8
CapitalPress.com
NPPC
chief
announces
retirement
By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press
After 31 years with the
National Pork Producers
Council, including the last
20 as CEO, Neil Dierks has
announced his plan to retire
by the end of the year.
The NPPC Board of
Directors has initiated a
search for a new CEO,
according
to a press
release
f r o m
NPPC.
Dierks
w i l l
remain in
Neil
his role as
Dierks
CEO until
the search
is completed and will serve
as a strategic counselor
during a transition period.
“Over the last 40 years,
Neil has made count-
less, lasting contributions
to the U.S. pork industry
and established NPPC as a
leading national advocacy
organization and the global
voice of the U.S. pork
industry,” said Jen Soren-
son, NPPC president and
communications director
with Iowa Select Farms.
“He announces his plan
to retire from NPPC at a
time when the organiza-
tion is in a stronger posi-
tion than ever before to ful-
fi ll its advocacy mission,”
she said.
Dierks said he has
enjoyed his service as CEO
of NPPC.
“The chance to inter-
face with producers and
others in the pork industry
and beyond and to work
with producer leaders and
the talented NPPC staff has
been the highlight of my
career,” he said.
After leading fi eld ser-
vice and state legisla-
tive outreach for the Iowa
Corn Growers Associa-
tion, Dierks joined NPPC
in 1990 to manage World
Pork Expo.
Friday, June 11, 2021
New Washington FFA state offi cers
share goals for coming year and beyond
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
Washington FFA’s new
state offi cer team was
announced during the annual
convention in May, broad-
cast from Beasley Coliseum
in Pullman.
Each will travel through-
out the region for the next
year to speak to the state’s
more than 9,750 FFA mem-
bers; business and indus-
try leaders and the general
public.
The team will lead per-
sonal growth and leadership
training workshops for FFA
members and help set poli-
cies that will guide the future
of FFA and promote agricul-
tural literacy, according to
the organization.
The Capital Press reached
out to the newly elected offi -
cers through email to ask
their plans for the year, and
beyond. Replies have been
edited for length.
Alyxandra
Bozeman,
president, White River
How does it feel?: For
the last four years of my life
I knew that I wanted to be
a state offi cer, and now that
I have made it to where I
wanted to be, I am so grate-
ful and excited.
Goals: Connect with stu-
dents across the state and
help them see their potential
through FFA.
Ag background: As far
back as I can remember I
wanted a horse, and when
I was 12 I was given my
fi rst horse. After getting her
I joined 4-H, which gave
me the fi rst push into agri-
culture. After a few years
I then started high school I
got roped into competing in
FFA, and once I put on the
blue corduroy jacket I was
hooked.
Why get involved in
FFA? What is your favor-
ite part?: If you want to be a
doctor, a lawyer, or a farmer,
FFA has something for you.
My favorite part of FFA is the
impact that it makes on stu-
dents’ lives.
The 2021-2022 Washington FFA State Offi cers are, from left, Madison Wolfe, secre-
tary (Pullman); Kinsey Nelson, treasurer (Walla Walla); Andrew Miles, sentinel (Fin-
ley); Caitlyn Garvey, reporter (Yelm); Ainsley Carpenter, vice president (Deer Park);
and Alyxandra Bozeman, president (White River).
Career/college
goals:
I plan to attend a univer-
sity to pursue a degree in
either agricultural educa-
tion or some fi eld of agricul-
ture management. My ideal
career would be one where
I get to work hands-on in
the action of it all and at the
same time I am making a
positive impact.
Message to members:
Enjoy every opportunity that
you are given. This last year
has been a whirlwind for
everyone and it has shown
me that we need to harness
those opportunities that we
are given in FFA.
Ainsley Carpenter, vice
president, Deer Park
How does it feel?: I am
so excited and proud that I
get to have this opportunity
to reach out and be a role
model for the Washington
FFA.
Goals: To meet as many
new people as I can.
Ag background: I come
from three generations of
FFA members, and all of us
have grown up on a farm! I
come from a military fam-
ily (Army) so I grew up in
places like Louisiana, Ger-
many, and Kansas. In all the
places I have lived in we
have always gotten into the
agricultural opportunities
that are present there.
Why get involved in
FFA? What is your favor-
ite part?: I encourage peo-
ple to get into FFA mainly
because of the sense of fam-
ily, along with the friends
you develop throughout
your years in this organiza-
tion. My favorite part of FFA
is how many opportunities
we have, from career expe-
riences, to raising livestock,
there is no end to what we
can do and accomplish.
