A University student will spend the next year representing the South for a national agricultural education organization.

Regina Holliday, a junior animal science major from Dublin, was chosen to be this year’s Southern region vice president for Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Holliday will spend the next year representing the University, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the University’s FFA chapter as she travels across the United States and to Japan.

“I was, and still am, speechless,” Holliday said of her selection. “It is an honor for me to serve the FFA in such a capacity during the upcoming year.”

In her post, Holliday will meet with top leaders in business, government and education, have the opportunity to train students in leadership and personal growth, and “[set] policies that shape the future of the organization and [promote] agricultural literacy,” she said.

“I believe each student has the opportunity to promote agriculture in our daily lives,” she said. “Think about all of the items we use in our daily lives, and realize that everything stems from agriculture in some shape or form.”

Only one candidate per state is allowed to compete to represent their region per year.

Once Holliday was chosen to be Georgia’s candidate, she underwent an application process based on all of her past academic and extracurricular activities, which for Holliday includes showing livestock and being a National FFA proficiency finalist honor in 2007.

At the University, Holliday is a College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ambassador, the reporter for UGA Block and Bridle and a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority.

“As I travel the world this year, it is my hope to share with others the true value of our nation’s leading industry and its importance to our survival and well-being,” Holliday said. “Of course, there will be some ‘calling of the dawgs’ along the way.”

The annual FFA National Convention, held this year Oct. 22-25 in Indianapolis, included the final five-round interview elimination process for the 2008-2009 national officers.

Holliday said the interviews covered FFA current events, agricultural issues and agricultural education issues. Candidates submitted essays about Supervised Agricultural Experience.