Iola High School student overcame his shyness through FFA

IHS's Josh Kaufman was one of the shyest kids in his freshman class. FFA taught him how to connect with his peers.

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February 26, 2021 - 1:48 PM

Josh Kaufman, Iola High School Photo by Vickie Moss / Iola Register

Josh Kaufman planned to join FFA when he entered his freshman year at IHS. 

He grew up on a farm, and older friends told him how much fun they had in the group.

Still, Kaufman was nervous. He’d always been shy. It wasn’t easy to talk to people he didn’t know.

Even his adviser, Amanda Strickler, would later tell him he was the shyest student in her freshman class.

She encouraged him to compete. It would be good for him, she said. 

“I was doubting myself,” Kaufman said. “Judging at first was tough.”

He kept working through it though, forcing himself to learn and compete. He worked through the nerves, developing skills to help him converse with strangers. 

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