From left to right are State Bank of Toulon President Doug Parrott, Illinois FFA State Reporter Sydney Stiers, and chapter presidents Kalleigh Gale, Kewanee; Camron O’Brien, Galva; Megan Oliver, Wethersfield; and Chelsey Stotler, Stark County. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

The Illinois FFA’s 2024-25 state reporter shared the journey and how the ups and downs of involvement in the organization helped her to grow from a shy, quiet child to a confident human being.

Sydney Stiers, a 2024 graduate of Williamsfield High School, was elected to the office at the state convention last June in Springfield. As is customary, all state officers take a “gap year” between high school and their future plans to travel the state individually and as a team speaking, organizing events and attending local chapter activities.

Stiers was the featured speaker at the State Bank of Toulon’s Annual FFA Appreciation Breakfast held Friday at Black Hawk College-East Campus, in rural Galva.

Alec Gustafson and Josh Gravitt, of the Galva FFA “load up” at the breakfast buffet served by Uncle Nolan’s of Galva at the State Bank of Toulon’s Annual FFA Appreciation Breakfast held at Black Hawk East. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

Each year during FFA Week in February the bank invites members and advisors from the four chapters in the primary communities it serves – Stark County, Galva and Kewanee – bringing together blue-jacketed FFA members from Stark County, Galva, Kewanee and Wethersfield high schools for the sunrise gathering.

Stiers grew up on the family farm in Knox County where early on her life revolved around 4-H, sports and chores. Spending time with her grandfather and mother, both members in their younger days, exposed her to different aspects of agriculture and FFA.

She remembers going with her mother to FFA banquets and seeing all the blue and gold jackets and awards being presented. In the fifth grade a spark was lit in an intro to agriculture class which ignited her interest in agriculture beyond doing chores.

Wethersfield FFA officers, from the left, McKenna With, Addie Looney, and Megan Oliver get ready to enjoy breakfast with Sydney Stiers, Illinois FFA state reporter from Williamsfield. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

Through junior high and high school she continued to become more involved in FFA, eventually becoming Section 4 president her senior year. Along the way her shyness melted away and prepared and extemporaneous public speaking became her forte. No longer quiet and shy, Stiers said “Now I like to speak on the fly.”

She encouraged her fellow FFA members to try any of the many different opportunities and challenges offered and learn from your experiences.

“You walk away from every experience learning so much about yourself,” she said.

Looking back, she learned by being nudged into something.

“We need one more for the team, or why don’t you try that,” she was told, which led her to experience things she liked as well as things she didn’t like, but learned from the experience. “Try different things, even if you don’t think you’ll like it. You might be surprised. Experience equals growth.”

She said her year as a state officer will culminate at the 2025 state convention when a new slate will be elected. In the meantime, she and her fellow officers have already begun planning the convention and making chapter visits and attending local chapter banquets.

Her official duties as state reporter include maintaining the Illinois FFA’s social media presence and heading up the ag literacy committee which is involved in educating the public about agriculture and how it benefits everyone.

One of the best takeaways from her involvement in FFA at all levels, she said, has been the people she has met and friendships and connections she has made along the way.

This fall she will attend Iowa State University to study agronomy and horticulture and hopes to return close to home and work as an agronomist at a local co-operative.