College/career
goals:
In fall of 2022 I will attend
Washington State University
and major in zoology. I want
to focus my studies into her-
petology, the study of rep-
tiles and amphibians. After
graduating I would love to
get a career as a wildlife
zookeeper, working with the
animals I love everyday.
Message to members:
Have fun and do as much as
you can.
Anything else?: FFA
provides everyone the
opportunity to go and
achieve great things in a
high school setting. With-
out FFA I don’t know who
the person I would be, but I
know I wouldn’t be as happy
as I am today.
Madison Wolfe, state
secretary, Pullman
How does it feel?: It feels
incredible to get to serve this
organization another year as
I have gotten so much from
it and can’t wait to give
back.
Goals: Help transition
this organization back into
having an in-person year
in the safest, most efficient
way possible.
Ag background: My
grandparents farm wheat
and I have started my own
herd of cattle.
Why get involved in
FFA? Favorite part?: Get-
ting involved in FFA opens
you up to so many other
opportunities in leadership
for the future. My favorite
part is getting to travel and
meet members from across
the country.
College/career goals: My
goal is to get my master’s in
kinesiology to become an
athletic trainer.
Message to members:
Take every opportunity to
get involved and grow as a
leader.
Caitlyn Garvey, reporter,
Yelm
How does it feel?: For me
it means the world because I
am able to serve members
and represent agricultural
industries.
Goals: Teach students and
community members about
the importance of agriculture
in and out of the classroom. I
also want to leave an impact
on members just as past state
offi cers have left on me.
Ag background: I grew
up in Madison, Ala., which
had lots of agriculture around
but was in the middle of a
transition toward technol-
ogy and engineering. I grew
up always around animals
and that has grown into now
showing pigs and lambs
S219919-1
which has taught me a vari-
ety of life lessons.
Why join? Favorite
part?: When I fi rst entered
high school I was a very
quiet and reserved person but
my freshman science teacher
introduced me to FFA and
the diff erent opportunities
that allowed me to fi nd a true
passion. I have two favor-
ite parts of FFA. One is the
time spent teaching mem-
bers, younger students, and
community members about
the importance of agriculture
and FFA. As well as the trips
that I had the chance to go on
whether it be going to state
convention, fl oral contest,
and everything in between.
College/career goals: I
would like to attend Wash-
ington State University to
pursue a career in agricul-
ture education after my year
of service! I would like to
come back to the Yelm com-
munity and impact students
just as my agriculture teach-
ers impacted me.
Message to members:
My message to FFA mem-
bers is to never give up
on something you hope to
accomplish. There are many
paths that you can take that
will help you to achieve your
goals.
Kinsey Nelson, trea-
surer, Walla Walla
How does it feel?: I’m
looking forward to having
the next year to serve, along-
side fi ve other amazing indi-
viduals, this organization.
Goals for the coming
year: Continuing to grow my
leadership skills. I also want
to continue to spread truths
about agriculture and agri-
cultural education.
Ag background: I grew
up on my family’s wheat
farm. Along with growing
up on a farm, I have experi-
ence working with animals.
We have had cats, dogs, and
rabbits at home. I also rode
and showed horses compet-
itively in local horse shows
as well as mountain trail
competitions.
Why get involved in
FFA? Favorite part?: FFA
has a place for everybody.
While in FFA, you are a part
of one big family. Being in
FFA has given me the oppor-
tunity to see the multiple dif-
ferent aspects of agriculture
ranging from rural to urban
agriculture. FFA has helped
me see what all agriculture
has to off er.
College/career goals: I
plan to attend Washington
State University and major in
animal science. After receiv-
ing my bachelor’s degree, I
plan to apply for Washing-
ton State University’s veter-
inary school. After college I
plan to become a veterinar-
ian and work mainly with
large animals.
Message to FFA mem-
bers: Take advantage of the
opportunities that cross your
path. FFA has opened many
doors for me and I hope that
it can do the same for them
as well.
Andrew Miles, state
sentinel, Finley FFA
How does it feel?: The
best way I can describe the
feeling is honor, and excite-
ment, to see what this year
will bring.
Goals: To be the best
I can be and to help oth-
ers achieve their highest
potential.
Ag background: I was
born on a dryland wheat
farm and raised around cat-
tle. I cannot remember a
day I was not involved in
agriculture.
Why get involved in
FFA? Favorite part?: I got
involved in FFA so I could
interact with others who
have similar interests as I
do. My favorite part of FFA
is competing and learning
— along with the camara-
derie of the members along
the way.
College/career goals?: I
plan to earn a bachelor’s in
applied management with an
emphasis in agriculture from
Columbia Basin College.
Message to members:
Don’t be afraid to try new
things; because it is better
to try than to know you did
not try.