The Langford Area School District celebrated National FFA Week last week with a full slate of activities designed to highlight agricultural education, leadership and community service.
Students participated in themed dress-up days throughout the week. Langford Area FFA members also completed a service project making lap blankets for nursing home residents in Britton, Bristol and Roslyn.
Throughout the week, the chapter also recognized local farmers and ranchers who have helped the chapter and community grow, including Ogren Angus, County Line Seed, Horter Farms, Freyview, Dwight Farms, and Cole Brothers.
The highlight of the week came Friday as nationally recognized speaker Dr. Byron Ernest addressed the entire student body. Ernest, who works closely with the National FFA Organization, also held a special leadership session for FFA officers from Langford, Groton and Waubay, along with nominated high school and middle school students.
Ernest, a former 29-year FFA advisor and recipient of the 2024 Impact Leadership Global Award, is known for his work in leadership development and for coining the term “leadery” — the act of practicing great leadership.
He began his morning with fifth through seventh graders, immediately engaging them with an interactive activity. Handing out Play-Doh, Ernest challenged students to create something that represented them as a leader. Ernest shaped his own blue ribbon. “My job is to make winners out of you today,” he said.
Students eagerly shared their creations and what they symbolized. One girl molded a volleyball, explaining she is a “leader on the court.” Another spelled out the word “kind,” adding, “We should be kind.” A band student crafted a saxophone, saying, “I’m a leader in my section when the band plays.” Others made a basketball “because I love it” and a combine because “I’m super good at it and it’s fun.”
Through the activity, Ernest emphasized that leadership comes in many forms.
He encouraged them to recognize that everyone is a leader, whether in positive or negative ways. “Be yourself. You don’t have to be the same as others,” he said, stressing that leadership begins with leading oneself. By doing so, he explained, students develop responsibility, vision, priorities and strengths, while setting goals and contributing to those around them.
Langford Area FFA Member and District President Regan Bruns said bringing Ernest to Langford had been in the works since officers saw him speak two years ago at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.
“We found him great,” Bruns said. “We wanted to try something a little different besides the Ag Olympics, and we thought of bringing Byron to Langford. We knew he would be an engaging speaker.”
FFA advisor AnnaMarie Sachs said she has worked with Ernest over the years through training sessions and has long been impressed with his ability to connect with students.
“He can unlock the secret leadership in students that they might not realize is there,” Sachs said. “That’s important because we live in a small community and our kids need to be leaders. He can give them skills they can take home and make use of long after today.”
Between sessions, Ernest also spoke about the value of FFA nationwide. After speaking across the country to a variety of groups, he said he often encounters leaders in major companies who were once FFA members. “You can see FFA’s influence in many of those big companies,” he said. “It helps make leaders.”
As National FFA Week concluded, the Langford Area chapter now turns its attention to a busy season of Career Development Events across the region, with the state convention scheduled for early April.
