News
New Iowa FFA officer team elected
The new Iowa FFA State Officer team was elected at the conclusion of the 2026 state convention.
Nora Pickhinke of Ridge View FFA will serve as president, Erica Driscoll of Williamsburg FFA was elected state secretary, and Karlee Vander Hamm of West Sioux FFA is the new state reporter.
Scott Johnson, executive director of the Iowa FFA Association, tells Brownfield the initial work as a new state officer can be a lot to take in up front.
“We just want them to embrace that there is a process of how we try to do what we do to effectively deliver quality programming to our students and chapters throughout the state,” he said. “It might be a new learning curve for them, but we try not to overwhelm them and we’re trying to give them what they need when they need it.”
Additional members of the new Iowa FFA State Officer Team include:
- NC Vice President: Julia Mortvedt, Ames FFA
- SC Vice President: Gabe Gibson, Indianola FFA, Indianola
- NW Vice President: Grace Flannigan, Westwood FFA, Sloan
- NE Vice President: Andrew Pingenot, Vinton-Shellsburg FFA, Vinton
- SW Vice President: Lauren Comes, Atlantic FFA, Atlantic
- SE Vice President: Isaac Striegel, Keota FFA
The Iowa FFA Association says the state officer team will live out their year of service speaking with FFA members from across the state, presenting leadership camps and workshops, and traveling around Iowa and the United States. They will have the opportunity to take part in Iowa FFA Foundation activities, FFA District Leadership Programs, Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium, the National FFA Convention, and a wide variety of FFA Career Development Events. Their largest responsibility will be to coordinate and conduct the 99th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference for more than 7,000 FFA members, advisors, parents, and guests.
Do FFA members have to apply and be approved before they can become candidates?
[Approximately how many begin the process?
Does being a present or former district officer help when becoming a candidate?
Do you need to have the American FFA degree to be a state officer?