Klotz, Oxford are state FFA officers

Saturday, February 19, 2011

TRAFALGAR -- Two young women from Putnam County are currently serving as state officers FFA officers.

Megan Klotz is the state FFA secretary, while Janna Oxford is the state FFA treasurer. They were elected in June 2010, and will serve through this coming June's State FFA Convention.

Indiana State FFA officers are required to take a year off from their educations. During their terms, they live at the State Leadership Center in Trafalgar.

Klotz, 19, is the daughter of Michael and Lisa Klotz. The 2010 South Putnam High School valedictorian was an active member of the South Putnam FFA chapter of four years.

Klotz is a Lilly Scholarship recipient. She plans to study psychology or agricultural economics at Purdue University in the fall.

Oxford, 19, is the daughter of Kevin and Denise Oxford and has been an FFA member for 8 years. She graduated from Cloverdale High School in 2009.

Oxford has completed her freshman year at Purdue, where she is majoring in agricultural education and minoring in crop science. She will return to Purdue in the fall for her sophomore year.

"FFA teaches you to take who you are and make yourself the greatest you can be," Klotz said. "The FFA teaches us all to not dwell on weaknesses, but to build upon our strengths."

Oxford has learned a lot about determination as a result of her involvement with FFA.

"FFA gas taught me to never give up," she said. "Strive for the best, because 'good' is never enough. Let your passion shine through, because you never know where it will take you. In order to get what you want, you have to chase your dreams."

A valuable life lesson Klotz has taken from FFA is to set realistic goals.

"We don't try and change the world; that's inefficient," she said. "We constantly try to make it better by living our mission statement: To make a positive difference in the lives of FFA members by promoting premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Oxford said she has gleaned many skills from FFA.

"Every single skill or characteristic I have, FFA had played a part in helping to develop them," she said. "Whether it is public speaking, giving a demonstration, meeting new friends, overcoming a fear, work ethic, sharing my passion or just striking up a conversation, they will always be used."

Klotz called serving as a state FFA officer "an extreme honor and privilege."

"During my year of service, I have been asked why I would choose to give up a year of my life to serve the FFA," she said. "I tell those people that I have gained a year of life."

Oxford described her election to state FFA office "a blessing."

"I ran the year before and was not elected as a state officer," she said. "I decided that I was not ready to give up my blue jacket and was determined to run again. It is something you have to experience, and is truly the opportunity of a lifetime and one of my dreams."

Some things Klotz, Oxford and their fellow state officers have done since their elections include spending over a month setting up, working and tearing down at the Indiana FFA Pavilion at the Indiana State Fair; hosting and facilitating leadership conferences for FFA members; visiting businesses and industries that support the FFA; visiting state FFA chapters; attending FFA kick-off and district conventions; attending agriculture-related forums; attending the National FFA Convention as delegates for Indiana; giving speeches at chapter banquets; traveling to Illinois for training; attending FFA Foundation Board meetings; attending and conducting Indiana FFA Executive Committee meetings and attending farm shows and awards programs.

They also write articles for the Indiana FFA Magazine and weekly blogs.

Other state FFA officers include Micah Matlock of Knightstown, Kelly Blackburn of Angola, Morgan Gadd of Fishers, Morgan Dawson of Scottsburg and Nellie Bell of Hagerstown.

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