Monday, Nov. 1, 2010

A natural explorer, Tiffany Rogers of Niles charted the arc of her limitless future with experiences ranging from raising livestock and horses to promoting agricultural awareness in rural elementary schools. This horse lover is embarking on a new race with a burning passion and strong desire to serve others as an agricultural advocate.

For the next year, the Cassopolis Ross Beatty FFA Chapter member will motivate and inspire more than 500,000 fellow FFA members as the 2010-2011 National FFA Eastern Region vice president. The former state president was elected to that office at the 83rd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis — only the fourth time a member from Michigan has held national office. Rogers is among six individuals selected from a field of 36. She is the daughter of David and Cheryl.

Her FFA adviser is Carrie George.

Tiffany attends Michigan State University in East Lansing with a major in agricultural business. While in high school, she was a member of the soccer team, involved in women’s choir and National Honor Society.

Rogers maintains associations with the Percheron Horse Association of America and Michigan Draft Horse Breeders Association and develops classroom lessons with the Agricultural Materials Attributed To Teaching Elementary students Rural Significance (MATTERS) program.

“It is my goal to serve as an advocate for agriculture, agricultural education and the National FFA organization to bring all three the attention and respect they deserve,” Rogers says.

“I have dedicated my past, present and future to giving my whole heart to FFA and agricultural education by giving everything I have to offer.”

We have literally watched her grow up. The first Miss Cass-St. Joseph County Outstanding Teen in 2008. Queen of the 156th Cass County Fair. Fair princess in 2004. As far back as 2002, she entered the adult draft horse showmanship class and beat 4-H leaders. There was no avoiding the Country Trailblazers and Drafted! member at the fairgrounds, where she showed draft horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs and still exhibits, capping her career in August with the big enchilada, Showmanship Sweepstakes at the 159th fair.

She repeated as beef showman in 2010 and had shown half of the species tested, except dairy feeders, light horses, dairy cows and goats. In 2009, she qualified with sheep, then added two more showmanship titles in beef and draft horses, but finished second to Brooke Ruggles.

And who could forget May 1, 2008, when Tiffany and her FFA teammates put on a jaw-dropping meeting-conducting exhibition for the Cass County Board of Commissioners?

Tiffany borrowed Chairman Bob Wagel’s gavel and, from the head of the horseshoe-shaped commission table, kept proceedings moving at such a blistering pace at least one witness commented she could fall back on  auctioneering.

Fulfilling her new challenge requires traveling more than 100,000 miles; meeting top leaders in business, government and education; visiting approximately 40 states; and participating in an international experience tour to Japan.

FFA, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members as part of 7,487 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

We look forward to seeing how many lives Tiffany positively influences because she’s definitely on a mission.

We’re confident she’ll do Cass County proud during her ascent.