The new executive director of the Iowa FFA Foundation boasts a background in agribusiness and ag policy.
Shannon Latham has served in a leadership role with north Iowa-based Latham High-Tech Seeds for over 20 years and currently represents the 55th District in the Iowa House.
She tells Brownfield her FFA advisor accompanied her on a visit to Iowa State University to help choose between an agricultural journalism and public policy major.
“So of course, why not just double major? And it really was a great move for me, it was the right fit. And for the past 30-plus years I’ve been engaged in either public affairs, public policy, public relations, and agriculture all the way. So I felt like this was just a great full-circle moment.”
She says as interest in FFA grows across the state and more chapter advisors and ag instructors are needed, the Foundation is providing startup funds.
“When you are a new teacher you’ve got a lot of expenses, and oftentimes you’ve got loans to repay at the same time that you need to be doing all the adult things like paying for your apartment and getting the car that will get you to work. So we’re helping provide some startup funds there.”
Latham says the Iowa FFA Foundation is also offering financial support for student teachers.
