#011 Coty Back

Coty Back is the team leader for the National FFA Officer team, and manages the National FFA Convention Arena. From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Coty calls Frenchburg Kentucky home. Starting at an early age, he worked on a Tennessee walking horse farm where he learned the value of hard work, and doing things the right way. During his freshman year of high school, he took his first agricultural education class because the idea of welding and using nail guns excited him.

Quickly he got more involved with the program. Competing in the Agricultural Sales, Agricultural Marketing and several other Career Development Events (CDEs), Coty learned about the opportunity to serve on officer teams above the local level. He was "proud as a peacock" when he was elected to Region President, a state officer position, and served as 2006-2007 Eastern Region Vice-President on the national level.

He attended Western Kentucky University, where he graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Business. He worked as a sales representative with Dow Agrisciences for two years in Montana. Here he managed 1/3 of the national's 4th largest state. After two years, he took a position with the Indiana FFA Association, and today he coaches our national officer team while helping leaders everywhere learn how to lead.

On this episode, we talk about how he developed his own personal leadership philosophy, and why he thinks everyone else should do the same. We touch on his upbringing in Kentucky, and how his parents pushed him from early on to work hard, be humble and have an open mind. We dive deep into leadership on this one. Get ready for some good stories from a classic Kentucky gentleman. Enjoy.