After a year of many firsts for FFA chapters and its members, they also had to deal with many uncertainties — including the 2020 National FFA Convention & Expo on a virtual platform, the dismissal of one National FFA Officer, and handling the coronavirus pandemic as a whole. Continuing with the unpredictable season, the National FFA Board of Directors and National FFA Board of Trustees have announced the resignation of Mark Poeschl as CEO of the National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation, effective January 15.
Poeschl has held the title of CEO since August of 2016 and was a former FFA member who also held a leadership role as a past state FFA president from Nebraska.
“It’s been my distinct honor to serve in this role since August 2016. I know I haven’t always made everyone happy; I know there have been challenges we have faced during my tenure, but my intentions have been for the best interests of FFA and our student members. I’m proud of what we have accomplished together, but now it’s time for the next CEO of FFA to step in and make their mark, and to lead the next stage for National FFA with your good support and enthusiasm,” said Poeschl
“Mark informed us Thursday that he has decided to end his role as National FFA CEO. The board wishes Mark well, and we acknowledge the impact he has made in the last four and a half years as National FFA leader,” Dr. James Woodard, National FFA Advisor and Board Chair, said in a news release. “The Joint Governance Committee will now come together to have meaningful discussions and chart a course to identify the next CEO of National FFA.”
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members as part of 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
