State Officers

NC FFA State Officers

Each year the North Carolina FFA Association selects six student members to represent the association as a State FFA Officer. Throughout the year, this group has a variety of responsibilities. They are elected officials expected to represent the student membership during the board of director meetings. They are teachers of leadership and teamwork to regional FFA officers and chapter members.  They are motivational speakers who will inspire members and non-members to heights they did not think they could achieve.  They are communicators and public relations specialists on behalf of the North Carolina FFA Association building positive relationships across the state and across our nation. They are teammates to the other five state FFA officers and to the staff of the North Carolina FFA Association. They are learners, eager to absorb and grow to the fullest extent possible to fulfill their responsibilities.
Past State Officers
Regional Officers
State Officer Candidates
Madeline Chandler

Madeline Chandler
State FFA President

919-515-4206     ncffa.mchandler@gmail.com

Hometown: Roper
Chapter: Bear Grass Charter FFA
SAE: Beef Production and Veterinary Science
Previous Officer Positions: Bear Grass Charter Secretary 2021-2022 and President 2022-2023; Tar-Roanoke Federation Secretary 2021-2022; Northeast Region President 2022-2023
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Year: Freshman 
Major: History
Career Goal: To work in a collaborative setting with the ability to make an impact on others’ lives.
 

Madeline joined her school’s FFA chapter as a sophomore for the leadership and resume growth opportunities, but she became committed to the organization because of the incredible people involved in the agriculture industry. Her advisor’s enthusiasm and encouragement hooked her from the start and led her to apply for her first officer position. Since then, she has held multiple leadership positions across all levels of FFA and competed in Agricultural Issues Forum, Livestock Judging, and Extemporaneous Public Speaking, her personal favorite. FFA has taken Madeline on a journey of remarkable personal and professional growth as she has learned how to advocate for NC’s #1 industry, lead with compassion and confidence, and value the lives and stories of those around her. Madeline will earn a degree in history from UNC-CH and continue to share the importance of agriculture and FFA and the impact it’s had on her life.

 

Hailey Eason

Hailey Eason
State FFA Vice President

919-515-4206     ncffa.heason@gmail.com

Hometown: Tarboro, NC
Chapter: North East Carolina Prep
SAE: Agricultural Education Placement
Previous Officer Positions: NECP Chapter Vice President 2020-2021, NECP Chapter Secretary 2021-2022, Tar-Roanoke Federation Vice President
College: North Carolina State University
Year: Sophomore
Major: Agricultural Education (Animal Science and Bio & Ag Engineering concentrations), Extension Education
Career Goal: Education, either informal through Extension (4-H or Livestock) or formally in the classroom

When Hailey's journey in FFA began, she had no idea what my future held. All she knew was that she had a passion for helping others grow themselves and a love for animal agriculture. When she joined her FFA chapter, she had no idea that the organization and people within it would have such a tremendous impact on her life. Despite her sophomore year of high school being interrupted by Covid-19, she was able to experience the joys of FFA and the world of agriculture through participation in leadership events such as State Leadership Conference and MEGA. In her five years with this amazing organization as well as participation in conferences, CDEs like poultry judging, and so much more, she learned that FFA is her family. She finally felt a feeling of belonging, and found her future career that she is incredibly passionate about. She made the decision to run for an officer position within her chapter because she wanted to make a difference in her community and the lives of other student members. The same is true for her decision to run for a position on the NC FFA officer team, and she hopes that through her year of service, she can touch the lives of each FFA member across the state.

Sydney Whichard

Sydney Whichard
State FFA Vice President

919-515-4206     ncffa.swhichard@gmail.com

Hometown: Kinston, NC
Chapter: North Lenoir
Previous Officer Positions: Woodington FFA Parliamentarian (2018-2019); North Lenoir FFA Reporter (2019-2022), Vice President (2020-2021), President (2021-2022), Student Advisor (2022-2023); Southeast FFA Vice President (2021-2022) and President (2022-2023)
SAE: Nursery Operations- Work at a retail garden center
College: North Carolina State University
Year: Freshman
Major: Agricultural Education
Career Goal: Agriculture Educator & FFA Advisor

