CHARLOTTESVILLE — Loren Matlock’s process of applying for a state leadership position with the agricultural education organization FFA was more intensive than many job interviews. After completing an application requiring about 15 pages of writing, Matlock went through three days of interviews — all conducted via Zoom videoconferencing.
“There’s not a job interview out there that I don’t think all 18 of us (who were interviewed) could knock out of the park,” said Matlock, a recent graduate of Eastern Hancock High School.
Matlock was chosen as the Southern region vice president for Indiana FFA, part of a seven-member leadership team for the state made up of recent high school graduates.
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He is one of two Eastern Hancock students chosen as leaders in Indiana FFA. Jordyn Wickard, a rising senior, was selected as the FFA president for Indiana District 8, which includes Hancock County.
Matlock’s involvement with FFA has already taken him around the country, including trips to Las Vegas and Washington D.C. In order to commit to working as a FFA state officer, he has deferred for a year his admission to Oklahoma State University, where he plans to pursue a degree in animal science.
He said he is excited to begin his work as a state leader for the organization.
“Our goal for the year is to continue serving our communities and our members,” Matlock said. “Being a state officer means a lot.”
Matlock has already departed to begin his work with FFA and will spend the year traveling around Indiana conducting activities with the organization, including planning workshops and meeting with state and federal legislators.
His experience may be different from that of previous FFA officers, though he isn’t sure exactly what it will look like yet. The organization will be striving to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic and conduct some activities remotely.
“There’s definitely going to be a lot of adaptation,” he said.
Agriculture isn’t a new passion for Matlock or for his family, his mother, Shirley Matlock, said. The family lives on and operates a grain and beef cattle farm. Both of Loren’s siblings are also members, and three of his cousins have previously served as state officers.
Shirley said FFA has helped many members of her family learn leadership skills and embrace new opportunities.
“It’s been part of our household pretty much as long as I can remember,” Shirley said. “It’s something that actually reaches deep into the heart of the family, and we’ve all been involved.”
Shirley said between work on the family’s farm, completing his senior year via e-learning, and FFA responsibilities, Loren took on “pretty much a 24-hour commitment.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of Loren for taking it to the next level,” Shirley said.
Jordyn Wickard’s farming family also has a long history of FFA involvement. Wickard first knew she wanted to be involved in the organization in middle school, when she attended a convention where her mother was acting as a judge for the public speaking event.
“I had a true sense of belonging, and I was valued in the FFA organization,” she said.
Wickard became the vice president of Eastern Hancock’s FFA chapter and received her “Hoosier Degree,” a state FFA award recognizing a member’s accomplishments in agricultural experience, leadership development and community service.
This year, she applied for the district leadership position. Like Matlock, she submitted a written application and conducted an interview via Zoom.
“When I saw my name as district president, I was in shock,” Wickard said. “It’s a goal that I’ve had for years now.”
As district president, Wickard’s responsibilities will include helping to organize the District 8 FFA convention and kickoff event and holding leadership development events and other activities for members and communities. Her jurisdiction includes about 30 FFA chapters.
One of Wickard’s interests is the mental health of farmers and ranchers. As district president, she said, one of her goals will be to organize an event where community members can come together to talk about the issue.
After completing her last year of high school, Wickard plans for apply for state FFA officer and eventually pursue a degree in agricultural communications.
Wickard’s mother, Julia Wickard, is also an FFA alumna and participated in the state and national FFA band. She recommended the organization as an extracurricular activity to her children.
“Jordyn grabbed hold of it and hasn’t let go,” Julia said.
The character-building skills Jordyn learned in FFA, Julia said, have also helped her stay positive while the family has been self-isolating for the past few months. In addition to helping care for the family’s animals, she has started a podcast called Jordyn’s Joyous Jabber as a way of staying in touch with the wider world.
“It’s a way for her to spread kindness, good will, and be the light for others,” Julia said.
The show is available on Apple Podcasts.
Sarah Williams, an agriculture teacher at Eastern Hancock High School and one of the co-sponsors of the school’s FFA, has gotten to know both Matlock and Wickard well. Both, she said, are exemplary students.
“They’re just tremendous individuals, very mature and passionate young adults,” Williams said.
Williams said Eastern Hancock has a large number of FFA participants and a long legacy of students taking on leadership roles. She said it has been an honor to teach Wickard and Matlock, the latest examples of that tradition.
“These two are tremendous role models for our younger students,” she said.