Youth Leadership Keynote Speaker Tanner Clark at the Kansas FFA State Convention
I'll never forget this moment. Fifteen hundred phone lights lit up McCain Auditorium at once. Everyone was focused on shining their light on others instead of shining their light on themselves. It was magical.
That was my Wednesday night in Manhattan, Kansas, for the Kansas FFA State Convention — session four of their 98th year. I'd flown in the day before, and since I had some time, I wandered over to the Kansas State campus and “snuck in” to McCain Auditorium while it was still completely empty. I just wanted to stand where I'd be standing the next night and picture the room filling up with up to 2,400 FFA members.
Why Kansas FFA Booked a Keynote Speaker for Their State Convention
This year's convention theme was "Cultivate: Grow Leaders. Lead Change." Kansas FFA didn't want just another pep talk to close out a session — they wanted their student leaders walking away with something they could actually use the next time life got hard. I built the keynote around the One Second of Strength mindset and empower FFA members to make the shifts that would change their life. I titled the keynote “3 Shifts to Cultivate a Great Life”.
Backstage With the Kansas FFA Leadership Team
A youth leadership keynote is a completely different animal than a school assembly. Typically before a school assembly I’ll walk around the gym or auditorium to get to know the students. Conventions are different because there are usually other speakers or FFA business being conducted before going on. That night there was a student speaker ahead of me, and — I'm not even kidding — a full laser light show. So instead of walking around fist-bumping students, I spent the time backstage with the Kansas FFA state officers and their leadership team, just getting to know them and hearing what they hoped this session would do for their members. The principle stays the same no matter where I'm speaking, though: connect with real people before I ever pick up a microphone.
The Story I Open Every Keynote With Was a Hit…Literally
To open the night, I told them about the time in high school when I was a member of a youth leadership organization like the FFA. When I went to the state convention I was walking backwards, flirting with a girl. When I turned around to keep walking I hit a pole! I went down…she kept walking. It didn’t work out between us. It's a funny story, and it's also the door into a harder one — a mistake I made as a teenager that put a police officer on my porch and me in front of a judge. I won't get into the details here any more than I do on stage, but here's the line that matters: it doesn't matter what you did, it matters what you do. What you did is part of your history. It isn't your destiny.
Teaching Kansas FFA the 3 Shifts to Cultivate a Great Life
The first shift is about the rooms you stand in — your circle, the people you surround yourself with. I told them the right people won't just raise your ceiling, they'll raise your floor and keep you from settling. And really, there are only two shifts you can make: change the circle you're in, or change the circle you're in. Meaning, either you change the people around you, or you go find new people to surround you.
This is where the phone lights came in. I asked everyone to pull out their phones and turn on their flashlights, and told them the light they were holding up had the power to brighten somebody else's darkness and change their circle. Then I asked them to flip the camera around to selfie mode. Every single light in the room turned off. You can't shine a light on the people around you and stare at yourself at the same time.
The second shift is about how you spend your time, and this is the line that really landed with them: "The number one thing standing between you and what matters most is distraction. Distraction is the enemy of action, keeping you from gaining traction toward a life filled with satisfaction." I challenged the youth to pay attention to their screen time and to put down their phones when they are distracting them from what matters most.
The third shift is your inner voice. Plain and simple — the words you say matter, but the words you say to yourself matter most. Too many leaders are limiting their future simply because the words they say are keeping them stuck.
I closed by having everyone stand up, hold up one finger, and I said it one more time: you are always one second of strength away from a completely different life. Fifteen hundred FFA members, on their feet, one finger in the air, choosing to take control of their life and make the shifts that would help them and the people around them.
What Kansas FFA's Student Leaders Walked Away With
The “One Second of Strength” Mindset to make better choices
How to go from doomscrolling to direction: understand why social media is so powerful and learn to shift to overcome digital distractions.
How to 'Train your Brain' in emotional moments to overcome negative thoughts
Set clear intentions using the S.O.S. Approach to lead with purpose in competition and in life.
Develop resilience to stay on track toward what matters most, even after setbacks.
Overcome internal distractions, like negative thoughts and self-talk, to take control of your life
The Reaction to My FFA Keynote Speech
Mary Kane, Executive Secretary of the Kansas FFA Association, summed up the night better than I could: "The message was on point for young people in today's society, and the feedback from young people right away — they were very excited. They appreciated an honest message that spoke to their hearts and really connected with them where they're at today." She was kind enough to add that I was easy to work with and that she'd highly recommend me to any FFA association or high school looking for a solid youth program.
Thank You, Kansas FFA
A huge thank you to Mary Kane and the whole Kansas FFA Leadership team for trusting me and my message for your state leadership convention. And to the members of Kansas FFA in attendance: You are always one second of strength away from a completely different life. Make the shifts to cultivate an incredible life.
Invite Top Youth Leadership Keynote Speaker Tanner Clark to Your State Convention
If you're planning a leadership state convention, leadership conference, or regional CTSO event and are looking for an impactful youth leadership speaker, let’s connect! I’ve been fortunate to keynote events for the FFA, FBLA, DECA, Student Council, National Charity League, and others. Call (877) 528-9061, Monday–Friday 8 AM–5 PM CT, or fill out the form at onesecondofstrength.com/speaking.
One Second Can Change Everything.
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