our booth and teaching them what the FFA can offer students,” Frank said.
Frank and the NewYork State FFA are also at the Great New York State Fair, spending 13 whole days at their FFA building. Frank said it’s important to communicate with the public and teach them what FFA members throughout the state are doing.
“Throughout the year, we hold conferences to help develop a student’s leadership skills and get them ready for the future, whether that’s the next year of school, college or whatever else they have planned,” Frank said.
Last year, Frank said Gov. Andrew Cuomo challenged the New York State FFA to open 100 new agricultural programs across the state; but they fell short and only opened 20.
“We’re trying to get that number to 100 and we’re really working hard to get agricultural education into city schools,” Frank said. “We’ve been talking with Syracuse and downstate schools, as well as Rochester and Buffalo. There’s lots to do in a short period of time. As a state officer, your year is jam packed and you don’t have a lot of time to not be focused on FFA. But we’re making great steps to getting new programs started.”
Frank said just recently, she got to speak with a teacher from Ontech Charter High School in Syracuse. The school administrator and board of education is seeing how important agricultural education is, Frank said, and are dedicating more resources to it.
“We’ve been looking to get in contact with other schools, but a lot have been reaching out to us,” Frank said
hi le working to spread agricultural education with her team, Frank is also working towards her college degree at SUNY Cobbleskill. Majoring in agricultural business and minoring in agricultural education, Frank said she hopes to get a chance to work for the New York Farm Bureau or even for the New York commissioner of agriculture.
“But after all that, I hope to become a teacher,” Frank said.