VIENNA — The president of the Vienna FFA Chapter has succeeded in becoming one of 16 students chosen to lead Missouri’s FFA organization. Hannah Shanks, 18, is the first FFA member from Maries R-1, Vienna, to become a State FFA Officer.

Shanks and her FFA Advisor, Sara Schwartze, traveled to Sedalia to the fairgrounds on April 8 and 9 where she put herself forward as a state officer.

The event began with a personal interview where she was asked 50 questions to determine her knowledge about agricultural facts. There was a writing exercise as she was asked to write a newspaper column for a FFA Week insert. Next she was asked to stand and deliver a speech. She was given the topic of importance of youth organizations. She had 10 minutes to prepare the speech, which she gave to the nominating committee. Shanks said it was nerve wracking. They had dinner as a group.

The next day she was with a group of three to four people who planned out two videos on premier leadership, personal growth and career success. The group presented the outline of their plan for the videos and answered questions from the committee members. There was a second personal interview with 13 to 15 people. Then she waited for results and was happy to be one of the chosen. 

Shanks said she is “super excited to serve FFA and bring this opportunity to Vienna.” Being an FFA member and an officer has given Shanks “opportunities for leadership.” She says FFA is all a learning experience. The opportunity to be a state officer is a big one. 

Shanks said since she was a freshman she knew she wanted to run for a state office and found the selection process to be a great experience. 

She will find out which officer she will be at the state convention in late April. Until then, she keeps working with the rest of her Vienna FFA Chapter members. They are taking plants to G&W to sell and keeping the stock supplied. Also the group is getting ready for the state convention. The Vienna FFA Chapter has about 100 members. 

Shanks is the youngest child of Mark and Karen Shanks of Vienna, and she follows her father in being a member of the local FFA Chapter. Her siblings are Justin and Emily. 

After graduating from Vienna High School, Shanks plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia and pursue a double major of agribusiness management and animal science.