Opheim Grad Leads Mont. FFA Foundation

Opheim graduate Gwynn Simeniuk has been recently selected as the new executive director for the Montana FFA Foundation, taking the new post effective Jan. 1. Her primary role will be to continue to build relationships throughout the state to raise funds and provide leadership programming for FFA students and teachers throughout the state. "I am very excited for this new opportunity and can't wait to hit the ground running," said Simeniuk.

Simeniuk is not new to the Montana FFA Foundation, as she has served as their program and events manager for the past year and a half after graduating from MSU-Bozeman in 2017. With 5,300 FFA members in middle and high school and 97 chapters throughout the state, the Foundation helps not only students but also their teachers obtain grants and scholarship funds. The foundation also helps members through skill training, leadership development and personal growth in order to enhance their agricultural education as well as become competitive in the job market.

"My primary task with this new position is to fundraise for the foundation," said Simeniuk. "I want to continue to build relationships with current and prospect donors in order to raise future funds for scholarships. We have had to turn away approximately 75 percent of applicants for the college scholarships we offer, and that's never a good feeling."

Teachers in agricultural education will also be able to utilize any funds raised which will allow them to further build their curriculums and update equipment as needed. "Ag teachers have hands-on experiences for students to be able to learn from. They shouldn't have to struggle to make these experiences possible for students," said Simeniuk.

In her new role, the new director also hopes to further FFA students' agricultural education and career development by helping students with work-based projects, allowing students in the Montana FFA Association be professionally ready in whichever future path they choose. "Not all students in FFA have a calling for the agricultural sector. We want them to be able to be successful in whichever career they choose," said Simeniuk. "FFA has provided me so much in terms of life-long skills including having a good work ethic, being able to speak publicly and being professional, that I want to pass those skills onto current students."

Growing up on a ranch in southern Saskatchewan, Simeniuk has always had an agricultural background, but she never really knew how much she didn't know about agriculture until she entered a livestock evaluation competition as an FFA student at Opheim school. "I took last place and even though it was humiliating, it made me want to learn more," recalled Simeniuk. The experience made her develop a further appreciation for the agricultural sector and she took advantage of every opportunity to learn more.

Majoring in ag education and minoring in animal science at MSU-Bozeman, Simeniuk's ultimate goal is to be an agricultural education teacher. "I love working with children," she exclaimed. In order to be an effective teacher, she wanted to have experience outside of the classroom and the opportunity in working with the FFA Foundation presented itself. "I am so grateful for this opportunity and I am excited to not only help students but also provide a further impact on them," Simeniuk stated.

For students currently in FFA and not sure what their future holds, Simeniuk provides two pieces of advice: say yes to every opportunity and seek out a mentor. "Saying yes to opportunities, even though I didn't know where it would take me, has gotten me to where I am now," said Simeniuk. To students who may not have a direction on where they want life to take them, Simeniuk advises to find someone who is interesting and learn from them. "Soak in that person's experiences and listen to them, you might just learn something."