Just a couple of weeks removed from the National FFA Convention, the moment of becoming the National FFA President still hasn’t entirely sunk in for Thaddeus Bergschneider of Illinois.
“I still can’t believe that a curly-haired freshman in high school who struggled to imagine himself on a big stage is now standing here,” he said, reminiscing the journey that brought him to the moment he was called on stage in his dad’s old FFA jacket.
Students from Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, California, Georgia, and Wisconsin were elected by National FFA Delegates to serve as 2024-25 National FFA Officers. They were selected for their subsequent year-long positions from 37 candidates, with Bergschneider, 19, becoming the first Illinois student to lead the national organization in three decades.
“This wasn’t just my moment; it was for my family, my teammates, and everyone who supported me,” he said.
Bergschneider, who had been a member of the Franklin FFA Chapter and previously served as Illinois State FFA President, credits his large family and agricultural upbringing for shaping his leadership style. Growing up as one of seven siblings, collaboration and teamwork were second nature.