A member of the Royal Valley FFA Chapter is among the 18 candidates running for a state officer position to represent more than 9,000 Kansas FFA members for the 2016-2017 term. Janelle Marney will complete an intense process of interviews, tests and public speaking demonstrations next week as part of the 88th Kansas FFA State Convention on the Kansas State University campus.

An appointed nominating committee of former state officers and agricultural education instructors interviews the candidates. On Friday, June 3, the committee will submit its nomination of 10 candidates to the state convention delegates, which consists of two members from each of the 179 chapters in the state. After hearing the candidates present a final prepared speech, the delegates will elect the six members who will serve as the 2016-2017 state officer team. The new team will be announced and installed at the final session of the convention Friday afternoon.

The committee evaluates the candidates on their applications, a written test, writing exercises, and five rounds of interviews. These include one-on-one interviews, delivering a speech, facilitating a workshop, round-robin interviews and a personal interview round.

Once elected, the officers will travel across the state promoting agricultural science education and FFA.

A three-year FFA member, Meyer has served as Chapter Secretary and and the Public Relations Chair. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE) is in agriculture communications, for which she has written articles for the Jackson County Farm Bureau and the Holton Recorder. She plans to attend Kansas State University next fall and major in agriculture communications and pursue a career as an agricultural journalist in Kansas.

Janelle is the daughter of Lee and Angela Marney. Her advisor is Kim Mitchell.

Visit kansasffaconvention.wordpress.com for the full convention schedule, award winners and live video stream of sessions will begin Wednesday, June 1. Follow convention updates on Facebook at facebook.com/ksffa, on Instagram at @ksffa and on Twitter at @KansasFFA and hashtag #ksffa.

The Kansas FFA Association is a statewide organization of 9,059 agricultural education students in 179 chapters in every corner of Kansas. It is part of the National FFA Organization, a national youth organization of 629,367 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture with 7,757 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Our mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ksffa.org for more information.