FFA Creed led Schliep to chapter presidency

By LAURA COLE

The Land Staff Writer

Leah (Schliep) Addington first got involved in FFA when her dad recommended she try an ag class her freshman year. She was just one of three girls in the class.

The first activity was to learn the FFA creed, which is five paragraphs long. Students could receive extra credit if they recited the creed in front of the class, and Addington took on the challenge. She was selected Creed speaker for her Zumbrota-Mazeppa chapter. “We participated in a national invitational Creed speaking event which allowed me to attend the national FFA convention,” Addington said. She stated she still remembers the “stars in your eyes” feeling as a ninth grader at her first convention.

Addington served as her chapter’s secretary, vice president, and president, and also served as her region’s secretary and president. When running for state office, she recalled feeling that “any role would be well-taken.”

Named president, Addington enjoyed the sense of adventure involved in traveling the state to different events such as chapter banquets, the State Greenhand Leadership Conference, and B, I, and E tours (Business, Industry and Education). Of the tours, Addington said, “It was a highlight to be visiting schools in a part of the state that was different than where I grew up. We saw sugar beets, wheat fields, and edible bean fields. I had not previously seen this type of crop production.”

She states the officers in 1997-98 had a variety of personalities, noting Natasha “brought the fun,” Jill was “very warm and welcoming,” and John, Noah, and Pete were all very intelligent, driven, and brought a level of professionalism to the table.

Addington recognized her ag teacher, Mr. Yusten, as someone she aspired to be. She appreciated that he presented opportunities which took students out of their comfort zone, but encouraged them to know they were capable.

After high school, Addington attended the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. In college she was involved in Dairy Club, Agriculture Education Society, internships, and was also a tour guide — noting she “was always looking for ways to grow as a person.” After receiving her degree in ag education, she went on to receive her master’s degree in ag education from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities.

Addington has held a variety of positions within the ag industry: teaching as an ag teacher and FFA advisor for four years, serving as the FFA Leadership Development Coordinator for eight years, and working for Pioneer Seed for nine years. Since this past July, she has been employed as a sales rep for Elanco Animal Health.

Addington lives in Cannon Falls, Minn. with her husband, Matt, and three children: Cameron (15), Emerson (14), and Keaton (11). Both Cameron and Emerson are involved with the Randolph FFA chapter, where Addington previously served as an assistant advisor. “It’s a family thing for us,” Addington said.

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