Rooted in Service: Macy Jordan and Jocelyn Eubanks Reflect on Their Year as Florida FFA State Officers

By: Madelin Garcia

Two young women from Jackson County recently wrapped up a year of service that reached every corner of Florida agriculture. Macy Jordan of Malone and Jocelyn Eubanks of Sneads served on the 2024–2025 Florida FFA State Officer Team, Macy as State Secretary and Jocelyn as Area 1 State Vice President. Representing their communities and advocating for agriculture, both leaders look back on the experience with gratitude, growth, and a vision for the future.

Macy Jordan: Building a Legacy Through Presence

Raised on a row crop farm in Malone, Macy Jordan’s introduction to agriculture was early and hands-on. “I grew up on a farm specializing in peanuts and cotton, with some of our land leased for cucumbers,” she shared. “Being raised on a family farm gave me a front-row seat to the agriculture industry from a young age.”

Macy joined FFA in sixth grade, where she found her footing through the Creed Speaking competition. Reciting E.M. Tiffany’s powerful words, “I believe in the future of agriculture”, ignited her passion for public speaking and leadership.

TK Photography

Her path to state office was inspired by a moment of awe at her first Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT), where she saw a state officer from her own chapter speak on stage. “I remember thinking, ‘How cool is it that I know a state officer?’” That moment stayed with her and became the seed of her own ambition to serve.

Throughout her year of service, Macy traveled the state, including an impactful week in Miami alongside Area VI Vice President Raelynn Paniagua. “I went in thinking I was there to teach, but those students ended up teaching me,” she said. “They shared their culture, welcomed me with new foods and customs, and opened my eyes to life beyond what I knew.”

Macy’s theme for her year centered around “building your own legacy,” but her biggest takeaway came from a more subtle shift: the value of being present. “I hope I’ve inspired members to live in those ‘in-between’ moments, because that’s often where growth happens,” she said. “Don’t rush toward the next high or dread the next low. Trust that your me will come.”

This fall, Macy heads to the University of Florida to study agricultural communications, with plans to double major in Food and Resource Economics. Long term, she hopes to return home to Jackson County and invest in the local ag programs that shaped her. “We have some truly outstanding chapters with the potential to be powerhouses in the state,” she said. “I’d love nothing more than to help cultivate the next generation of FFA leaders and agriculturalists right here where my journey began.”

Jocelyn Eubanks: Leading with Quiet Strength and Purpose

For Jocelyn Eubanks, the journey into FFA wasn’t immediate, but once she found her place, she never looked back. “I grew up in the woods hunting with my dad, and on the river with my stepdad,” she said. “We were surrounded by agriculture in Jackson County, but I didn’t know much about it until high school.”

It wasn’t until a friend invited her to visit the high school land lab that everything changed. “That very same day, I came home with my first show heifer and gilt,” she laughed. “From then on, I jumped into every contest, event, and project I could.”

Encouraged by a family friend and her dad’s persistent nudging, Jocelyn eventually stepped outside her comfort zone and screened for state office. “FFA taught me how to use my voice and helped me overcome my fear of public speaking,” she said. “I realized that if I could encourage even one student, help one person find their voice in FFA, it could change their life, just like it changed mine.”

One of the most transformative experiences of her term was a trip abroad to Spain and Portugal in January. “It was the farthest I’d ever been outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “But sitting down with producers and hearing about their lives made me realize how much we all have in common, no matter where we’re from.”

Jocelyn’s approach to leadership is grounded in humility and care. “True leadership isn’t loud,” she said. “It’s quiet, consistent, and rooted in care. It shows up in the way you listen, how you encourage others when they doubt themselves, and how you lead with integrity when no one is watching.”

When asked about her favorite aspect of service, Jocelyn points back to community. “My community is my support system,” she said. “Jackson County rallies around its youth. We don’t get that kind of support if our chapters aren’t active in the community—putting on events, lending a hand, and showing up.”

Jocelyn made it a point to attend meetings and local events while home and found joy in listening to others share how organizations like FFA, Farm Bureau, and Optimist Clubs are making an impact. “Community involvement is essential,” she said. “It’s what keeps these programs alive and gives students the same opportunities I had.”

Looking Ahead:

For both Macy and Jocelyn, their year as Florida FFA State Officers was more than just a title, it was a time of deep reflection, purpose, and growth. Each leaves a legacy of service, not only across the state but right here at home in Jackson County.

As they head into the next chapter of their lives, their roots remain firmly planted in the soil that raised them. And for the next generation of young agriculturalists in Malone, Sneads, and beyond, Macy Jordan and Jocelyn Eubanks have shown just how far a voice, and a little faith, can go.