Past State Officer Spotlight: Diane Crow, 1983-1984 Region II State Vice President
Diane Crow, a proud alumna of Michigan FFA and the only female on her state officer team, has had a career marked by service, leadership and empowerment. She served as the 1983-1984 Region II vice president, representing the Camden Frontier FFA Chapter.
Growing up on a dairy farm, Diane’s initial career ambition was veterinary medicine, but her time at Michigan State University led her to a dual-bachelor’s degree in animal science and food systems and economic management, ultimately opening doors to the world of agricultural economics.
Diane’s FFA experience laid the foundation for her impressive international career. She began at National FFA, where she helped students discover the vastness of the world by working on international exchange programs. Her role facilitated opportunities for students to visit, intern and gain global agricultural experience. Diane’s passion for connecting people across borders grew from there, leading her to work for nonprofits focused on agricultural exchange programs for high school and college students, providing them with life-changing opportunities to learn about agriculture, food systems and natural resources on a global scale.
One of the standout chapters of Diane’s career was her time with the U.S. State Department, where she coordinated international exchanges to bring people from around the world to the U.S. These programs focused on diverse topics, from biotechnology to disability rights, giving participants the chance to see complex issues from multiple perspectives. Diane’s approach was simple yet profound: allow people to see the full spectrum of information and form their own conclusions. As she wisely noted, “Telling people what they should do or believe never works. But allowing people to experience things and build real relationships with them, that does.”
Diane’s humanitarian efforts extended even further, with three years spent in Iraq working on women’s empowerment programs. Despite the challenges of being in a multicultural and sometimes dangerous environment, she describes it as some of the most rewarding work of her life. From training journalists to helping secure opportunities for women to enter the workforce in a culturally accepted way, Diane worked tirelessly to improve educational opportunities, standard of living and basic needs like water systems. One of her initiatives even taught struggling Iraqis to become beekeepers, helping them create sustainable livelihoods.
Her journey didn’t stop there—she also spent a year focusing on human rights work, helping communities rebuild after wartime.
Reflecting on her time in FFA, Diane attributes much of her professional success to the skills she learned in the organization, particularly leadership. From public speaking to running meetings, FFA gave her the tools she needed to navigate a wide variety of industries with confidence and grace. Her advice to current FFA members? “Take advantage of every opportunity FFA has to offer. Go to the National FFA Convention, get out of Michigan and meet people with different ideas. No matter what you end up doing, the life skills, perspectives and relationships you build through FFA will carry you far farther than you can imagine,” she attests.
A rose among thorns indeed—Diane was given 13 roses by her all-male officer team back in the day, a nod to her strength and grace in leading the way forward.
