For the second time in as many years, an Escalon High School FFA member has been elected to statewide office.
Senior Jordan Lippincott was recently selected as the State FFA Treasurer and will spend a year working and traveling with fellow State Officers, spreading the FFA message across the state. He follows in the footsteps of EHS alum Kristen Steves, who is finishing up her year as state FFA President.
"It was overwhelming, very exciting," FFA Advisor and EHS ag teacher Stacy Ingalls said of seeing Lippincott elected to the statewide post at the recent state conference. "We're so proud ... Kristen and Jordan have both accomplished so many things and I don't know if Jordan realizes how magnificent his accomplishments are ... he has been placing high in competitions, in Parli-Pro, his extemporaneous speaking skills, he has these completely diversified roles ... it really is amazing."
For his part, Lippincott couldn't be happier to following in Steves' footsteps, ready to move in to the State FFA Officer House in Galt and serve his year.
The process for election to statewide office actually began in February when he submitted an application, he said. He had to provide an essay and some background but it was around the state conference that the real work was done.
"We had our first interview the day before the state conference and then an orientation dinner," Lippincott said. "We did interviews from about 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. ... it was a long night."
Several rounds of interviews followed, with the panelists determining what students appeared best suited for the state positions, based on knowledge, ability to communicate and work effectively with others.
"The first cut, it was narrowed down from 62 to 23," Lippincott noted. "We interviewed all day Sunday and there were two more cuts, from 23 to 16 and then from 16 to 12. It's brutal."
With the final 12, there are two people slated for each of the six available state officer positions.
"Then the campaign process starts, you go through that all day Monday," said Lippincott. "You find out (if elected) at the general session on Tuesday."
The senior added that being elected state treasurer doesn't necessarily mean he will be working with money, but he will be part of the state team.
"We'll go to chapter visits, do about 20 of them and we'll put on 13 advanced leadership assemblies," he said of working with FFA organizations in schools across the state. "Plus we put on the state conference and do workshops and sessions, we meet with all the delegates."
When it came down to the final elections and Lippincott heard his name announced as a state officer, there was a mix of emotions. His fellow FFA members and advisors were there to cheer him on, while he tried to take it all in.
"Tired, happy, but sad for the people who got cut," he said of the first thoughts running through his mind. "It was definitely an exciting time."
Lippincott, the son of Kirk and Lori Lippincott, was installed as a state officer on the final day of the conference, April 21. He will leave in early June for training at a national leadership conference, then move in to the State Officer House in Galt.
Lippincott said the guidance and leadership of Escalon's FFA advisors helped get him where he is today and said the advisors turn out 'well equipped' students that can thrive in leadership roles on the larger stage.
"I believe that we give our students a complete program," Ingalls agreed. "It provides the students with a large amount of leadership development opportunities."
The chapter is active and is always among the leaders at various field days and competitions.
"We travel, go to everything we possibly can and that helps develop their leadership skills among their peers, in the section, region, in the state and nationally," she added.
Escalon is one of three chapters in the state to have had seven state officers in its history, including the two successive officers.
After his year as a state officer, Lippincott plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and major in ag science with a minor in biology.
Senior Jordan Lippincott was recently selected as the State FFA Treasurer and will spend a year working and traveling with fellow State Officers, spreading the FFA message across the state. He follows in the footsteps of EHS alum Kristen Steves, who is finishing up her year as state FFA President.
"It was overwhelming, very exciting," FFA Advisor and EHS ag teacher Stacy Ingalls said of seeing Lippincott elected to the statewide post at the recent state conference. "We're so proud ... Kristen and Jordan have both accomplished so many things and I don't know if Jordan realizes how magnificent his accomplishments are ... he has been placing high in competitions, in Parli-Pro, his extemporaneous speaking skills, he has these completely diversified roles ... it really is amazing."
For his part, Lippincott couldn't be happier to following in Steves' footsteps, ready to move in to the State FFA Officer House in Galt and serve his year.
The process for election to statewide office actually began in February when he submitted an application, he said. He had to provide an essay and some background but it was around the state conference that the real work was done.
"We had our first interview the day before the state conference and then an orientation dinner," Lippincott said. "We did interviews from about 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. ... it was a long night."
Several rounds of interviews followed, with the panelists determining what students appeared best suited for the state positions, based on knowledge, ability to communicate and work effectively with others.
"The first cut, it was narrowed down from 62 to 23," Lippincott noted. "We interviewed all day Sunday and there were two more cuts, from 23 to 16 and then from 16 to 12. It's brutal."
With the final 12, there are two people slated for each of the six available state officer positions.
"Then the campaign process starts, you go through that all day Monday," said Lippincott. "You find out (if elected) at the general session on Tuesday."
The senior added that being elected state treasurer doesn't necessarily mean he will be working with money, but he will be part of the state team.
"We'll go to chapter visits, do about 20 of them and we'll put on 13 advanced leadership assemblies," he said of working with FFA organizations in schools across the state. "Plus we put on the state conference and do workshops and sessions, we meet with all the delegates."
When it came down to the final elections and Lippincott heard his name announced as a state officer, there was a mix of emotions. His fellow FFA members and advisors were there to cheer him on, while he tried to take it all in.
"Tired, happy, but sad for the people who got cut," he said of the first thoughts running through his mind. "It was definitely an exciting time."
Lippincott, the son of Kirk and Lori Lippincott, was installed as a state officer on the final day of the conference, April 21. He will leave in early June for training at a national leadership conference, then move in to the State Officer House in Galt.
Lippincott said the guidance and leadership of Escalon's FFA advisors helped get him where he is today and said the advisors turn out 'well equipped' students that can thrive in leadership roles on the larger stage.
"I believe that we give our students a complete program," Ingalls agreed. "It provides the students with a large amount of leadership development opportunities."
The chapter is active and is always among the leaders at various field days and competitions.
"We travel, go to everything we possibly can and that helps develop their leadership skills among their peers, in the section, region, in the state and nationally," she added.
Escalon is one of three chapters in the state to have had seven state officers in its history, including the two successive officers.
After his year as a state officer, Lippincott plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and major in ag science with a minor in biology.
