By Abbie O’Steen
Jack Lingenfelter, a life-long native of Coffee County and 2023 graduate of Coffee High School, was recently named as a national officer for the Future Farmers of America Organization at the annual National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. Lingenfelter is the first person from Coffee County to be chosen for this prestigious position.
Each year the FFA selects a team of six officers to represent the national organization. Each state can only elect one person to represent their state as they go through the vigorous interview process in hopes of being selected as a national officer by the nominating committee. Lingenfelter represented Georgia and was named as the 2024-2025 South Region Vice President. Lingenfelter is a student at the University of Georgia majoring in Agribusiness but will take a year off from college as he will travel the country for an entire year as the face of FFA.
Lingenfelter explains in his own words how he became the person he is and the people and values they instilled that came to make him an exceptional person and leader:
“Growing up in South Georgia, I came to appreciate my small town. I grew up in a family of five. My parents, Nathan and Kellie, have been my biggest supporters and advocates. My brothers, Ben and Evan, are my best friends. My family has always made me feel loved. Without them, I wouldn’t go very far in life at all. I was raised in church at First Baptist Church of Douglas Georgia. It was there my youth pastor, Jonathan McDuffie, discipled me and helped me understand what it meant to follow Jesus truly. I signed up for an agriculture education class in the 6th grade, and it was there that I joined the most influential and life-changing organization I’ve ever been a part of, FFA. My senior year of high school, I served as a Georgia FFA State Officer, where I learned that my purpose in life was to serve others. After graduating from Coffee High School, I started attending the University of Georgia majoring in Agribusiness. I am extremely passionate about agriculture, and the hardworking men and women who grow the food that feeds the world. While I didn’t grow up in production agriculture, I grew up in traditional agriculture, because it was tradition in my family. My grandfather was a farmer, so I remember learning at an early age the importance of agriculture.”
Lingenfelter further explains his journey on how he got into this covetous position, and who pushed him to be able to have his dreams realized. Lingenfelter describes his path to the national stage by saying:
“In one word, community. Throughout my journey in FFA and life, I have seriously doubted myself. At every level, there has always been a voice in my head that tells me I am not good enough. I fell into this trap when deciding whether to run for national office. In the process of running for national office, each state can only nominate one person to be their candidate. In June of this year, I had to compete in a runoff to be nominated to run. The truth is, I almost didn’t run. The task of serving as a national FFA officer was overwhelming to me at the time. I didn’t think I had enough talent or skill to even be considered. It was at that time that I consulted one of my greatest mentors, Mr. Andy Paul. Mr. Paul used to work with Georgia FFA state officers and has helped me grow personally and professionally. More than anything, Mr. Paul taught me how to have faith in God’s greater plan. When I told Mr. Paul that I was completely doubting my own ability to run for this position, he gently reminded me that the national FFA office wasn’t ultimately about me, but rather it is about the middle and high school students that I would be able to serve and impact. It is about being a kid’s champion and encouraging them to believe in themselves. On that day, Mr. Paul helped me believe in myself. He showed me that selflessness wasn’t thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. Without my community of friends, family and mentors like Mr. Paul, I would not be here today.”
Most people have a very general idea of FFA or were merely involved with FFA in some aspect during their middle and high school careers. However, the blood, sweat, and tears needed to be elected to a state position, let alone a national position, is commendable to say the least. These admirable students seeking these positions must make FFA their world while also balancing normal responsibilities that every student has. To be able to better understand the time commitment and huge responsibility that Lingenfelter and his counterparts have taken on, he explains to us what a national officer does. In his own words, Lingenfelter explains:
“National FFA officers are away from home about 330 days out of the year. They travel over 100,000 miles and serve as the student voice for the national FFA organization. Throughout the year, officers travel to about 30 different states, where they deliver keynote addresses, facilitate leadership workshops, and connect with stakeholders in the agriculture industry. National Officers are tasked with building relationships with the organization’s corporate sponsors and representing students to those sponsors throughout the year. I am most excited to serve students. As someone who has struggled to believe in themselves, I want to be the voice of encouragement and support for students across the country. The National FFA Organization is home to over 1 million members, I can’t wait to help make this organization a place where they can belong.”
After earning and coming into this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it is no secret that Lingenfelter is destined for a life of great success. Lingenfelter has dedicated much of his short life to agriculture, however he does not want this work to stop once he has completed his FFA adventure. When asked how this opportunity has changed or reaffirmed his future career choice, Lingenfelter explains this opportunity has affirmed his plans to continue working in and around the agriculture industry as his goal for the future. To quote Lingenfelter directly, he says:
“This opportunity has affirmed my desire to continue to work in the agriculture industry and serve farmers in some capacity for the rest of my life. Agriculture is a thriving industry that we depend on, and it’s also a community of people dedicated to feeding, fueling and clothing our world. Taking it a step further, agriculture is a way of life. In our community, there is no doubt that agriculture is our foundation. I am majoring in agribusiness right now at UGA, so I hope to continue on this path and use my degree to work in the agriculture industry someday. I also am passionate about ag policy. I could also see myself advocating for farmers in Atlanta or Washington.”
The Coffee County and Douglas community could not be more thrilled to be represented by such an accomplished and humble young man. Jack has been active with our community for many years and has not only left an indelible mark on his hometown but now the nation, too.