For most high school and college students, graduation marks the beginning of a career. For a select handful of members of the National FFA Organization, it can also mark the beginning of a year spent traveling the country — and sometimes the world — as the public face of one of America’s largest youth leadership organizations.
Indiana has now named its candidate for that opportunity.
The Indiana FFA Association announced that Jenna Lawler, the organization’s 2025-2026 state reporter and a member of the Rushville FFA Chapter, will represent the state in the rigorous selection process for the 2026-2027 National FFA Officer Team during the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo this fall in Indianapolis.
Only one candidate may be nominated by each state each year, making the designation one of the highest honors available within FFA. Ultimately, just six students from across the United States will be chosen to serve as national officers, representing nearly one million FFA members during a year of intensive travel, leadership development and public engagement.
If selected, Lawler would spend a year serving as an ambassador for agricultural education, conducting leadership workshops, delivering keynote addresses, meeting with industry and government leaders, and representing student members before the National FFA Board of Directors. National officers also advocate for agricultural education and youth leadership at local, state, national and international events.
The path to those six positions is intentionally demanding.
Candidates undergo a weeklong selection process designed to mirror the demands of national office. Beginning in mid-October, applicants participate in multiple rounds of interviews, media exercises, facilitation demonstrations, issue discussions, presentations and leadership evaluations before a nine-member student nominating committee that independently selects the national officer team.
The process culminates during the National FFA Convention, where delegates vote to ratify the committee’s recommendations.
Lawler brings an extensive résumé of leadership and agricultural advocacy to the competition.
Raised in Center Township near Rushville, she is the daughter of Nancy Starke and Brad Lawler. She graduated from Rushville Consolidated High School in 2025 and has just finished one year of service as Reporter for the Indiana FFA State Officer team for 2025-26. She plans to attend Purdue University to study food science with a concentration in agricultural policy.
Her supervised agricultural experience includes diversified livestock production, agricultural education and integrated agriscience research. She has also competed in extemporaneous speaking, agriscience fair and parliamentary procedure — experiences she credits with strengthening her communication skills and passion for public service.
Lawler says she joined FFA as a freshman after stepping away from competitive athletics, following encouragement from family members who believed she would find a sense of belonging in the organization.
Instead, she discovered a renewed connection to agriculture.
Through agriscience research, public speaking competitions and teaching middle school students about agriculture, Lawler says she developed a passion for advocacy and helping others build confidence.
“Connection is the currency of purpose,” Lawler said in her state officer biography. “Wherever we invest it, something meaningful grows. I intend to invest my time, effort and energy into the members of Indiana FFA so that meaningful relationships sprout and prosper.”
She also describes inspiring others as central to her leadership philosophy.
“Real passion is not just doing what you love — it’s drawing others in to love it with you,” she said. “I hope to share my love of FFA with members in order to help them find the same type of passion and love for the FFA organization and the people in it.”
Indiana FFA leaders praised Lawler’s selection, saying they expect her to represent the state, its agricultural community and its members with distinction throughout the national selection process.
The newly elected National FFA Officer Team will be announced during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in late October, concluding a months-long process that begins with state nominations and culminates in one of the organization’s most competitive leadership selections.
