Artwork by
Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

CAFNR Student to Represent Missouri FFA in Louisville
By Alyssa Berry, Corner Post staff

A CAFNR student prepares to represent the State of Missouri at National FFA Convention as she runs for a national office. Nicki Busdieker, a sophomore Agricutural Journalism major, will be heading to Louisville on Sunday, Oct. 24 as Missouri’s candidate to hopefully fill one of the six National FFA offices.

Even though there will be many other qualified candidates from each state, Busdieker says, “I can only be me,” and if someone else is more qualified for the position, then it is not meant to be.

Missouri FFA selected Busdieker as their candidate for national office back in May 2004. She was selected over three other members during interviews in Jefferson City.

When asked why she wanted to be a national officer, Busdieker said that she understands what it is like to have opportunities laid out in front of you and then snatched away. She wants to share with FFA members how to find those opportunities and be able to make the most of them. She also says that the thought of why she is running is in her mind all the time, and she believes that preparing to take such a big step has lead her to discovering a lot about herself and what is most important to her.

Busdieker’s hometown Ag advisors, Leon Busdieker and David Cook of Warrenton could not be more excited for her.

“She believes in the blue and gold, and that’s what sets her apart,” Leon Busdieker said.

Mr. Cook said is very proud of Nicki and is just “tickled” to be a part of the FFA chapter during this time.

The process of becoming a national officer takes at least six rounds of interviews throughout the Convention held during the week of Oct. 24 through the 30th. One round will consist of an FFA knowledge test and a writing exercise. There will also be four interview rounds; a personal round with a few members of the judging committee, a 1 on 1 interview, an agricultural issue round and an agricultural education round. The final round of the interviews will be at the committee’s discretion.

If selected as an officer, Busdieker will be taking a year off from school to travel the country to speak to students about FFA. She will also have the opportunity to travel to Japan to speak to the Future Farmers of Japan organization which was modeled after the National FFA Organization in the United States. However, if not chosen to an office, Busdieker said she will be happy to come back to Columbia to continue to be a tiger. Right now, she says, “I’m scared either way.”

The final decision for the 2004-2005 National FFA Officers will be made on the Friday of convention. A president, a secretary, and a vice-president from each of the four national regions, Eastern, Western, Southern and Central, will be selected.

back to archive