By Caitlyn Hooks, Lakeview Senior
Two students from Lakeview High School recently represented their chapter at the Louisiana FFA Area I & II Leadership Camp, where members from across the state gathered to strengthen their leadership skills, build connections, and prepare for future success in agriculture.
Throughout the camp, Louisiana FFA State Officers led a variety of interactive workshops designed to help members become more effective leaders. One session focused on remembering people’s names, emphasizing that memory is developed through practice rather than natural ability. Members learned six strategies: recognizing that there is no such thing as a “bad memory,” changing the way they approach remembering names, making associations, creating entertaining mental connections, incorporating a person’s facial features into mental imagery, and remembering that there is no shame in politely asking someone to repeat their name.
Another workshop introduced the “Five Influencers,” teaching members that leaders can inspire others in different ways. These leadership styles included the Authoritarian, the Friend, the Coach, the Mentor, and the Jedi. Members explored when each style is most effective and how understanding different approaches can strengthen relationships and improve communication.
Students also participated in a session on asking meaningful questions. They learned that effective questions should be open-ended, short and simple, encourage creativity and imagination, demonstrate active listening, and create clarity while helping others discover new ideas.
Time management was another important topic covered during camp. Members learned the “Rocks, Pebles, and Sand” method, which teaches that the most important responsibilities, the “rocks” should always be scheduled first. Smaller but still important tasks, represented by the “pebbles,” come next, while the least important activities, or the “sand,” should fill the remaining time. This visual lesson demonstrated that if time is filled with unimportant tasks first, there will not be enough room for what truly matters. Students also discussed strategies to overcome procrastination and identified their personal core values to help guide their decisions as leaders.
While at camp, I had the opportunity to participate in the Agricultural Educator Academy, a specialized program for students interested in becoming agricultural educators. During the academy, we explored the many opportunities available through agricultural education and gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to become an agriculture teacher.
The academy focused on the three-circle model of agricultural education: Classroom Instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and FFA.
In the classroom instruction portion, participants learned about effective classroom management techniques, characteristics of successful teachers, and strategies for creating engaging learning environments that encourage student success.
The SAE portion emphasized helping students develop real-world agricultural experiences outside the classroom. We discussed the different types of SAEs, why they are essential in agricultural education, methods for maintaining accurate record books, and the awards and recognition available to students through their SAE projects.
During the FFA component, participants learned what is required to establish and maintain an active FFA chapter, ways to recruit and retain members, and the responsibilities of agricultural education instructors as FFA advisors. We discussed how advisors mentor students, organize leadership and career development events, supervise chapter activities, guide officer teams, and help students grow into confident leaders.
Throughout the academy, participants also planned for their academic, personal, and career goals while learning about agricultural and extension education program available through LSU. Students had the opportunity to meet and learn from experienced agricultural educators from across Louisiana, gaining valuable insight into the profession and building connections with leaders who are shaping the future of agricultural education.
Beyond the workshops and academy sessions, leadership camp provided opportunities to build lasting friendships, network with FFA members from across the state, and create memories that will continue to inspire us as we return home to serve our chapter, school, and community. The experience challenged us to grow as leaders and strengthened our passion for agriculture and agricultural education.