Belle Fourche High School Senior Andy Pruitt is looking forward to his new role as a State Future Farmers of America (FFA) officer.
In April, Andy was named South Dakota State FFA Sentinel state convention in Brookings.
“The two-day interview process began with a simple application mostly consisting of personal information.” Andy explained. “This application was due April 1st and a week later nineteen candidates all met on the DWU campus in Mitchell. The interview consisted of six rounds of varying length and intensity.”
The FFA State Sentinel is one of several officers who make up the state FFA student leadership team. Those officers are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and Sentinel.
The other officers are from throughout the state. “We have two from Sturgis, one from Lake Preston, one from Brookings, and one from Madison.”
Specifically, Andy’s role as State FFA Sentinel includes the responsibility of assisting the president in maintaining order, making sure that meeting guests and presenters are comfortable and welcomed. It’s very much a people person job, but also a job that requires attention to details. For example, the meeting equipment must always be up to speed and in working order and of course there must be refreshments.
Andy is a people-person and considers himself to be well-suited for the job. “As past leaders have told me, the best sentinels are distinguished by their strong handshake and smile.”
Andy described his ambitions for his tenure in office. “My appointment as State Sentinel is a huge honor and means more than I can easily put into words. I mainly seek to empower students to be passionate about FFA and agriculture. There is no shame in loving what you do and doing what you love. I look forward to furthering the FFA mission of premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.”
State officers serve on a one-year term, and may only serve once in either their freshman or sophomore year of college. The main duties of state officers require us to spend most of the year traveling the state running leadership camps and workshops, visiting chapters across the state, and acting as representatives of the student body and association within South Dakota. The team will also attend the annual national FFA convention in Indianapolis, IN.
The summer will be busy, as will the fall and spring. “The team will be together for leadership camps, Governor’s Ag Summit, State Officer Summit, as well as multiple trainings. Overall, we spend a significant amount of our time together through our term.
In addition to his leadership role Andy will be pursuing a degree in Ag Business at South Dakota State University. After college he is interested in a career in accounting or business administration. He is confident that what he has learned in FFA will serve him well. In future endeavors.
“Initially I joined FFA at the suggestion of my friends, and I didn’t know what to think. But after putting some time into the organization, I realized just how much I was receiving in return, and it motivated me to discover everything else the blue jacket had to offer. FFA is more than just a youth leadership organization, it is a family and a welcoming home for all students.”
Andy’s family has connections in agriculture. His mom Audrey Pruitt recently became the Butte/Lawrence County 4-H education specialist. Dad, David Pruitt works as a Senior Application/Business Analyst for Black Hills State University and owns and operates PooterQ, a local catering business that specializes in barbeque. Andy has two brothers David Alexander, and Austin.
“I will only serve as the sentinel through the end of my term next April. Next spring the applications will reopen and another group of candidates will step up to the plate for state office, and upon conclusion of the next state convention, my term will end and a new sentinel will be installed.”
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