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Franco Abud,
State Vice President
franco@supportvaffa.org
SAE(s):
I work as a playtime technician at a local dog boarding facility called Calypso Kennels. This paid placement SAE is as fun as it sounds; I get to play with dogs outside! As a suburban FFA member with no agricultural background, this job helped me find my place in the agricultural industry, even if it looked a little different from the traditional path. This SAE quickly opened the door for me to intern at a vet hospital, where I learned that veterinary medicine wasn’t the right path for me. This positively redirected me to further engage in agriscience research surrounding the public perception of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Favorite CDE/LDE:
I found my flock in FFA through various public speaking Leadership Development Events. I started with the Creed as a freshman and came in a whopping last place! After that, I competed in Prepared Public Speaking for two years and eventually made it to nationals. I explored topics relating to GMOs and the decline of veterinarians in Virginia. Even though it took me a long time to place well for the majority of my time in FFA, I found an amazing community talking to new friends from across the state in waiting rooms. These amazing individuals are what truly inspired me to persevere in growing as a public speaker.
Favorite FFA Memory:
My favorite FFA memory was my senior year banquet. Seeing over 100 people come together to celebrate what had started as a small 15-person event during my freshman year was truly incredible. Even though Courtland FFA is a 100% suburban chapter, it showed that with the right people and a lot of heart, you really can grow something special. What made it even more meaningful was getting to deliver my retiring address. Standing in front of my chapter, I felt proud because they were the ones who helped me become confident enough to share my story.
Future Plans:
I am excited to continue my educational journey as a Questbridge Match to Cornell University. Questbridge is a unique college application and scholarship program that supports low-income, first-generation students. At Cornell, I am majoring in Agricultural Sciences, with a pathway in either education or policy. The game plan is to find a career that is able to increase the prevalence of suburban and urban agriculture education across Virginia.
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