MANHATTAN, Kan. – A member of the Chapman FFA Chapter is among the 14 candidates running for a state officer position to represent more than 9,000 Kansas FFA members for the 2017-2018 term. Megan Nelson will complete an intense process of interviews, tests and public speaking demonstrations this week as part of the 89th 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 2, the committee will submit its nomination of 10 candidates to the state convention delegates, which consists of two members from each of the 186 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 2017-2018 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.

Nelson has served as the Chapter President, as well as competed in the state Nursery and Landscape CDE. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE) consists of teaching elementary school students about agriculture. She plans to attend Kansas State University and major in agriculture education.

 Megan is the daughter of Rick and Kimberly Roberts and Brad and Kelly Nelson . Her advisors are Johanna Ryckert and Alex Jost.

Visit kansasffaconvention.wordpress.com for the full convention schedule, award winners and live video stream of sessions will begin Wednesday, May 31. 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 9,076 agricultural education students in 186 chapters in every corner of Kansas. It is part of the National FFA Organization, a national youth organization of 649,355 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture with 7,859 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.