Anna Conrad has stood out consistently among Plant City students who participate in FFA, but her accomplishment this fall will top the rest. She will represent the state of Florida as a National Delegate for FFA’s annual conference.
Based on her family’s history, Conrad seemed destined to enter the world of agriculture. She grew up on a cattle ranch, raised by parents who had also excelled in FFA when they were younger.
“My family was really big into (FFA),” Conrad said. “I grew up going to the state convention, and I grew up watching the national convention on TV. My family has always done it — my mom, my dad, my uncle, my granddad. They didn’t force me to do it, but because I was so used to it, I joined.”
Conrad joined FFA when she was in sixth grade. Now, she is a junior in high school. She is home-schooled but takes agriculture courses at Plant City High School and is a member of the school’s FFA chapter.
One integral part of FFA participation is the Supervised Agriculture Experience. This requirement can be fulfilled in a number of ways, including research, entrepreneurship and internships.
Many students choose to build on the same SAE year after year. As a sixth-grader, Conrad began a long-term SAE in which she would raise her own cattle.
“It’s grown now, to where I used to have just one or two show heifers, but now I have 26 cattle in my own herd,” Conrad said.
Conrad has been recognized continually for her FFA achievements and leadership. As a sophomore, she earned the Florida FFA State Star Greenhand award, one of the most prestigious SAE awards. Conrad said this was one of her proudest moments.
Last year, Conrad served as vice president for the Hillsborough County FFA Federation. Now she is president of the federation for Florida District 9, which includes Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
As president, Conrad hopes to organize opportunities for FFA students such as a district conference and an educational field day. She also will plan and organize the annual district contest. The district contest always takes place in the president’s county, and this year it will be Jan. 20, at HCC Plant City’s John R. Trinkle Center.
“That’s probably the biggest responsibility you have — running the district contest,” Conrad said. “How smoothly that runs is a reflection of how smoothly you’re serving.”
As president of her district, Conrad was eligible this summer to submit an application to be chosen as a national delegate this year. The state association selected her, along with 12 other students, to represent Florida at this year’s national convention.
The national convention will be from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, in Louisville, Kentucky. Conrad will vote on national FFA decisions, as well as for the new team of national officers.
“My mom was a national delegate, and that’s what encouraged me to become (one),” Conrad said. “It’s a great way to meet new people from across America, and you get to build lifelong friendships there.”
Tiffany Parish, an agriculture educator and FFA adviser at PCHS, has known Anna for about four years.
“(Anna) is always willing to put forth a little extra effort to make whatever she is doing the best it can be, and is always putting the task at hand first, not her personal gain,” Parish said. “She is a wonderful and caring student that is a pleasure to have in class every day.”
The pleasure is mutual.
“I have smiled every time I went to class,” Conrad said. “FFA and ag at Plant City is just so fun.”
She also appreciates how family tradition extends past agriculture into education: Her parents and grandparents also went to PCHS.
Though she has plenty on her plate for now, Conrad already is planning a post-high school future in agriculture. She hopes to study animal genetics, agricultural communications and animal nutrition in college and graduate school.
Eventually, she wants to operate her own cattle ranch, or perhaps take over the family ranch — but she might have to negotiate with her little sister.
“She loves those cows; she’s determined she’s going to get it, and I’m not,” Conrad said, teasing. “We’ll see what happens.”
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.
