Category: Undergraduate Students
Agriculture and natural resources major Kalena Diaz takes her FFA success to the national level
December 05, 2025 Written by Nya Wynn | Courtesy of Kalena Diaz
Starting in seventh grade, University of Delaware Class of 2029 agriculture and natural resources major Kalena Diaz participated in her local FFA chapter. Since then, she has made considerable strides in her agricultural education through FFA.
As a senior at Odessa High School in Townsend, Delaware, Diaz worked on FFA’s Employment Skills Leadership Development event from November to March. The project simulates a job application process, requiring contestants to provide a resume, cover letter and attend multiple mock interviews for a job of the student’s choice.
Diaz took her skills to the 2025 Delaware FFA State Convention this May at the University of Delaware where she placed first in the state. She then attended the regional convention — again placing placed first, solidifying her place at the national convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Diaz made it to the final rounds, finishing eighth in the nation!
When originally selecting a positon at the state level, Diaz selected an advocacy position with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. At the national level, she selected an environmental literacy and youth internship position with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
“I selected these positions because I could use my work within agricultural education and my knowledge of environmental science to expand on my skillset and discuss why I would be the most suitable candidate for each position,” explained Diaz.
Diaz submitted her cover letter and resume prior to the conference and went through the interviews, networking, and follow up correspondence portions of the competition once she arrived in Indianapolis.
Diaz’s success, however, did not just come from one year of hard work. The work she did in previous years prepared her for this year’s final. Throughout her career, Diaz participated in the Agronomy and Environmental Science and Natural Resources (ENR) career development events.
“During environmental science, we were responsible for understanding concepts related to forestry, soils, aquatic ecology and wildlife, but even further than that we had to present team activities,” Diaz said. “This event taught me the importance of team collaboration and communication. As a team, we placed 12th in the nation.”
The result came as a shock for Diaz and her teammates, but this only inspired them all to reach even higher the following year.
Out of all the events, agronomy took Diaz the most out of her comfort zone, pushing her to work with new peers, learn an abundance of unfamiliar concepts and work as a part of a team.
“Through the agronomy event, we were responsible for identifying different crops, weeds, agronomic disease and disorders and pests,” Diaz said “We had to understand the impacts they have on crops and ways to mitigate impacts. We also had to do a soil interpretation and a team activity.”
Diaz’s team placed fourth in the nation.
Diaz stressed the role that FFA held in her own personal growth and for exposing her to diverse opportunities, a sentiment that she feels people do not fully understand about the organization.
“When the public thinks of agriculture, they don’t really see the opportunities that I have been afforded because of this organization,” Diaz said. “Through this journey, I’ve learned to understand that things might not line up with the way that I kind of picture or want them to, but also that everything truly happens for a reason.”
After completing this year’s national competition, Diaz settled back into her classes and extracurricular activities here at UD where she hopes to continue her involvement with FFA through UD’s Collegiate FFA chapter.
“I want to get involved with and help grow our FFA chapter,” Diaz said. “I also plan to run for state office within FFA. Things might change within that plan, but that is the long- term goal.”
UD’s FFA accepts students from all majors and levels of agricultural background. The program aims to provide a community for people with interest in agriculture, while also contributing to members’ personal growth.
“Collegiate FFA is mainly focused on being a part of the agriculture community,” Cecilia Uebel, UD Class of 2027 sustainable food systems major and president of UD's Collegiate FFA, said. “I also truly believe it helped me transition from high school to college, knowing that there were people in the agricultural community who had my back.”
In addition to providing a community for students looking to find a piece of home while away at school, Collegiate FFA also helps students continue to develop the skills they began working on at middle and high school levels.
“While high school FFA has more requirements and expectations, at the collegiate level, we are mainly focusing on connecting with students,” Uebel said. “It offers students strong communication skills, teamwork, time management, problem-solving and leadership skills as well.”
At any level, FFA works to provide a community for students to bond over a common interest and allow them to work together toward their personal, academic and professional goals.
“When I attended my first state convention and I saw that sea of blue jackets, I saw how a community was formed over the common goal of agricultural education,” Diaz said. “I became more involved and really just fell in love with the idea of growing our leadership ability through education.”