Each October, a sea of blue corduroy jackets flood the streets of Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention & Expo. For many FFA members, including myself, it’s the most anticipated time of year not for the shopping or the travel, but for the energy, the inspiration, the connection, and, for me, the greatest part of all: the opportunity to express authenticity.
This year looked a little different from the ones I’ve attended in the past. From late nights in the hotel with State Officers from across the country, to delegate sessions with my committee, to powerful general sessions and heartfelt retiring addresses, one reminder stayed with me everywhere I went: be your authentic self, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
That reminder grew louder as the week went on. When I was surrounded by thousands of people who shared the same passion, it became easy to get caught up in the pressure to blend in to reflect the people around me. We may feel tempted to compare our stories, our experiences, and even our lives to those of others. But comparison doesn’t cultivate authenticity.
Being yourself fully, boldly, and unapologetically is far more important than trying to mirror anyone else. That is something I had to remind myself throughout the week.
Authenticity didn’t just appear in the spotlight. It found its way into quiet conversations with new faces, in the personal reflections during sessions, and in the small realizations about who I’m becoming. Those moments matter most because they’re shaped by your honest self and your willingness to be vulnerable. When you embrace those moments as you, you leave convention with more than souvenirs and photos, you leave with memories and a renewed understanding of how you’re called to serve: authentically.
Now that I’m back in Oregon, I’m committed to leading authentically and vulnerably and my challenge to YOU is to do the same. Share your story, step into roles that scare you a little, and support others who do the same. Together, let’s make authenticity our culture in Oregon FFA.
“I am loved, it is my identity, it’s who I am, and it’s unchanging regardless of performance or perfection.” – Jack Lingenfelter
Authentically yours,
Livvy Sturm
2025-2026 Oregon FFA State Vice-President
