Jasper's Claire Linette seeks Indiana FFA state officer seat

Jasper’s Claire Linette is in a statewide race that could send a Dubois County student into one of Indiana FFA’s seven state officer posts, a yearlong role that reaches far beyond a line on a résumé. If elected, she would help steer programming, visit chapters and represent more than 14,000 Indiana FFA members across the state.

Linette, of Jasper FFA, is one of 17 candidates competing for the seven officer seats that make up the 2026-27 Indiana FFA state team. The positions are president, secretary, northern region vice president, southern region vice president, treasurer, reporter and sentinel. The state officer team will be announced during the final session of the Indiana FFA State Convention, set for June 15-18 at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville.

The selection matters in practical terms for schools and agricultural programs across Indiana. Indiana FFA says its officers are high school graduates who defer college for a year to serve as youth ambassadors. During that year, they travel statewide, present seven three-day leadership conferences and speak to an estimated 14,000 FFA members, supporters and others involved in leadership and agriculture. The officers also log an average of 20,000 miles, making the job a demanding public-facing assignment rather than a ceremonial title.

For Dubois County, Linette’s candidacy reflects the reach of Jasper FFA and the county’s broader agricultural education pipeline. FFA remains one of the most visible places where local students build public speaking, leadership, technical and service skills that can translate into careers in farming, agribusiness, education and related industries. A local student in the officer pool also gives Jasper schools and Dubois County agriculture supporters a direct connection to state-level decisions about member engagement and chapter programming.

The state organization says the officer year begins and ends at the annual state convention, underscoring how central the convention is to Indiana FFA’s leadership structure. Indiana FFA also says it offers seven leadership conferences and more than 200 activities for members, which helps explain why the officer roles carry influence across rural, suburban and urban schools.

Indiana FFA’s 2026 candidate slate includes Linette alongside Baron Riley of Crothersville FFA, Dallas Quick of Boonville FFA, Duncan Baitz of McCutcheon FFA, Elizar Aldaz of Tri-County FFA, Ethan Sheets of Clinton Central FFA, Garrett Schwering of North Decatur FFA, Hayden Stookey of Tippecanoe Valley FFA, Jaylynn Goodwin of Southridge FFA, Jeanna Crawford of Franklin County FFA, Jentri Wallace of Rushville FFA, Jessie Frazee of Fountain Central FFA, Kaitlyn Kalbaugh of William Henry Harrison FFA, Katie McClain of Carroll FFA in Flora, Khloe Hinojosa of Warsaw FFA, Olivia Shidler of Clay City FFA and Stone Stauch of South Putnam FFA.

The nominating committee that helps choose the seven officers includes nine members: three FFA seniors, three executive committee members and three past state officers. For Jasper, the result will show whether one local student helps shape Indiana FFA’s next year of travel, training and statewide outreach.