From Jackson County to National Impact: Madelin Garcia Represents Florida FFA as National Delegate

INDIANAPOLIS — While the 2025 National FFA Convention officially opened on October 29 and ran through November 1, Marianna FFA member Madelin Garcia’s convention experience began well before the opening gavel ever dropped. Arriving in Indianapolis the Sunday prior, Garcia stepped into a role that would challenge her leadership skills, broaden her perspective, and give her a voice on agriculture’s national stage.

At this year’s National FFA Convention and Expo, Garcia was selected to serve as a national delegate, representing Florida FFA among hundreds of student leaders from across the country. Delegates play a critical role in shaping the future of the organization by discussing and voting on proposed changes to FFA policies, degrees, and programs.

Garcia currently holds three leadership positions: president of the Marianna High School FFA Chapter, Florida FFA District II president, and Chipola FFA Federation president. It was her district officer role that opened the door to applying for the national delegate position. She shared that one of the most important components of the application process was the written statement explaining why the applicant wanted to serve.

“In my statement, I focused on my desire to connect more closely with FFA members from Florida and across the nation,” Garcia said.

Once in Indianapolis, delegate responsibilities began immediately and continued through the final day of convention. Meetings covered a wide range of important topics, including FFA degree qualifications and state affiliation matters. One change that stood out to Garcia was the approval allowing all Spanish dialects to be used in the Spanish FFA Creed competition, as well as the inclusion of American Sign Language.

Garcia worked alongside a strong group of Florida delegates that included district officers and current and former Florida FFA state officers. This collaboration was essential in determining Florida’s stance on key issues and deciding which topics the delegation would bring forward during national discussions.

Beyond the business sessions, Garcia described the convention as an incredibly enriching experience, especially when it came to building relationships with members from other states.

“It was really cool to see that we live so far away, but we have things in common with one another,” she said.

She also took pride in representing Florida agriculture and helping others better understand the state beyond common stereotypes.

“By representing the state of Florida, people come up to us and think that we are all beaches and Disney World,” Garcia explained. “Getting to tell them that I’m from Jackson County, where it is completely different from their expectations, and getting to tell them what we grow here, was really cool.”

Serving as a national delegate pushed Garcia to step outside her comfort zone and speak confidently about issues she cares about. As she reflects on the experience, she is eager to bring what she learned back home and use it to inspire younger members.

“I want to show younger members that when they speak, their voice matters,” Garcia said.

Through leadership, advocacy, and connection, Garcia’s national delegate experience exemplifies the impact young leaders can have when given a seat at the table—and the courage to use it.