Questions and connections from ILSSO

By Abbey Garland, 2025-2026 Ohio FFA State Secretary

A few weeks ago, I raised my hand from a seat in a haywagon on a fighting bull farm. It was the halfway point of an exciting two weeks at the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO). ILSSO is a National FFA program that brings 75 state officers from across the country together to explore culture and agriculture. This year, I joined six fellow Ohio FFA State Officers on a 4,000-mile journey to Spain as an ILSSO traveler.

My teammates and I had spent months preparing for the trip— researching Spanish culture, learning Spanish phrases on Duolingo, and doing everything we could to feel ready. They would agree that I feel most comfortable when I have all my questions answered ahead of time. And yet, sitting in that haywagon with my hand raised and a question forming, I felt completely unprepared.

If you (or the cartoon-loving kid in your life) are familiar with the Disney film Ferdinand, you can picture what the rolling countryside of the bull farm looked like. Beyond the scenery, the experience was made meaningful by the rancher, Cristian, who thoughtfully answered every question our group asked. From big questions about the economic impact of fighting bulls to smaller questions about breeding practices compared to typical cattle, he welcomed them all.

I had a question of my own — one that felt small, because my only prior knowledge of fighting bulls came from the movie Ferdinand. Unsure that it was a silly question, I asked whether he felt that the movie represented the fighting bull industry accurately. To my surprise, he explained that the studio that created Ferdinand had visited his farm ten years ago and used his operation as the basis for sketches. He had essentially given the moviemakers the very same tour we were on that day! Hearing this, our group felt an instant connection to the farm. Cristian also shared other fictional stories about fighting bulls that he recommended reading, giving us even more ways to understand the culture, the animals, and the people behind the tradition.

Throughout ILSSO, there was no shortage of meaningful questions to ask, and with them came familiar hesitations: wondering if anyone else was thinking the same thing, worrying that I had missed an explanation earlier, or questioning whether there might even be a clear answer at all.

Why did that uncertainty feel so familiar? Because it echoed the same hesitations many of us have had throughout our FFA journey. Like me, maybe you’ve asked yourself questions like: Am I ready to speak in front of a group for this contest? Can I find my footing in the ag room even though I’d never shown livestock? Are the people I meet in FFA going to accept me?

As a state officer now, I’ve met many members who have felt alone with these same unspoken questions. Now I know that if I had asked those things out loud, I would have been met with the same encouragement and support that we found when we were curious about Ferdinand on the farm. Questions create connections— because someone else is probably asking themselves the same question and someone else is probably ready with the answer. All it takes is the courage to ask. As I look ahead to the remaining travels of my time as Ohio FFA State Secretary (travels that won’t be on a plane, but may still add up to 4,000 miles) I’m holding onto this truth from my ILSSO experience: curiosity connects people far more than having all the answers ever could.