By: Breanna Beckendorf
For the last 15 years David Frazier, Professor of Agricultural Education has put on a National FFA officer candidate training where he invites that year’s national officer candidates to come to Tarleton State University to have a practice run on what to expect whenever they go through the actual process in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year 30 of the 35 candidates came out to the university and had the opportunity to be evaluated by Tarleton students, staff and others who came to help with the event.
When talking to Frazier about how he came upon the idea to do the training he talked about the time he ran for national office and didn’t make it, but how he always wished there was someone there to help him. So he began helping students from Texas and New Mexico during his high school teaching career, since then he’s had the opportunity to work with numerous candidates from across the country.
“My goal is to give them an opportunity to experience this is what it is and that makes it a level playing field, so now they can go to national convention and show the nominating committee this is who I am instead of worrying about how am I supposed to do this.” said Frazier.
After talking to two of this year’s officer candidates it appears that Frazier’s goals are being accomplished. When asked if she felt like this experience would help her prepare for the real deal, Claire Shelton, the national officer candidate from Idaho said, “Having this experience and getting feedback has helped me immensely through this process.”
She talks about when she ran for Idaho FFA State Office everything was online so she never went through a real nominating committee and added, “This experience was able to
simulate that process. I also feel that the feedback was valuable because I am now able to apply those corrections before the real process begins.”
The same question was asked to Brice Fisher, the Texas national officer candidate, he said “I absolutely do, experience learning is the best learning.”
In addition to being motivated to host the training Frazier also mentions how its a great opportunity for Tarleton students in the agricultural education program to be able to see what “the best of the best” look like. This will help them know what their students should look like in the future. After talking to two students in Tarleton’s agriculture education program they couldn’t agree more.
When asked what she’s learned in her time helping with the training Madison Welch, a current student enrolled in the program said “I learned how things should be when people run for these higher positions and how they should act. It gives you a great opportunity to see how hard these people train and help apply it to future students.”
When asked if she felt like this has helped prepare her for her future as an ag teacher, Reagan Staab, another student enrolled in the agricultural education program said “Yes, I think it better equips me to train students and future candidates to be more prepared and knowledgeable.”
There’s no denying the valuable impact the National FFA officer candidate training has on not only the candidates but also everyone helping throughout the process. As this year’s training came to a close Dr. Frazier once again ended this year’s training on a strong note leaving students looking forward to next year’s training.
*Article submitted in ACOM 3314 – Writing & Editing