Mark Sanborn: National FFA President 1978–79
Ohio · No. 52 of 100 · National FFA President 1978–79
At a Glance
- Office: National FFA President, 1978–79 (No. 52 of 100)
- Hometown: East Orwell, Ohio
- College: The Ohio State University, graduated cum laude (agricultural economics)
- Career: Sales and publishing roles, then a leadership speaker and author; president of Sanborn & Associates
- Recognition: National Speakers Association president (2003–04), Cavett Award, Speaker Hall of Fame
- Best-known book: The Fred Factor
Of all the people on the list of National FFA presidents, Mark Sanborn may have taken the leadership training furthest into a second profession. After a year representing a youth organization of roughly half a million members, he built a career as one of the best-known leadership speakers and authors in the United States, and later served as president of the National Speakers Association.
The FFA Year, 1978–79
Sanborn grew up on a farm in northeast Ohio and was listed in the 1979 National Future Farmer as national president with a home address in East Orwell. His election came at the 51st National FFA Convention in Kansas City in 1978, a landmark year. It marked 50 years since the first convention, and the program drew President Jimmy Carter, who addressed the convention as a former FFA member, and the radio commentator Paul Harvey, whose “So God Made a Farmer” speech is part of FFA lore.
In July 1979 Sanborn was among the FFA leaders who met President Carter at the White House during the State Presidents Conference. The president’s remarks that day noted the FFA theme for the year, “FFA Preparing For Progress,” and pointed to the organization’s tie to the presidency of a former Georgia member.
Education
He graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University. One speakers-bureau profile says his major was agricultural economics.
Career
After college Sanborn worked as an account executive, regional manager and associate publisher, according to the biographical record that includes his FFA presidency. He then moved into professional speaking and in 1986 began his career as a speaker and author, and later founded Sanborn & Associates, Inc., a company he describes as an idea studio for leadership development.
Books
His best-known book, The Fred Factor, is a story about a postal carrier named Fred Shea who made his work extraordinary. It was a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller and has sold well over a million copies worldwide, by various accounts more than two million. His other titles include TeamBuilt, Upgrade and You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader.
Speaking honors
Sanborn served as president of the National Speakers Association in 2003–04, earned its Cavett Award — the profession’s highest honor — and is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He also holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation. His clients have included Costco, FedEx, Harley-Davidson and ESPN.
Why His Story Matters
Sanborn is a reminder that FFA’s greatest export is often speaking and relationship skills. His leadership books and keynotes, which have reached audiences in every U.S. state and several other countries, draw on a youth organization training that begins with the creed and the extemporaneous speech.
Next: Douglas C. Rinker, 1979–80 →
Sources
- The National FUTURE FARMER, June–July 1979 (IUPUI archives): national officer list
- American Presidency Project: President Carter and the FFA State Presidents Conference, July 19, 1979
- Leadership Now: Mark Sanborn author profile
- SMEI: Mark Sanborn profile
- Porchlight Books: About Mark Sanborn (original link no longer resolves; checked Nov. 2026)
- Agricultural Speakers: Mark Sanborn
- National FFA Organization: FFA history timeline