Haxtun's Brock Miller selected for State FFA Office

Haxtun's Brock Miller was recently selected to serve on the 2024-25 Colorado FFA State Officer team. Miller was elected to serve as an Executive Committee member at the final session of the 96th annual Colorado State FFA Convention at CSU Pueblo on June 6.

Miller is a 2024 graduate of Haxtun High School. Since his election to the State Officer Team, Miller has attended Colorado Career and Technical Student Organization trainings in Denver which begins his year-long state officer adventure. He will continue with training sessions throughout the summer and in July will move into the VIDA building at the Colorado State University Spur campus in the yards at the National Western Stock Show complex.

To run for an FFA State Office, Miller said he first had to complete a basic application. To qualify for an office, a candidate must hold a State FFA Degree or be in the works of applying for one in the same year. Miller received his State Degree his junior year.

After submitting his application, Miller attended mock interview events at CSU in Fort Collins and at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. One of those Mock interviews was facilitated by former Haxtun FFA Colorado State Officer Brooklyn Plumb, who two years ago served as the State Vice President.

At the 2024 State Convention, Miller took a written test and began one-on-one interviews with the nominating committee. The nominating committee is made up of current FFA members who are led by several State officials in choosing the Officer slate for the coming year. Braden Plumb, Haxtun incoming senior, served on this year's nominating committee as did Holyoke's Lucy Mares. The year before, Miller served on the nominating committee who selected the 2023-24 officer team.

Days two and three of the State Convention consisted of business and industry interviews for Miller. He said he had to deliver a five minute speech to business and industry professionals and field questions at the end. He also completed a round of interviews with the nominating committee.

Throughout the week, Miller assisted with competition events and other behind the scene events.

"The most difficult round was the stand and deliver round," Miller said, referring to delivering a speech to agriculture and business industry leaders. "We didn't know what our topic was until right before. That's where my experience in extemporaneous speaking helped."

At the final session of the State Convention, 10 of the 25 candidates running for a state office were announced and installed to serve Colorado FFA. The current State Officer slate includes President Windsor Leighty, McClave; Vice President Sheldon Collin, Montrose; Secretary KaCee Saffer, Flagler; Treasurer Aidan Datteri, Greeley; Reporter Natalie Wright, Bayfield; Sentinel Jacob Brooks, Florence; Executive Committee Member Westen Burkhar, Sargent; Executive Committee Member Brock Miller, Haxtun; and Executive Committee Member Aunica Naranjo, Cortez.

As an Executive Committee Member, Miller said his duties will include a little bit of everything from assisting other state officers, promoting agriculture and FFA in the State of Colorado and helping where needed.

In early July, Miller will move to the CSU Spur campus where the entire FFA State Officer team will live and work throughout their year-long term. CSU will cover the cost of living while officers work as guides at the Spur campus. This year's State FFA Advisor is Shannon Baylie, who is in her first year in the role. Baylie, who graduated from Weld Central, served as a State Officer herself before attending college and later serving as FFA Advisor at Brush and more recently in Windsor.

Long time State FFA Advisor Kenton Ochsner retired at this year's Convention after 20 years of service to the FFA organization.

In the 25 years Jeff Plumb has served as Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor in Haxtun, Miller is the fourth State Officer to represent the local chapter. Before him, Brook Plumb, Amy Kanode and Brittney Fetzer served as Colorado State Officers. Others in Haxtun history include Troy Whitmore, Steve Hofmeister and Greg Bamford, who went on to serve at the National level.

"I am looking forward to living with the officer team," said Miller. "With a new advisor, I think this team will be hungry to do big things."

After serving the Colorado FFA, Miller plans to return to NJC in Sterling where he will compete on the livestock judging team. He plans to major in ag business and animal sciences for a double major.

Also at the convention

While at the 96th annual Colorado FFA Convention, Haxtun FFA members Braden Plumb, Austin Hanes and Mallory Hanes received State FFA Degrees.

The State FFA Degree is given to members in the 11th grade or higher who are involved in chapter leadership, State–level activities and community service and who complete a set number of hours of instruction and SAE growth and productivity.