From left to right: Sierra Hemond; Julia Deitrick; Jillian McLaughlin; Lane Carmichael; Hannah Shaw; Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Amanda Beal; Julia Pierce; Hayley Mane; and Mia Arcott.

This article was written by Jillian McLaughlin, Maine FFA State Reporter.

Nearly a year ago, on January 14, 2025, Governor Janet Mills signed a proclamation officially designating 2025 as the Maine Year of Youth in Agriculture. This action launched a series of statewide initiatives designed to engage and support young agriculturalists through enhanced access to resources, mentorship opportunities, and networking experiences.

The first initiative took place that month during the 2025 State of Maine Agricultural Tradeshow with a student-led panel held at the Commissioner’s Luncheon. Hosted by Governor Mills and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal, this panel elevated the voices of young leaders in agriculture as attendees heard firsthand accounts of their experiences and aspirations. Panelists included Maine FFA State President Lane Carmichael and representatives from the Maine 4-H Foundation.

In March 2025, Governor Mills invited youth leaders to attend Maine Agriculture Day at the Maine Legislature. A select group of students met with state senators and representatives to discuss the current state of agriculture in Maine. Throughout the day, participants were formally recognized by both the Maine House of Representatives and Senate for their dedication to the future of agriculture. Students also had the opportunity to meet personally with Governor Mills to discuss her continued commitment to engaging Maine’s agricultural youth.

The Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs declared the 2025 fair season the Year of Youth in Agriculture, which presented students with the opportunity to actively engage in events across the state. This included animal clinics, showing events, youth agriculture auctions, youth in agriculture displays, and much more.

In September 2025, the Eastern States Exposition took place in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Known as “The Big E,” this exposition is the largest fair on the East Coast, bringing together hundreds of FFA members for competitions, American Star Awards, and livestock shows. 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the Maine Building on the fairgrounds. To commemorate the occasion, Commissioner Beal invited Maine FFA state officers and 4-H leaders to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Prior to the event, state officers Jillian McLaughlin and Hannah Shaw conducted a one-on-one interview with Commissioner Beal, reflecting on key takeaways from the Maine Year of Youth in Agriculture. This celebration concluded with remarks from 4-H leaders, government officials, and Maine FFA State President Carmichael.

Maine FFA members also did their part to continue the momentum of the Maine Year of Youth in Agriculture throughout 2025. In the summer, the Maine FFA State Officer Team inspired and engaged young members statewide, as they facilitated youth outreach events at agricultural fairs across the state following training with the National FFA. These events provided FFA and 4-H members with opportunities to network, build connections, and strengthen their leadership skills through workshops.

2025 provided young members of Maine’s agricultural community with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect directly with state leaders and have their voices heard. As Maine looks to the future, its youth are now better equipped with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to lead and advance the state’s agricultural industry. Although the Maine Year of Youth in Agriculture has officially come to a close, its impact will extend far beyond 2025.

To learn more about the Year of Youth in Agriculture, please visit: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry | Maine’s Year of Youth in Agriculture.

To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Pictured from left to right: Maine State FFA Officers Jillian McLaughlin (L)and Callie Cullins (R) , with Poland FFA Members Sierra Hemond, Lea Marchesseault, Lachlan Newell, and Nolan Davis.

In October, the Maine FFA was proudly represented by five amazing chapters at the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo, held in Indianapolis, Indiana. The National FFA Convention brings in thousands of FFA members from across the country, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While at the convention, members and advisors have an opportunity to attend outstanding workshops facilitated by national staff, visit the ever-growing career expo, and network with agribusiness professionals from all industry sectors.

At the National FFA Convention, a select group of members also participates in the National FFA Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development Events (LDEs). To participate, students must win their respective competitions at the state level. This year, following months of hard work and dedication, Maine was proudly represented in seven different CDEs and LDEs by members of various chapters:

• Peyton Hallet of the Easton FFA Chapter competed in the National FFA Creed Speaking LDE. This event challenges first-year members to memorize and recite the five paragraphs of the FFA Creed, as well as to answer questions from a panel of judges about their interpretation of the piece. Hallet received a bronze placement in this year’s national competition.
   
• Members of the Caribou FFA Chapter traveled to Indianapolis to represent Maine in both the National FFA Nursery and Landscape CDE and Farm Business Management LDE. Both teams, supported by advisor Scott Moir, worked diligently to prepare over the summer months. The Nursery and Landscape CDE challenges team members to correctly identify plants, aid in plant propagation, and correctly estimate mock landscaping inquiries by customers. The Farm Business Management LDE challenges students by simulating a real management scenario for an agricultural business. Competitors learn how to properly manage a company, read business reports, and establish consumer relations. Desirae Oullette, Simon Disy, Tait Margeson, and Ian Russel received bronze recognition as a team in the national Nursery and Landscape CDE. George Solomon, Lexus Botting, Megan Martin, and Kayden Guerrette received bronze placement in the national Farm Business Management LDE. Individually, Solomon placed silver.
   
• Julia Deitrick of the Lincoln Academy FFA Chapter proudly represented Maine in the National FFA Prepared Public Speaking LDE. This LDE required competitors to write and memorize a speech about an agricultural topic of their choice. For this year’s competition, Deitrick wrote and delivered her speech about farm income instability on the coast of Maine. Deitrick received bronze placement at the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo.
   
