5 Tips for the Next President of the National FFA Organization

When Thaddeus “Thad” Bergschneider took the gavel as National FFA president, he stood behind the symbol of the rising sun, a daily reminder that every morning offers the promise of a new era in agriculture and leadership. A year later, as he prepares to pass that emblem on, Bergschneider has five pieces of advice for whomever follows in his footsteps.

With more than 1 million members and nearly 10,000 chapters, the National FFA Organization is a powerful network of young people preparing for leadership and careers in agriculture. But at its heart, FFA’s national presidency is about service, about being the first to greet the dawn and lead others toward it.

“Trust you are in this role for a reason,” Bergschneider says. “Whether that’s faith-centered or rooted in personal values, great. This year can be hard. You will be pushed to your limit and undoubtedly fail at times. Don’t think less of yourself — have confidence.”

Confidence, he emphasizes, isn’t about perfection. It’s about purpose. The job is demanding: long days, constant travel, and the weight of representing an organization that stretches across every state, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. But Bergschneider insists the best leaders remember that their influence isn’t about spotlighting themselves.

“Never get used to it,” he advises. “This role is a level of respect and a position of influence beyond me, you, and any individual. When you leave the role, most of that attention stays with it. Use this position to spotlight others. Think of yourself less — stay humble.”

That humility shaped his presidency. Whether delivering keynotes or visiting classrooms, part of or turning conversations back to the people in front of him, for seeing the light in others.

“You have a superpower,” he says. “If you say ‘Congratulations,’ people may think back to when the National FFA President said that to them. The good things you do are amplified, and so are the bad. That is the nature of leadership. Encourage others while you have the chance. Use your superpower.”

But leadership isn’t a solo act. The FFA National Officer Team — six students chosen each year — travels together, learns together, and often faces the same challenges together.

“Trust your team,” Bergschneider advises. “They are the only people who know what you’re going through. They will be great! So great that you are tempted to compare yourself to them, but don’t let comparison kill your joy. Focus on being there for each other and become a family.”

Finally, Bergschneider leaves the next president with a challenge that reflects the organization’s roots in honest work and open conversation.

“The right thing is rarely unanimous,” he says. “Do not shy away from asking tough questions and engaging in discussion. A group without constructive conflict is a group that doesn’t care enough to wade in, challenge each other, and find the right decision. Conflict means you care.”

From his early days as an Illinois farm kid to his year representing more than a million members, Thad’s leadership has been defined by quiet conviction, the kind that lives in long drives between events, small-town classrooms, and the early mornings when the sun breaks across the fields.

For the next National FFA president, that same sunrise will mean something new: another chance to learn boldly, lead humbly, and help others find their light.

Heidi Crnkovic, is the Associate Editor for AGDAILY. She is a New Mexico native with deep-seated roots in the Southwest and a passion for all things agriculture.