Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
Parker Kruse of Groveland was recently voted FFA Area 3 State Vice President. Parker, a member of the FFA since the sixth grade, was elected after he went through a rigorous screening process that was conducted in May of the school year. After screening, he campaigned for the month of June and was elected into office by FFA members from the Central Florida area.
The nineteen-year-old FFA VP has lived in the South Lake community for pretty much his entire life. He played in Minneola /Clermont Little League baseball. He attended both Mascotte Charter and Pine Ridge Elementary Schools, Clermont Middle School and is a graduate of South Lake High School.
During his middle and high school years, he was very active in many different clubs and organizations. At Clermont Middle School, he was a member of the local FFA chapter. He participated in multiple Career Development events for the club and served as the local area FFA chapter President in the eighth grade. He even raised and showed his prize pigs at the Lake County and Florida State Fairs. During his high school years at South Lake High School, he remained active in FFA and several other clubs, such as chorus and the National Honors Society.
He proudly shares, “My three proudest moments from my time in high school were; Being a part of the South Lake Honor Chorus for three years, serving on the Prom Committee for two years, and winning the Florida FFA State Prepared Public Speaking Contest my senior year!”
Parker’s official title is Florida FFA Area 3 State Vice President. His responsibilities and roles will include representing the chapters and members of Area 3, which includes the Lake, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Volusia, Flagler and Seminole Counties. He is also responsible for working along-side his teammates to represent Florida FFA, agricultural education and Florida’s agriculture industry in numerous ways for the 2020-2021 school year.
Parker and his team were at the state FFA office this past week to work on the development of virtual workshops that they can start presenting to other participating students in the upcoming months. While there, he participated in the first Florida State FFA Board Meeting of the year. During the meeting they discussed how they are going to adapt their school calendars for the coming year and how they can offer more advantageous opportunities to help increase total student membership.
The role of the Florida FFA is to make a positive difference in the lives of its affiliated students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The FFA at one time stood for the Future Farmers of America; however, in 1989 the organization officially changed its name to the National FFA Organization.
Parker is a recent graduate of South Lake High School. He is currently taking a gap year to fully serve the Florida FFA. After his year of service is complete, he will attend Santa Fe College in Gainesville to complete his Associate of Applied Arts Degree before transferring into the University of Florida, where he will study Agriculture Communications.
One of his favorite quotes “Don’t let the worries of tomorrow, overshadow the joys of today!” closely identifies him with his favorite hobbies and interests: fishing, running, listening to podcasts, playing basketball with his friends, and just relaxing at home in the hammock.
He adds, “I would just like to share how very thankful I am for all the people who helped me get to where I am today! I would like to personally thank my parents and all of my family, my agriculture teachers: Jeremy Odom, Cori Holton, Lisbeth Sisson, Andrea Stevenson, Amy Stotler, David Swartsfager, the Willis Family, and Jeff Johnson for all the help and support they have always shown me.”
Parker’s parents John and Sheila Kruse have long been active members in the South Lake Community. Parker’s father John, is a Senior Planner for the City of Clermont in the Zoning and Planning Department. His mother Sheila, is a second-grade teacher at Pine Ridge Elementary School.
Parker, the SOUTH LAKE TABLET congratulates you on your title as Florida FFA Area 3 State Vice President and wishes you success in representing Central Florida as a leader, role model, and advocate of agricultural awareness.
