Sheridan Hank, the daughter of Jeff and Trisha Hank of Aledo, and a member of the Mercer County FFA Chapter represented the state of Illinois in the Leadership Development Event (LDE) of Employment Skills at last week’s National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The National FFA Convention is the largest youth convention in the world, bringing 69,000 members to Lucas Oil Stadium and filling every convention hall and motel in Indianapolis. Every state in the Union participates in the Employment Skills (known as Job Interview in Illinois) LDE with the exception of Alabama. Hank had to win through Sections, Districts, and the State level to go on to the National Convention contest. Once there, she competed against other state winners and rallied through two full days of cuts rising her to the Top 12 and then the Top 8. She competed in aspects including phone interviews, job applications, resume, cover letter, and face-to-face interviews. Each level she passed, new aspects were added, including 3 additional personal interviews, speed networking and a telephone job offer with negotiations. Her proposed job she was interviewing for was the Illinois Beef Association’s Legislative Affairs Intern. Hank, a high school senior, received a Gold rating and placed 5th in the nation (behind 4 college freshmen/state FFA officers). She plans to attend Lake Land College as a member of the Livestock Judging Team, then transfer to Iowa State to major in Ag Business with minors in Accounting/Taxation/Pre-Law. Then attend Law School at Southern Illinois University.
