– Every Farmer has a Story with T. Wayne Williams –
Answering the call
Woodbury’s T. Wayne Williams becomes the first national FFA officer from Tennessee in more than a decade
Story and photos by Page Haynes
– Every Farmer has a Story with T. Wayne Williams –
Answering the call
Woodbury’s T. Wayne Williams becomes the first national FFA officer from Tennessee in more than a decade
Story and photos by Page Haynes
In a moment that sparked pride throughout Tennessee’s agricultural community, T. Wayne Williams of Cannon County was elected Southern Region Vice President for the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Organization at its 98th National Convention in Indianapolis.
The event — held Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 — boasted a record-setting crowd of more than 73,000 FFA members, alumni, and supporters. Only six officers were chosen for the prestigious roles — president, secretary, and four vice presidents representing the northern, southern, eastern, and western regions.
“Having the opportunity to serve as a national FFA officer … truly no one deserves it,” says T. Wayne. “This is an opportunity and blessing of a lifetime. We have 1,042,245 FFA members across our nation, however only six get to wear this lone-emblem jacket [which displays only the FFA logo with no state mentioned across the top.]
“Throughout 2026, I will get to travel over a hundred thousand miles, make trips to Japan to meet the Future Farmers of Japan, visit 35 different states, go to FFA conventions and camps, meet with industry stakeholders and legislators in Washington, DC, and advocate to help strengthen the agriculture industry in my southern region [11 states].”
Having a Tennessee representative on the national FFA board is a celebrated event, since it’s been a decade since the last Tennessean was elected. T. Wayne, whose full name is Troy Martin Wayne Williams — after his great-grandfather, Troy; grandfather, Wayne; and dad, Martin — is a fourth-generation cattleman who previously served as Tennessee’s 2024-2025 FFA State President. In that role, he guided more than 25,000 members and spoke at many agricultural gatherings, including several Tennessee Farmers Cooperative events.
Although he’s a prominent figure in current agricultural circles, this agricultural path wasn’t always at the forefront of his thoughts, T. Wayne says. As a kid, he focused predominantly on sports: basketball, football, trapshooting, and golf. But at 10 years old, he had a formative experience on the farm when he helped his father save a calf, which solidified his passion for agriculture. His favorite heifer, Shania, was struggling to birth her first calf. Despite T. Wayne’s desperation and panic, his father very calmly showed him how to pull the calf and save both animals.
“Farming is something that you are gifted to do and you truly have a calling and a passion for. ” — T. Wayne Williams
Although most FFA jackets in our state have ‘Tennessee’ embroidered across the top of the FFA emblem, only six in the nation do not because they are worn by FFA national officers. T. Wayne proudly shows off his new blue, lone-emblem jacket that shows that he now represents more than one state — he represents our southern region as the National FFA Southern Region Vice President.
“It was at that moment, with that calf in my arms, that I remember my dad saying, ‘Moments like these are the reasons we’re called to this industry of agriculture,’” says T. Wayne. “And it was right there, sitting on that hill, that I knew I wanted to be involved in agriculture. I saw the full circle of life and realized how special our farmers and ranchers are.
“This is not something that you just fall into; it’s something that you are gifted to do, and you truly have a calling and a passion for. And I think this is what I’ve been called to do, and I hope to keep this family tradition alive.”
The Williams family currently raises 40 Angus cattle and 24 acres of row crops. Their operation dates to 1959 when T. Wayne’s great-grandfather, Troy, started the farm in nearby Gassaway. The current facility is run by T. Wayne’s father, Martin, who is looking to expand their current 116-acre farm that was purchased in 1970.
The Williamses have been members of Rutherford Farmers Cooperative since 1985. They rely on the Woodbury branch store for advice on feed rations, and Co-op personnel visit their farm to help them improve their herd. Additionally, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative and its member cooperatives have personally benefited T. Wayne, he says, through their avid support of 4-H and FFA members.
“It’s special to see how Co-op and these ‘Red Caps’ truly are uplifting the ‘Blue Jackets,’” T. Wayne points out. “Throughout my time as a national officer, I plan to continue to showcase how the member Co-ops and Tennessee Farmers Co-op truly are making a difference in FFA members’ lives and agricultural operations across our state. I hope to also live out our FFA vision statement to grow the next generation of leaders who will change the world.”
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com