Sydney Whichard is from Kinston, North Carolina, and a recent graduate from the North Lenoir FFA Chapter. She began her FFA journey in 2017 at Woodington Middle School and served as an officer for the North Lenoir FFA chapter throughout high school. Sydney represented the Southeast FFA region for two years, recently retiring as regional president. She has competed in several Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events. This past year she placed first in the state for the Agriculture Education CDE. Over the past few years, she has put many hours into her Placement Nursery Operations Supervised Agricultural Experience, where she worked at Ivey’s Home and Garden. She handles several business areas, including maintaining inventory, repotting and propagating, creating purchase orders, social media marketing, and working closely with customers. This fall, Sydney will pursue her passion as a student in Agriculture Education at North Carolina State University with her hopes of becoming an agriculture teacher in the future.
 

Jaiden Strickland

Jaiden Strickland
State FFA Vice President

919-515-4206     ncffa.jstrickland@gmail.com

Hometown: Cerro Gordo, NC
Chapter: West Columbus
SAE: Nursery Operations- I own and operate a small greenhouse in my backyard.
Previous Offices Held: West Columbus- Vice President (2021-2023) Three Rivers Federation- President (2021-2023) South Central Region- Treasurer (2022-2023)
College: North Carolina State University
Major: Agricultural Education
Career Goals: I hope to teach, whether it be middle school or high school. My goal is to teach young minds and get them excited about agriculture.

Jaiden Strickland has been an avid FFA member since she joined the FFA in 2019. She has participated in many CDE’s including prepared public speaking, parliamentary procedure, forestry, vet science, livestock, land judging, marketing plan, farm business management, ag mechanics, and more. She has also been an officer at the chapter, federation and regional level. With the help of her 2022-2023 federation officer team she helped to start the annual Three Rivers Federation Leadership Conference. She enjoys spending time at her school, either in the barn or the greenhouse. When not doing FFA activities she loves spending time with family and friends and hanging out at the beach. Most of all Jaiden is excited to serve the North Carolina FFA Association this year.
 

Bryan Diaz

Bryan Diaz
State FFA Vice President

919-515-4206     ncffa.bdiaz@gmail.com

Hometown: Seven Springs
Chapter: Spring Creek FFA
SAE: Paid Construction Placement
Previous Officer Positions: Spring Creek FFA President 2022-2023, Southeast Region Sentinel 2022-2023, Tobacco Federation President 2021-2022
College: University of Mount Olive
Year: Freshman
Major: Agricultural Business Management
Career Goal: Agriculture Sales Marketer

 

Prior to entering high school Bryan wanted to prepare himself for a career outside of high school. However, he didn’t know where to start. Through exploring his school‘s clubs and organizations, he fell in love with The National FFA Organization. Although coming from a different background and speaking English as a second language provided its struggles, the development throughout FFA’s career and leadership development events allowed him to grow and that’s why this organization is dear to him. There is a cliche of what a certain FFA member looks like. However, this isn’t the case. Bryan Diaz has gone through this cliche and is now looking to promote what FFA really is about. FFA has allowed him to have a second family. Bryan Diaz is looking to attend the University of Mount Olive and major in agribusiness. After he attains his degree he has aspirations of becoming an Agricultural Sales Marketer.

 

Zelee Jackson

Zelee Jackson
State FFA Vice President

919-515-4206     ncffa.zjackson@gmail.com

Hometown: Mooresboro
Chapter: Crest
SAE: planning and teaching agriculture lessons to kindergarteners and 1st graders at my old elementary school.
Previous officer positions: Chapter chaplain, Vice President, and President;
College: North Carolina State University
Year: Freshman 
Major: Agricultural Education
Career Goal: As of right now, I plan to return to my hometown to teach agriculture in my county.

Zelee joined FFA in 8th grade and only enrolled in an ag class because she didn't know what else to take. She participated in CDE’s and continued to compete and grow. When Zelee stepped into room 362 on the CTE hall in Crest High School she knew that she had found her place, a home, and a family within FFA. She loves watching others find their place, home, and family in FFA as well. Between meeting some of her best friends and making connections across the nation she hasn't regretted a single moment since she has joined this amazing organization. She has been very involved with FFA throughout her high school years and she is so excited to continue her involvement as a state officer.