Tag Archives: FFA leadership

Rooted in Family, Rising in Leadership: Kylie Sizemore Wins GFB Discussion Meet

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Carnesville, GA |

Before the spotlight. Before the pressure of judges’ questions. There was simply home.

For Kylie Sizemore, that home was a family farm where agriculture wasn’t just a topic of conversation—it was a way of life. From an early age, she was surrounded by the rhythms and values of rural living: hard work, patience, and responsibility. And guiding her through it all was a strong support system of family members who saw her potential long before she stepped into any arena.

“I would say that my dad probably encouraged me the most when it came to agriculture and encouraging me to get involved in FFA,” Kylie said. “My older sister showed pigs, so of course I wanted to be like her and I wanted to show pigs, and that was really my start—showing pigs in 4-H. Then once I went to middle school, I showed pigs in FFA and became more involved doing leadership development events, LDEs, and career development events, CDEs. And that really is where I got my start in agriculture.”

That start paved the way for Kylie to compete in—and win—the 2025 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet, a competition that rewards not confrontation, but collaboration. But her journey to the state title was years in the making, and her family played a central role in every step.

“My family’s always encouraged me to be actively involved and just shoot for a hundred percent no matter what I’m doing,” she said. “I can remember in sixth grade I wanted to do meat judging in FFA and I started it and I didn’t like it, but my mom and dad were like, you can’t quit. Even with Discussion Meet and being involved in Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers, and the women’s committee here in my local Franklin County Farm Bureau chapter—it’s my family that has encouraged me to do more and be the best that I can be.”

That encouragement followed her all the way to this year’s state convention in Jekyll Island, where she decided to give the Discussion Meet another shot after taking a break for a few years.

“I love being a part of active conversation and I love getting to meet and mingle with new people,” she said. “I hadn’t been [to convention] the past couple years, and Discussion Meet is a great thing to do while I’m there. So I was just ready to get into it again.”

And while the competition may be solo on paper, Kylie is quick to point out it was very much a team effort—especially with her husband Willie by her side. A former Discussion Meet winner himself, Willie offered encouragement, coaching, and the occasional push when Kylie needed it most.

“Willie said, ‘It’s time for you to do Discussion Meet again and we’re gonna try to win.’ And I said, ‘We? We are gonna try to win?’” she laughed. “But it really was a team effort. As a question was drawn, we would go back to the room or go to a restaurant and talk about the topic. He would 100% help me prepare.”

Now, with the state title under her belt, Kylie’s eyes are set on the next challenge: competing on the national stage and continuing to serve as a voice for Georgia agriculture.

By: Ray D’Alessio

Inside Georgia’s Largest Career Expo: Empowering the Next Generation of Ag Leaders

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Macon, GA |

For thousands of students attending the Georgia FFA State Convention, one event stands out as a window into their future: the career expo. As one of the largest in the state, the expo offers students an up-close look at the wide range of opportunities waiting for them in agriculture—and beyond.

“They love to interact with the vendors,” says Ben Lastly, Executive Secretary of Georgia FFA. “We’ve got folks that come in who are truly talking about jobs and careers. And those students learn about opportunities. We have colleges, universities, technical schools here. They help students realize what it takes to get from where you are in middle or high school to our program. They get to interact with folks in the agriculture industry, colleges, universities, the military—life after high school. It’s about preparing these students to be productive when they leave our program.”

And staying in Georgia is a key goal. By showcasing the state’s top industry, the expo aims to keep talented young people close to home, building a stronger future for Georgia’s economy.

“For me, it was amazing to see the sheer mass of agricultural and allied organizations that support students here in our state,” says Andy Paul, Public Relations Representative for Georgia EMC. “We have such talent here in Georgia. When I was a student here, it was amazing to see the opportunities available to me by staying in my hometown.”

While many students are drawn to production agriculture, Lastly says the expo introduces them to the broader scope of the industry—from technology to environmental sciences.

“We have a lot of students interested in production agriculture, but we have plenty interested in technology, research, water quality, the environment, forestry, natural resources,” he explains. “Coming here, they can see what it’s like to work in rural electrification with Georgia EMC, or learn about animal agriculture from the dairy groups. It’s great for students to realize the different parts of agriculture.”

Whether planning to attend college, a technical school, or head straight into the workforce, FFA students are already highly sought after by employers—thanks to both the technical skills and the work ethic they’ve developed.

“They learn a lot of skills in high school that we may not have to train quite as much once they’re on the job,” says Paul. “We’re learning technical skills in agricultural mechanics classrooms. But I think FFA also instills a lot of hard work into those students—tenacity, grit, and the ability to hear a no and come back with a yes.”

Through FFA’s many programs and competitions, students build habits that make them stand out to recruiters, even if they don’t realize it at the time.

“If they’re competing in events like the agriscience fair or proficiency awards, they’re going to practice,” says Lastly. “They show up, work, keep records. And when they talk to employers about that, these students might think they’re just doing FFA things. But they’re getting up early to feed animals, practicing for competitions, double-checking research, tracking hours and finances. Those characteristics are already instilled in them.”