Wisconsin’s Cortney Zimmerman Is Serving FFA on a National Scale

Each year during the National FFA Convention and Expo, six students receive the distinct honor of being elected to represent the organization as national officers. In 2022, one of Wisconsin’s own competed alongside 36 other FFA members from across the nation and was one of the coveted names called to serve 735,038 FFA members across the nation.

“When they announced my name, I swear I didn’t even hear them announce it,” says Cortney Zimmerman National FFA Central Region vice president. “I heard Wisconsin and then ran.”

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The Spencer native has deep ties to the FFA organization through both of her parents. Her dad was the Spencer School District agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor for 33 years. Her mom was also an ag teacher before becoming the state FFA executive director and now also serves as the National FFA Advisor.

“It’s pretty hard to describe my life without FFA because it’s been in my blood literally forever,” Zimmerman says.

Zimmerman was elected by a nine-student member nominating committee after a grueling interview process to serve as the 2021-2022 National FFA Central Region vice president. In fact, she was the first name to be called during that exciting final session.

“There was never a doubt in my mind that I couldn’t do it, but there was always that fear that I think every other candidate here can do it too, so why me?” Zimmerman says.

Zimmerman went through a long, strenuous interview process before that election. National officer candidates arrive at the convention a few days before any other attendees and they jump right in for a personal interview, one-on-one interviews and a stand-and-deliver round. Then the top 50% of the candidates nationwide and the top 50% from each of the four regions move on. This year 22 members advanced. The process doesn’t stop there though. Zimmerman then went through a round-robin interview where she met with agriculture industry leaders, a facilitation round where she hosted a workshop with students and then a final personal interview.

“It definitely is a long process, but it truly is one of the most rewarding experiences,” Zimmerman says. “The people you run with and meet along the way are what make it truly special.”

Along with her five other teammates, whom she says have become like a second family, Zimmerman travels across the country to present keynote addresses, host workshops, meet with national FFA sponsors and donors and, most importantly, make connections with members in different parts of the country.

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“We get the chance to go out and interact with students and learn more about who they are, and that’s what I absolutely love,” Zimmerman says.

The national officer team also plays a part in planning the next national convention by helping prepare sessions.

“As soon as the gavel drops on the national convention stage, I think everyone takes a deep breath and then they dive right back into it for the next year,” Zimmerman says.

This year’s National FFA Convention and Expo takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana, Oct. 26-29. 

As she rounds out her year of service and overall time in FFA, Zimmerman invites all young people to “be bold, step out of your comfort zone and learn how we’re united through FFA because all of us may come from different backgrounds, but at the end of the day, we’re all united in the blue jacket.”