(Atlantic, IA; Story by Atlantic FFA Reporter Addalyn Sonntag) – Each year the Southwest FFA district and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest district. Atlantic FFA welcomed 210 members from 36 FFA chapters from all over the Southwest district on Monday June 1st.
While at Atlantic on Monday, district and state officers lead four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of which are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter programs focused in the areas of advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. Aly Dreager said “being a leader doesn’t mean making the right decision all the time, it’s leading others to do the right thing.” FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter. “I enjoyed talking to the other newly elected presidents about their unique activities they did in their chapter. I hope to bring those ideas and incorporate them into our own program,” stated Jacquie Freund.
Iowa FFA Southwest State Vice President, Lauren Comes, stated, “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district and other chapter officers.”
COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year rotation of local leaders training. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond.
Many of the other Atlantic FFA members who attended loved meeting new people and listening to the other chapters’ ideas to incorporate into the Atlantic chapter. They learned new leadership techniques to help build up their chapter.
COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation.
