After seven years as the chief executive officer for the National FFA Organization, W. Dwight Armstrong will retire this summer. This news release from the group says Armstrong felt it was the right tome to transition the leadership of FFA and for him to spend quality time with his family, friends, volunteer opportunities and personal pursuits.
National FFA Advisor and Chair of the National FFA Board of Directors Dr. Steve A. Brown voiced appreciation for Armstrong’s service and commended him for his contributions to the organization. “Dr. Armstrong has provided outstanding executive leadership for FFA at a critical time in our development,” said Brown. “In addition to being a close advisor and confidante, Dwight has been a steady, driving force in helping formulate our strategic direction and achieving program goals for FFA. Leading by example, he exemplifies the best of FFA by ‘Living to Serve.’ On behalf of the board and my colleagues in agricultural education, we wish him the very best for a satisfying and productive retirement.”
National FFA Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Elin Miller said, “Dwight’s contributions to the foundation have been transformative at a critical time for FFA. His emphasis on building the individual giving and estate planning segments of our donor base is the perfect complement to the strong corporate sponsorship that makes so many FFA opportunities available to students. Dwight’s leadership and personal commitment to FFA and agricultural education will be deeply missed by all of us in industry and philanthropy.”
In his announcement, Armstrong praised the National FFA staff and thanked FFA board members “for their support and confidence in the strategic and cultural foundation we have restored, adapted and developed over the past six-plus years.” He added, “The focus and energy our staff put into building culture, strategy, people and finances have allowed us to make the advances that put FFA in a positive position for future growth and service to our stakeholders.” Armstrong added, “As fulfilling as my career in agriculture has been, nothing compares to the satisfaction of seeing young people discover their talents and achieve success. FFA is exactly what we need to develop leaders, build healthy communities and strengthen American agriculture. I look forward to being an active and vocal supporter of FFA for years to come.”
Armstrong has overseen an era of dramatic growth and success for FFA, with record numbers of members at nearly 630,000 students in grades seven through 12 at about 7,800 local FFA chapters throughout the country.