Officers of the local FFA chapters participated Sept. 29 in the 2020 Oklahoma FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conference at the Stride Bank Center in Enid.

The eight state FFA officers planned and conducted this year’s conference based on the theme, “Reduce, Renew, Resolve.”

Elected officers from each of the 62 high school FFA chapters in the northwest area attended the conference, which equipped each student with leadership tools focused on conflict resolution within a team.

The conference this year was split into two sessions to allow for proper social distancing protocols and all participants were required to wear masks.

Kelly Barnes of Choctaw was the keynote speaker for the conference.

He is an accomplished professional speaker and leadership coach and served as state FFA president in 2003-04.

“Amid what we have come to understand as a new normal, it’s imperative that FFA members are able to provide leadership on the frontlines of the world,” said Tanner Taylor, state FFA president.

“As a state officer team, we feel it is important that chapter officers are able to reduce the drama within teams, renew their passion for serving others and resolve any conflict that may arise throughout the unpredictable future.”