Eight of 12 Texas FFA state officers headed to Texas A&M University
Top leaders from the nation’s largest state FFA association choose Aggieland for their education
Eight of 12 members of the 2026-2027 Texas FFA state officer team have chosen Texas A&M University for their education, with six beginning classes this fall and two coming to campus after their year of statewide leadership and service.
Katelyn Krenek, Colt Nelson, Tatum Braden, Trevor Shaw, Gunner Rodgers, John Yarbrough, Logan Tucker and Milam Henry will represent Texas FFA’s more than 180,000 members across the state throughout the year. All plan to call Texas A&M home.
Elected by their peers after years of chapter, district and area involvement, the eight officers spent their high school careers building leadership, public speaking and agricultural advocacy skills through FFA. As state officers, they will spend the year traveling across Texas leading workshops, speaking at conferences and events, and connecting with FFA members in their communities.
Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, said the group reflects the caliber of students Texas A&M continues to attract.
“These students are some of the best and brightest Texas agriculture has to offer, and they were leaders long before they ever set foot on our campus,” Savell said. “We are proud they chose to continue their journey at Texas A&M, and we know the same passion for service and advocacy that earned them a place on the Texas FFA state officer team will make them outstanding Aggies.”
The newest Aggie Texas FFA state officers are:
Katelyn Krenek, president
Krenek, from New Ulm, said her passion for agriculture, leadership and service grew out of her involvement in the Bellville FFA, Austin County 4-H, her church and her community. She served in leadership roles including Bellville FFA president, Bluebonnet District FFA president and Area XI FFA Association first vice president, and created PEARL, a program supporting senior citizens, through the Texas FFA Ford Leadership Scholar Program.
At Texas A&M, Krenek will pursue a degree in agricultural leadership and development. She will spend the coming year traveling the state as Texas FFA president before enrolling on campus. She hopes to use her education and faith to address mental health challenges in rural communities and plans to get involved with the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Colt Nelson, first vice president
Nelson grew up in Woodson, where his passion for agriculture, leadership and public speaking began through FFA. He served as a chapter and district officer and Area IV FFA president, advancing to the state finals in extemporaneous speaking for four years and earning the title of Texas FFA state champion in extemporaneous speaking. He also built a self-dumping hay trailer through his agricultural mechanics supervised agricultural experience program.
Nelson plans to study construction science at Texas A&M, combining his interests in construction, agriculture and hands-on work. Before he starts classes, he’ll spend a year serving as first vice president and traveling to FFA chapters across Texas alongside Krenek.
Tatum Braden, Area II state vice president
Braden grew up on a cotton farm in Garden City, raising and showing livestock through her family’s swine operation and helping maintain a Red Angus cattle herd. Over five years in Texas FFA, she held numerous chapter, district and area leadership positions and competed in leadership, career and speaking development events. As a Texas FFA Ford Leadership Scholar, she created Bearkat Buddies, a reading program connecting students. She also served on the Texas 4-H Council as second vice president after a 10-year career in Texas 4-H.
Braden is majoring in agribusiness with plans to become an agricultural loan analyst, helping farmers and ranchers navigate financial challenges.
Trevor Shaw, Area III state vice president
Shaw, from Klein, developed his passion for agriculture through FFA despite not growing up in a traditional agricultural background. He exhibited pigs and broilers and competed in poultry judging and public speaking. He served as president and vice president of Klein Cain FFA, North District FFA secretary and Area III Association first vice president. One of his favorite projects was leading Agventure Day, introducing special education students to the agriculture industry.
Shaw is pursuing his interest in the poultry industry through the Texas A&M Poultry Judging Team while studying agricultural economics and poultry science.
Gunner Rodgers, Area VI state vice president
Rodgers grew up on a hay farm in Cookville, developing a love for working the land and raising livestock for the show ring and for production. He was heavily involved in both Texas FFA and Texas 4-H, competing in leadership, career and speaking development events at the district, area and state levels for nearly 11 years between the two organizations.
Rodgers is majoring in agricultural leadership and development at Texas A&M with plans to become an agricultural lobbyist, advocating for farmers and ranchers at the state and national level.
John Yarbrough, Area VIII state vice president
Yarbrough grew up in Midlothian, where he spent 10 years showing lambs and market and breeding rabbits. He served in FFA leadership roles including Midlothian FFA president, Blackland District FFA president and Area VIII Association vice president.
At Texas A&M, Yarbrough is pursuing a degree in agricultural education with plans to become a high school agricultural science teacher and eventually a professor. He is also a Dean’s Excellence Scholar and plans to get involved with COALS FX, the Baptist Student Ministry, Breakaway and Christian Leaders in Agriculture.
Logan Tucker, Area IX state vice president
Tucker, a first-generation Aggie from Huntington, discovered his passion for agriculture after joining FFA his freshman year despite not being directly involved in traditional farming and ranching growing up. He competed in chapter conducting, creed speaking, livestock judging, dairy cattle judging and agricultural communications, and was elected Huntington FFA Chapter president, McGee Bend District president and Area IX president.
Tucker is pursuing a degree in agribusiness and plans to get involved in leadership and Christian organizations on campus. After graduation, he hopes to start his own agricultural operation while pursuing a career in policy or law.
Milam Henry, Area X state vice president
Henry, from Corpus Christi, began his FFA journey through livestock exhibition and rabbit production, serving as Calallen FFA president, Coastal Bend District president and an Area X FFA officer. Soil judging and soil stewardship speaking helped spark his interest in conservation and natural resource management.
Henry is pursuing a degree in agricultural leadership and development and hopes to advocate for producers while working to ensure agricultural resources are responsibly managed for future generations.
