FFA president shares what leadership has taught her

By Lily Vaughan

Before I ever wore the iconic blue jacket that’s become a key symbol of FFA, I paid attention to words. I noticed how the way something was said could make people feel seen, challenged or hopeful. 

One of the first moments I realized the power of words was watching my older brother compete in a speech contest when I was still in elementary school. The speech was not written by him, but the way he delivered it made it his own. When he spoke, people leaned in. I remember looking around and realizing that everyone listening was walking away with something different, something personal.

I began to understand that influence is not just about how you got there but about how a message is carried and the way it connects with the people listening. That moment planted the seed of what influence could look like. But it was in FFA that the seed was challenged and allowed to grow. 

I joined FFA my freshman year for a practical reason. While I didn’t grow up immersed in agriculture, my family began raising and showing market hogs for the county fair when I was in middle school. I wanted to continue showing market hogs, which meant enrolling in an agriculture biology class and officially joining the Las Plumas FFA chapter. 

At first, FFA was about animals and the significance of the blue jacket. I knew it meant something to zip up the blue corduroy, even if I didn’t yet know what it would mean to me. That changed quickly as I began to compete in competitions from Livestock Judging to Creed Speaking. 

One of the first lessons the blue jacket taught me was that growth lives just outside my comfort zone. Zipping it up gave me confidence to step into spaces that I might have otherwise avoided. Slowly, my willingness gave way to confidence to meet new people and take a few risks. 

Everything changed the first time I attended the California State Leadership Conference. Standing in a room filled with 8,000 students was overwhelming in the best way. The energy was electric. I watched the state officers on stage speak vulnerably and celebrate the family they had created. They were not much older than me, yet they were brave enough to share their stories in front of thousands. Another seed was planted. 

Running for state office was one of the boldest risks I have ever taken. I did not feel perfectly qualified, but I did feel called. With that calling came familiar fears: Do I have a story worth sharing? Is there someone more prepared for this role? 

What made the difference was not the absence of doubt; it was the presence of belief. Teammates, advisers, mentors, family and friends believed in me. Their belief gave me the courage to turn my dream into action. 

Serving as California FFA state president has taught me that leadership is deeply personal. It is not about having the fanciest resume or the most impressive title. On the hardest days, leadership means asking for help and admitting when I cannot give my best. It means leaning on my team, my adviser and the people who reminded me that I was never meant to do this alone. 

Some of the most meaningful moments of this year did not happen on a stage. They happened in unassuming conversations at chapter visits. They happened through handwritten notes, kind messages and honest questions from members I had the privilege of meeting. 

Over and over again, I was reminded how powerful belief can be. When someone feels seen, it can change the way they see themselves. Sometimes it even changes the direction they choose to go. 

Agriculture is the No. 1 industry, and it needs leaders who are willing to learn, listen and lead with heart. It also needs informed consumers who are willing to ask where their food comes from and why it matters. 

FFA creates space for both. It is a place where students from all backgrounds are welcomed and challenged to grow the seeds already planted within them. 

As I prepare to step onto the stage for my retiring address, I think back to the dreamer I once was, sitting in the crowd and wondering who those people on stage were. My hope is that this year, there is a student sitting in the audience who realizes that it takes courage to risk boldly for their dream, but it is so worth it. 

Before I wore the blue jacket, I paid attention to the power of words, but through FFA I learned how to use them to lead with purpose.

Lily Vaughan, a senior at Las Plumas High School in Oroville, serves as the 2025-26 California FFA state president. She can be reached at lvaughan@californiaffa.org.