Illinois student to lead FFA's million members nationwide

By Andi Anderson

Thaddeus Bergschneider, an undergraduate in the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been elected as the 2024-2025 National FFA President.

Bergschneider, studying agricultural and consumer economics with a concentration in finance in agribusiness, currently serves as the Illinois FFA State President and is the first Illinois student to lead the national organization in nearly thirty years.

Bergschneider’s election took place at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, where he was chosen from among 37 candidates. In his role as National FFA President, Bergschneider will represent over one million FFA members across the United States.

His responsibilities include leading leadership conferences, engaging with agricultural and business leaders, and collaborating with government officials and educators to promote agricultural education.

During the convention, Bergschneider was also awarded the American Degree, FFA’s highest honor, an achievement reached by only 1% of members nationwide. He expressed pride in representing his university and the College of ACES, where he feels a strong connection to the values of agricultural leadership.

College of ACES Dean Germán Bollero praised Bergschneider’s achievement, noting that his commitment to serving others and advancing agriculture aligns with the college’s mission. Bergschneider also remains involved with his family’s farm, where they cultivate crops and raise livestock, and he plans to further his knowledge in agriculture through future internships.

Reflecting on his journey, Bergschneider shared his enthusiasm for promoting agricultural opportunities to FFA members across the country.

He looks forward to connecting students to the resources and support that helped him pursue his goals, hoping to inspire them as he was inspired by his own experiences at the University of Illinois and through FFA.

Photo Credit: National FFA