Ayla Neumeyer, North Idaho FFA District Reporter

The Idaho School Boards Association (ISBA) held its annual convention November 9-11 in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. The Idaho FFA Association was well represented all three days by sending chapter, district and state officers to assist throughout the conference. Volunteers included North Idaho District Officers Cayden Dimmick, Sam Hoffman, Britni Miller and Ayla Neumeyer. They were joined by current Idaho FFA Reporter, Cara Pantone, past Idaho FFA President, Travis Chase, and Nezperce FFA Secretary, Sierra Pagel.

FFA Members were the only students that helped ISBA staff throughout the week. They spent hours helping to set up rooms for meetings, workshops or meal functions. Students also took a great deal of time checking in, organizing, and placing donation items for the annual scholarship auction.

On Friday, the general business meeting was held. This meant a busy final day for the Idaho FFA volunteers. After helping to prepare the room, members assisted in the actual meeting itself. While School Board Trustees discussed and then proceeded to vote on resolutions that would be priorities for the year, FFA members helped to run the meeting and counted ballots for each proposed resolution or bylaw change. Cayden Dimmick, North Idaho District President, who served as the meeting parliamentarian, commented that his favorite part of the week was, “Witnessing how decisions were made by the ISBA and helping them with Parli Pro.”

Dimmick then added, “And also talking to former FFA members.” Aside from official duties, the FFA volunteers had the opportunity to speak with many school board members from across the state. Many of these individuals once wore blue jackets themselves, and some even served as district and state officers. As the final line of the FFA Motto, “Living to Serve,” implies, these FFA members enjoyed having the opportunity to help the ISBA and represent the Idaho FFA Association, as well as their chapters and districts.