David Hill pictured with his FFA Distinguished Service Award in Ames on Monday, April 11, during the 94th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. –Photo courtesy Ellen Doese/Doese Photography

As part of this year’s annual Iowa FFA Leadership Conference which took place in Ames on April 10-12, North Tama Schools Superintendent David Hill was presented with a Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding dedication and support to the association through the years.

The award – of which Hill was one of six recipients – was presented in Ames on Monday, April 11, during the second night of the association’s three-day state convention.

“Specifically, Mr. Hill served as the administration representative on the Iowa FFA Board of Directors for the last three years,” Scott Johnson, Executive Director of Iowa FFA Association, said of Hill’s selection.

Hill – who graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural education – first began his teaching career in 1996 as the high school agricultural ed teacher and FFA advisor for Benton Community School District in Van Horne where he worked in those roles for nine years before becoming a school administrator.

During his time at Benton Community, the school’s FFA program took home numerous awards and was named one of the top FFA programs in the state and nation.

Hill also served as the Northeast District FFA Advisor (one year), was on the Iowa FFA Board of Directors (two years) including as its chairperson (one year), and served on the editorial board (two years) for the National FFA Oganization’s magazine FFA New Horizons while at Benton Community.

Since becoming a school administrator in 2005, Hill has continued to volunteer with FFA through various avenues including as parliamentarian for the state convention business session and as a volunteer judge for numerous FFA competitions.

“An organization as large and diverse as FFA relies on the efforts of thousands of volunteers, and I am proud to be one of them,” Hill told the Telegraph. “We don’t do it for awards or recognition, we do it because we are passionate about young people, agriculture, and leadership, and because we want to support the positive opportunities offered through the FFA.”

“It is an honor to support FFA because FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of so many students!” Hill said.