Kourtney Lehman, a 2017 Baker High School graduate who served as president of the Oregon FFA State Officer Team in 2017-18, has been elected secretary of the national organization.

Lehman, 21, was one of six elected to the national team Saturday near the close of the four-day National FFA Convention and Expo, which began Oct. 30 at Indianapolis.

Lehman will remain in Indianapolis until Thursday to begin preparing for her new role.

She said a telephone interview Monday that she is looking forward to the year ahead.

“It’s an incredible experience that I never thought I would get to have,” she said of her election to national office. “I’m looking forward to sharing my love for agriculture and my love for service.”

Lehman is studying agricultural business management at Oregon State University. Although she has been on campus for two years, she has junior status as she works toward her degree.

After high school graduation, Lehman delayed her education for a year while serving as state FFA president. She will be required to do the same as she fulfills her national duties.

In that role, she and other members of the officer team will travel more than 100,000 miles during the year, she said.

That will include attending state FFA conventions, camps and classrooms throughout the country. The group will travel to Japan in January.

“There will be a lot of travel, public speaking and workshops,” Lehman said. “And a lot of interaction with agriculture and industry as well.”

Lehman said she was acquainted with some of the team members from her service as a state officer. They spent time Monday in team bonding activities and trainings to acquaint themselves with expectations of their new positions and to learn more about each other.

This is the second year an Oregon representative has been elected to the national team. Shea Booster of Bend is the retiring western region vice president.