From Shy to Speaking: Two Past Presidents on Finding Their Voice in FFA
Real Stories, Real Skills: Profiles and Case Studies
Public speaking is a skill people expect leaders to have, and most assume the good ones were born that way. Two past National FFA presidents say otherwise. Both describe themselves as shy at the start, and both point to small, repeatable habits rather than sudden courage. This article lays out what Gary Swan, president in 1966–67, and Breanna Holbert, president in 2017–18, told FFA about finding their voice, then turns their habits into a practice plan.
- Key takeaway: both presidents describe confidence as the result of goals, practice and gradual exposure, not of natural ease.
- Caution: these are self-reported accounts from FFA features, not research.
Gary Swan: Last Place to Second Place
FFA’s April 2026 profile of Swan says he grew up a shy, introverted boy on a dairy farm in Steuben County, New York, and credits public speaking events with changing that. He finished almost last in his first contest as a freshman and placed second at the Eastern States Exposition as a junior. He ties the improvement to setting goals and working toward them, which led to continuous improvement and more confidence (source).
After that contest, Swan recalls, the national president at the time, Kenny McMillan, knocked on his hotel door and suggested he consider running for national office someday. What impressed Swan was that an officer came to encourage the contestant who had not won. Swan later served as national president from 1966 to 1967.
Breanna Holbert: Three People at a Time
In a June 2018 piece in which the national officer team shared confidence tips, Holbert said she was a shy freshman whose chapter advisor set goals for meeting people. At a leadership conference, the advisor would have her meet three people and learn each one’s name, chapter and a fun fact or two. Afterward, Holbert recited those details back to the advisor. She credits these gradual steps with boosting her confidence (source).
The same article gathered tips from five other officers. One said preparation was the source of calm, adding that slowing down and taking a few deep breaths helps. Another relied on a phrase, “never perfect, strive for excellence.” Others said small steps outside your comfort zone add up and that speaking from the heart makes stage fright less of a concern.
What They Have in Common
| Habit | Swan | Holbert |
|---|---|---|
| Start small | Entered contests as a freshman | Met three people at a time |
| Set targets | Goals for improvement | Goals for each event |
| Get feedback | Contest results | Reciting back to an advisor |
| Find an encourager | An officer at the hotel door | A chapter advisor |
The table is this site’s summary of the two accounts. Both involved a person who noticed and encouraged them at the right moment.
A Two-Week Practice Plan
- Pick one low-stakes speaking chance, such as a chapter announcement.
- Write one measurable goal, like making eye contact with three people.
- Ask a trusted adult to give one piece of specific feedback.
- Repeat with a slightly bigger audience.
The plan is this site’s suggestion, built from the habits above.
Questions Readers Ask
Is shyness something to fix?
Neither account says so. Both describe building skills while remaining the same person.
What if I place low in my first contest?
Swan’s account suggests a low first result can be a starting point rather than a verdict.
Honest Limits
Both accounts are memories shared with FFA, years after the events, and each person made choices and had supporters that other members may not. The sources do not show how many shy members follow similar paths.
On this site, Gary Swan and Breanna Holbert have full bios, and Kenny McMillan, who appears in Swan’s story, has a short roster-level page that says plainly what the record does not show.