By Andrew Angulo, El Centro FFA Alumnus
FFA undoubtedly shaped me into who I am today. From speaking contests and leadership opportunities, to incredible advisors, I am so grateful for what the FFA gave me. I was a member of the El Centro FFA chapter and graduated from high school in 2022. FFA positively impacted my high school experience by giving me the opportunity to compete in many career and leadership development events and serve on several leadership teams. Most of my long-time friends were made through the FFA and the networking opportunities it provides.
My FFA leadership experience was extensive. I served in multiple chapter, sectional, and regional officer positions. While it’s impossible to choose a favorite role, I most valued how these positions provided experiences that mirrored real-world governance and set me on a path to continue my leadership journey beyond high school.
Following my time at Southwest High School, I was accepted to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a major in Agricultural Communication. Once at Cal Poly, my involvement in student leadership didn’t slow down. Today, I serve as the National President for the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT), am a board member on the Cal Poly Board of Directors, and serve as the Director of the California State FFA Leadership Conference Live Stream.
In order to give back to the FFA, I looked for opportunities in college to serve the organization that did so much for me. I became a founding member of the State Conference Live Stream, advised by Dr. Moses Mike. Our original goal was to help families and underrepresented communities see the value of the statewide conference. Our pilot year was small, with just eight students creating content. By 2025, we grew to nearly 20 students operating three separate live streams, allowing more people to see how this organization shapes and recognizes young people.
Beyond school, FFA set me up for success professionally. Through livestock judging and extemporaneous public speaking, I grew comfortable sharing my voice in many settings. I continued competing in public speaking at Cal Poly in the California Farm Bureau Discussion Meet, winning the championship and advancing to the national level. There, I met Shelby Hagenauer, Senior Director of Government Affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation, who connected me with CropLife America, which eventually helped me secure my dream internship.
As a government relations intern for CropLife America in Washington, D.C., I look forward to expanding my knowledge of government relations at the federal level. I’m excited to start a new journey and gain experiences in the nation’s capital. Although I’ve never lived in a big city or worked so closely with some of agriculture’s greatest minds, I’m confident my preparation began with FFA.
In this role, I work alongside the Director of Government Affairs for CropLife America, engaging in meetings on safe food production policies. I look forward to hands-on learning, working with measures, and communicating with state and federal officials. FFA prepared me by providing the foundational skills needed to network and engage in critical agricultural conversations and practice public speaking daily.
This internship will shape the rest of my career. I plan to attend law school, but first hope to work in government affairs to discover what area draws me most. This experience bridges the gap between science and communication and reinforces my passion to pursue agricultural law.
This internship represents the next step in a journey that truly began with my time in FFA. The leadership roles I held, the competitions I entered, and the network I built through FFA laid the foundation for the confidence, professionalism, and communication skills I rely on every day at CropLife America. As I navigate this experience in Washington, D.C., I see how those early opportunities prepared me to engage with some of agriculture’s most influential leaders and contribute to meaningful conversations about the future of our industry. FFA didn’t just give me memories; it gave me the tools to succeed in this internship and beyond.
Author Bio
Andrew Angulo is a senior at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Agricultural Communication with a minor in Law and Society. A 2022 graduate of Southwest High School, he served in multiple FFA leadership roles and earned his American Degree in 2023. At Cal Poly, he serves on the Board of Directors, is National ACT President, and leads the Agricultural Leadership Society. This summer, Andrew is a Government Relations intern with CropLife America, crediting FFA for shaping his path.
