Robert F. Eselby III of New Hartford, Conn., has accepted the position as Eastern Regional FFA Coordinator with Eastern States Exposition (ESE). He will be responsible for planning, organizing and executing Career Development Events (CDE), Leadership Development Events (LDE) and other competitive activities within ESE’s FFA program.
“This position is critical to our competitive events,” explained ESE Director of Agriculture Elena Hovagimian. “The Eastern Regional FFA Contest is the second largest competition of its kind in the country. Throughout The Big E, we host students from 17 of the 18 participating states in the eastern region, and we welcome more than 100 FFA chapters. Eselby will oversee 22 CDEs and LDEs, ensuring than they run smoothly, align with state guidelines and provide meaningful lessons for participants.”
“The FFA programs at ESE have been an important part of my FFA career,” said Eselby. “From coming as a chapter member to serving as an intern as the Connecticut FFA State President, The Big E has played a valuable role in my development as a leader, a state FFA officer and a person. I am excited to continue my work with the group at The Big E in this new role.”
Eselby received a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems: Environmental Horticulture from the University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs, Conn. He is earning his master’s degree in plant breeding and molecular genetics through the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn., where he is a graduate research assistant.
While enrolled at UConn, Eselby served as the Assistant FFA Coordinator for the Connecticut FFA Association, UConn Extension Market Pricing Specialist, teaching assistant, student plant care assistant, lab and field analysis specialist intern and a member of the Horticulture Club. Off campus, he has worked in various positions at Northwestern Regional High School, Ski Sundown and Steve’s Tree Service. He has a long history with the FFA, too; he served as the Connecticut FFA Association State Treasurer, the Connecticut FFA Association State President and earned his American FFA Degree in 2023.
Eselby has attended The Big E since he was a child, but his FFA journey with ESE began in 2017, when he volunteered his time with his chapter and made corsages for fairgoers in Farm-A-Rama, a tradition that still occurs today. In 2022, he interned with the FFA and served as superintendent for the FFA Stars Pageant, tabulated results from various competitive events and organized numerous relevant events. From 2023-2025, Eselby was FFA Coordinator Assistant at The Big E, serving as a liaison between ESE’s Agriculture department and the FFA Coordinator to streamline communication. Now, he is eager to take on more responsibilities within a brand-new role.
“I will remain committed to continuous improvement,” stated Eselby. “Both in my own work and in elevating Eastern Regional FFA events. I will ensure feedback and concerns from previous years are actively addressed and that we continue moving forward to create the best possible experience for members, advisors and ESE. With strong collaboration and thoughtful leadership, I believe we can achieve record participation and a standard of excellence not seen before.”
ESE is delighted to have Eselby signed on in a permanent capacity, given his steadfast dedication to the Fair, and wishes him luck in his new role as well as through the remainder of his studies.