Nebraska State FFA officers meet Central Valley Ag leadership

Central Valley Ag has been a longtime supporter of the Nebraska FFA organization and recently welcomed three of the 2025-2026 Nebraska State FFA officers for a meaningful leadership conversation at the CVA office in York, Neb. The conversation brought together the cooperative's senior leadership and the FFA group to discuss the leadership perspective of the cooperative, reflect on shared values, and explore the inspiration coming to Nebraska FFA.

With CVA's ongoing commitment to Nebraska FFA, the conversation served as an opportunity for the officers to extend their understanding of the cooperative core values that have helped the cooperative's long-term success, while learning from seasoned industry leaders. The teams also discussed how organizations such as FFA and CVA are shaping the future of agriculture. 

"CVA is based around farmer-owned, farmer-controlled for the benefit of farmers," said Carl Dickinson, CVA president and CEO. "We've been intentional about staying true to our core values - honesty, accountability, innovation, and a commitment to our farmer-owners. When we look at these FFA leaders, we see the same principles in action." 

FFA leaders reflecting on their mission 

The Nebraska FFA State Officer team present included Alexis Davis of York, Josh Pierce of Pleasanton and Jadyn Tidyman of Chadron. Each brings a unique perspective and passion for agricultural education. During the meeting, the officers shared their personal stories of growth within FFA and how they intend to lead those in FFA this coming year. 

Alexis, studying agricultural education and animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, spoke about her personal mission: "If I can impact one member this year, it will be worth it. FFA became my home when I was quiet and unsure of myself. Now, I want to help others find that same sense of belonging." 

Josh, also at UNL studying agricultural education and meteorology, added, "I want to inspire as many members as I can by showing them the opportunities FFA holds. A past officer encouraged me to run for state officer, and now I hope to pass that same inspiration on." 

For Jadyn, a UNL Engler program student focused on beef production and leatherwork, FFA is about confidence and encouragement: "My advisor had me sign up for the creed contest - and that changed everything. I want to be confident in our members so they can be inspired, too." 

Cooperative model at CVA

CVA leadership spoke to the officers about an in-depth look at how the cooperative functions. The group explained that the organization is owned and ran by the farmers and ranchers who use its services. 

"Being farmer-owned and farmer-controlled means that we operate with both purpose and performance in mind," said Jeff Bechard, SVP of Grain at CVA. "We're here to serve, to return value to our members, and to build something lasting." 

Throughout the conversation, the FFA officers had questions about the internship opportunities within CVA. CVA can support over 30 interns throughout the different locations in areas including grain, feed, agronomy, marketing and more. 

"Internships aren't just about filling roles," said Chad Carlson, SVP of Talent. "They're about giving students the chance to discover whether this is the right fit for them while gaining valuable experience along the way." 

Values leading to success 

The mission, vision and core values have remained focused at CVA in the past 15 years. According to CVA leadership, those values helped sustain the organization through industry shifts and growth changes to support the cooperative and those within it. Carl explained to the officers "what sets us apart is about creating space for employees to lead, to learn, and to be part of something bigger." 

The CVA team also had the opportunity to ask the officers about their insights for leading the next generation of agricultural leaders. The officers discussed how they plan to work as a team  and individually to lead Nebraska FFA. "Our mission was created by our officer team," said Alexis. "W're focusing on planting the seed and investing in members one by one to help them grow." 

We believe in the future

The discussion took a shift to ask the FFA officers where they see the challenges of agricultural education in schools. The officers emphasized that agriculture is more than farming. It includes leadership, science, technology and business. The industry is growing in all areas, with CVA and the Nebraska FFA organization striving for a successful future. 

"You don't have to be from a farm to be valuable to agriculture," said Jadyn. "Urban area students are coming in and making an impact, too. We just have to make sure they understand the opportunities FFA offers." 

As CVA looks ahead, company leaders emphasized their continued dedication to growth and not only as a business, but as a community partner. "Success means more than profits," said Dickinson. "It's about helping people succeed, giving back to our owners, and preparing future leaders. That's why we support FFA and always will."