Growing up in a small, family-run commercial cattle and farming operation, it was natural for FFA State Officer Wyatt Blackmore to become interested in many aspects of agriculture.

Prior to his time as a state officer, the Powell High School grad was a part of his local FFA chapter for five years, and competed in Farm Business Management, Parliamentary Procedure, Animal and Crop Proficiencies and Conduct of Chapter Meetings.

It was Career Development Events (CDEs) such as these that gave Blackmore such a passion for the organization. 

“Being part of FFA during high school allowed me to travel and compete, but more importantly, it provided an opportunity for me to make friends and connections all across the state,” Blackmore said. 

These connections inspired him to find a larger role within the Wyoming FFA Foundation. So, as a PHS senior last year Blackmore looked into the possibilities of his future in FFA after graduation.

“It took me a while to decide that I was going to run for state office,” Blackmore said. 

In the National FFA Foundation, holding a state office is one of the highest roles one can attain. 

Being a state officer is a large responsibility and an even larger sacrifice. Officers must complete some form of higher education within the state of Wyoming … which is oftentimes a deal breaker. 

“I first seriously considered it the summer before my senior year, when I was at the Wyoming FFA camp. I was encouraged and talked with the previous year’s state officers,” Blackmore said. 

With his mother being a former ag teacher and state officer, Blackmore found it important to follow in her footsteps, and in a way build a legacy. 

So, after the Wyoming FFA camp, Blackmore began his journey toward state office.

There is an extensive list of requirements, as well as a detailed application that each candidate must complete. 

The applications are due in March, and the candidate must be present at the annual state convention in Cheyenne for the interview process. 

“The interview process was unlike anything I had ever experienced before,” Blackmore said. “The interviews themselves happen multiple times a day lasting anywhere from five to 15 minutes each. In between each interview, you spent the day in a holding room with your fellow candidates. In the holding room, it’s usually very busy. People are spread out having conversations, playing card games, line dancing and karaoke.”

From there the selection committee goes through and selects candidates to move on to the next round of the selection process. 

“As for being inducted, it was probably one of the most suspenseful events of my life,” Blackmore said. “Standing there knowing half of you will run up on stage and start an amazing journey, and half of you will be left in the hot box both sad and happy for the friends you had made over the last week.” 

He said being in the convention hall during state officer selection is a surreal experience. There is cheering, laughter, tears and most importantly, gratitude in the air. 

Blackmore doesn’t quite remember hearing his name announced, as the suspense was so intense at the moment. 

“When we stood on stage as the 2024-2025 Wyoming FFA State Officer Team for the very first time, I was humbled by the fact that I was now standing in the very same place as the people I had looked up to all of high school,” he said. 

Blackmore was chosen to be the second vice president of the Wyoming FFA Association last April, a big achievement as Powell has not had many state officers. 

Alongside Blackmore that day in April was his family who have watched him grow. 

“I always saw that Wyatt had many skills to be a strong leader, in FFA, and life,” his mother Shannon Blackmore said. “What I have been the most excited to see is Wyatt having the opportunity to be mentored and coached.”