Star in the making: Boswell performs at FFA convention

Boswell, just 17, looks to grow musical career after performance at FFA convention

  • Hunter Boswell performs at the National FFA convention in Indianapolis. Boswell, who was one of 48 out of 200 chosen to perform at the convention, said this was his biggest crowd ever at 68,000 people. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Hunter Boswell performs at the National FFA convention in Indianapolis. Boswell, who was one of 48 out of 200 chosen to perform at the convention, said this was his biggest crowd ever at 68,000 people. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • Fellow FFA Convention attendees gather as Hunter Boswell plays and sings on a street in Indianapolis. Boswell has been performing since he was 9, and can play the bass guitar, piano, acoustic guitar and drums. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Fellow FFA Convention attendees gather as Hunter Boswell plays and sings on a street in Indianapolis. Boswell has been performing since he was 9, and can play the bass guitar, piano, acoustic guitar and drums. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

     

    Hunter Boswell has been singing longer than he could fully speak. 

     

    He picked up bass guitar and piano at age 2, acoustic guitar at 4 and drums at 9, which is also when he began singing in church. 

     

    Now 17, he’s moved to his biggest stage yet, performing in front of 68,000 people at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. 

      

    “I wanna do this again!” Hunter texted his mother, Deidre Boswell, after the performance.

     

     

     

    Bowell was one of 48 students out of 200 chosen to perform at the October event.

     

    “It was great for him to shine with his music, because he’s been doing it so long,” Deidre said. “So just to have him up on that stage and to see how relaxed he was, it amazed me.”

     

    It wasn’t Hunter’s first time. 

     

    In both 10th and 11th grade, he performed at the State FFA Convention for a crowd of 7,000, which at that time was his largest audience. 

     

    “The first time I did it, I was really nervous, but I did decent,” Hunter said. “I was the only one that played two songs. It was fun, but I was nervous.” 

     

    He said he wasn’t as nervous for this year’s performance at nationals — in fact he took a nap before he went on stage. He said confidence in his abilities helped calm the nerves.

     

    “They just had the experience of going to Indianapolis and they had the opportunity to build leadership skills and meet employment opportunities,” said Travis Sertich, Oglethorpe County High School’s FFA adviser. 

     

    Deidre said Sertich has been a huge part of Hunter’s journey, helping him step out of his comfort zone when performing.

     

    “Mr. Sertich was a constant support, sticking with him through every moment at both state and nationals,” Deidre said. “While many people have encouraged Hunter over the years, it was Mr. Sertich’s support that helped Hunter see what he’s capable of.”

     

    Hunter, whose family lives in Lexington, hopes to pursue a career in music when he graduates from high school.

     

    “I’m just going to work right into my career and pray to God that it takes off and I can sing,” he said. “I ain’t even got to be as big as these other folks, I just want to sing. It (doesn’t) matter where I just want to sing, because I like to see people’s face(s) happy.”

     

    Hunter is in the process of getting better sound equipment and building his TikTok account.

     

    “It just feels like God has opened so many doors, you can just see the doors coming open,” Diedre said. “We are very blessed, hoping his career just takes off because he enjoys it so much.”

    FFA