• Members of the newly established Poland FFA Chapter made the journey to Indianapolis to compete in the National FFA Livestock Evaluation CDE. This event tasks teams with evaluating a variety of different livestock breeds and ranking them accordingly, from most desirable to least desirable. Team members must be knowledgeable about livestock anatomy and able to easily identify desirable traits amongst breeds. Members of Poland’s team included Sierra Hemond, Lachlan Newell, Lea Marchessault, and Nolan Davis. Newell, Marchessault, and Davis placed bronze individually, and Hemond placed silver.
   
• Students from the Tri-County Technical Center FFA Chapter competed in this year’s National FFA Environment and Natural Resources CDE. This CDE fosters student engagement with natural resource concepts and helps students understand how agriculture and the Earth’s environment intersect. Members of the Tri-County team included Burleigh Rowe, Lily Geary, Christopher McGuinness, and Autumn Picard. Rowe and McGuinness earned bronze individually, and Picard and Geary placed silver.
   
• The final member who represented Maine at the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo was Maine FFA state officer Jillian McLaughlin from the Lincoln Academy FFA Chapter. This year, McLaughlin competed in the National FFA Employability Skills LDE, having won first place in the state preliminary competition back in May of 2025. This event requires competitors to create a job for which they currently feel qualified and complete all necessary paperwork for applying to the position. After completing the paperwork—including a job description, resume, and cover letter—the competitors undergo an initial virtual interview prior to arriving in Indianapolis. Once the convention begins, competitors participate in a single face-to-face interview with a panel of judges. The group of 50 students is then cut down to the top 12 for the semifinal round. For the first time in Maine FFA history, McLaughlin represented Maine not only as a top 12 semifinalist but as a top eight finalist. McLaughlin received gold placement in the national competition, finishing seventh in the nation.

The Maine FFA is proud of all members who challenged themselves by competing at the national level. Each one of them demonstrated hard work, determination, and a willingness to learn as they carried the state to incredible recognition. Congratulations to all individuals and teams!

This article was written by Jillian McLaughlin, Maine FFA State Reporter. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.

Pictured from left to right: Maine FFA State Officers Callie Cullins, Hannah Shaw, Lane Carmichael, Jillian McLaughlin, and Mia Arcott

The National FFA Organization is recognized for inspiring members to take action and advocate—not only for their own beliefs but for the future of agriculture. Recently, Maine FFA State Officers took the next step in their advocacy journeys by attending the 2025 National FFA State Officer Summit, located in the heart of Washington, D.C. 

The National FFA State Officer Summit is a five-day conference open only to state officers. During the conference, Maine FFA state officers had the opportunity to grow their advocacy skills by attending workshops with National FFA staff, listening to guest speakers such as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. They networked with other state officers from all regions of the country and its surrounding territories and also had a once-in-a-lifetime experience connecting with their respective congressional delegation.

Throughout the week, Maine FFA state officers worked together to discuss their advocacy plans. Team members worked carefully to create plans of action for their legislative meetings, focusing primarily on delivering the “legislative ask.” The legislative ask, brought forward by Maine FFA, sought to increase membership in the National FFA Caucus, bipartisan group of senators and representatives that focuses on the prosperity and protection of the National FFA Organization.

Members of the caucus give FFA members a direct voice within our nation’s government, allowing them to freely express ideas, comments, and concerns regarding the organization. Additionally, the caucus provides a level of protection to the organization by fighting for secure funding to enhance agricultural education initiatives. This funding allows the organization to continue to support members in a variety of ways, including by providing monetary scholarships to support students pursuing secondary education, establishing grants for chapters to grow and establish strong agriculture education programs, and allowing for the continuation and improvement of all national leadership workshops.

With such a large ask at hand, the state officers did not take their job lightly. Team members worked countless hours, both leading up to and during the conference to ensure smooth delivery of the legislative ask. They met with Senator Angus King, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, and Senator Susan Collins, establishing connections with Maine’s congressional delegation by sharing personal stories, hopes, and aspirations for Maine’s agricultural future.

“My highlight of the State Officer Summit was definitely getting the opportunity to speak with Maine’s legislators at the Capitol,” Hannah Shaw, 2025-2026 FFA Maine State Treasurer, shared. “Getting to advocate for our FFA members while touring the Capitol is something I will never forget.”

Though the team travelled to the Capitol for work, team members scheduled time to bond with one another, as they explored the various sites throughout Washington, D.C. During this time, the officers traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to the thousands of men and women who have served in the armed forces. Jillian McLaughlin, Maine FFA State Reporter noted, “It is because of these brave people that we have the opportunity to freely participate in our organization.”

Additionally, the team attended a guided night tour of the monuments throughout Washington, D.C., allowing them to get up close to monuments, such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Washington Monument. 

Though their week in Washington, D.C. may have come to an end upon their departure on July 18, 2025, the Maine FFA state officer team continues to advocate for Maine agriculture and FFA members.

“One of my highlights from the summit was getting to use my voice to advocate for agriculture, while building meaningful, life-long connections with others who share the same passion,” Callie Cullins, Maine FFA State Vice President, said. 

As the team’s year of service progresses, team members will continue to work to ensure that the voices of all Maine FFA members and agriculturalists are valued and heard. 

The State Officer Summit experience was made possible thanks to the generosity of grants from the National FFA Association and Maine Agriculture in the Classroom’s license plate grant program.  

To learn more about the Maine FFA, please visit this webpage or contact Emily Doughty at emily.doughty@maine.gov.

This story was written by student Jillian McLaughlin, the Maine FFA State Reporter. To submit a good news story to the Maine DOE, please fill out the good news submission form.