WOODBURY — The Woodbury FFA chapter is ushering in its next group of student leaders. This is a transition that marks one of the most important times in the chapter’s calendar: banquet.
Applications closed April 22 for students hoping to serve as chapter or sophomore officers for the 2025-26 school year. Students who applied go through an interview process before the final selections were announced at the annual Woodbury FFA Banquet on May 22.
Next year’s officers will be president Sofia Figlar, vice president Rachel Kalmanovsky, secretary Ella Wisniewski, treasurer Haylee Stahl, and reporter Anna Melius.
The officer team plays a major role in shaping the chapter’s direction and setting the tone for the year ahead.
“As someone who’s been around FFA since I was a kid, I’ve seen how much this program can shape leaders,” said Foster, the officer team advisor and a Woodbury FFA alumna herself. “We’re looking for students who are committed, dependable, and truly care about making the chapter better.”
For 2024-25 chapter president Luciano Pedros, this season marks the end of a year of leadership and reflection.
“Serving as chapter president has been very important to me this year. I had a lot of fun being a part of the team, as well as being able to spend more time with the officers,” Pedros shared. “Overall, I feel like it was an amazing experience being able to be a leader in this organization and help to make a difference.”
While interest in officer positions remains strong for some students, advisors say they’ve noticed a decline in overall participation. Fewer students are applying for officer roles or taking on responsibilities compared to previous years.
“Back when I was a student, it felt like more people were driven to get involved and compete,” Foster said. “We still have great candidates, but overall participation has definitely dropped compared to what it used to be.”
Some students have still stepped up. Applicants like Figlar and Wisniewski say they were motivated to apply by their passion for FFA and the chance to give back.
“I’ve always looked up to the officer team, and I want to help lead the chapter the same way they did,” said Figlar.
Other chapter members, even those who didn’t apply, recognize what makes a strong officer team.
“A good FFA leader is someone who inspires trust, communicates clearly, and guides others with vision,” said sophomore Dylan Diezel. “Making more activities that benefit everyone’s interest would probably get more people involved.”
As the chapter looks ahead to its banquet and the announcement of its new team, students and staff are taking time to look back on what this year’s officers accomplished.
“One of their first major events, Ag Safety Day, really showed how capable this team was,” said Birkenberger. “They stayed focused, took initiative, and pulled it off with little direction from us. That kind of independence is what we want to see.”
Even as participating trends shift, the goal of the officer team remains the same: to lead, represent, and support one of Connecticut’s largest and most active student organizations.
