Senior Kaitlyn Fenton was recently elected District 17 FFA President for the 2024-2025 school year. In this role, Fenton represents six schools from around the state and leads 1,000 FFA members.
Fenton has been an active member of FFA since her freshman year at Greeley West. As a ninth grader she competed at district and state level events. By her sophomore year, Fenton was elected as one of the vice presidents of FFA, as well as president of Chapter Recruitment.
Agriculture teacher Mr. Kelly Longacre has played a crucial role in Fenton’s growth as a leader. “He has pushed me to be the confident person I have grown into,” Fenton said.
Longacre has known Fenton since elementary school and has watched her grow up into a strong leader for FFA. Longacre stated, “Kaitlyn has grown continuously since her freshman year. She sets goals and works hard to achieve them.”
After being interviewed by six of her FFA peers from other schools and teachers from the district, Fenton was seen as the best to fill this role. “(During the interviewing process) she demonstrated character, determination, and organization, which helped her to be selected to lead the district,” Longacre said.
District 17 FFA Sentinel Bradly Rainwater works very closely with Fenton to set agendas for chapter meetings, as well as to make plans to efficiently run events. Rainwater said, “When we don’t understand what to do or run into a problem, she finds a way to work through it, no matter what.”
Rainwater has seen the positive effect Fenton has had on their FFA chapter. “She leads our chapter with pride and confidence,” Rainwater stated.
Fenton’s leadership qualities are not only noticed by educators, but by peers as well. Rainwater said, “Kaitlyn has great qualities of leadership, confidence, communication, and problem solving. These qualities show through when she’s leading our chapter, whether it’s meetings, events, or competitions, she always leads us to a better way.”
Fenton is grateful for this honor and can’t wait to lead her district to success. “It gives me the opportunity to set a positive and inclusive atmosphere,” said Fenton.
