The 47th National Convention of the Future Farmers of America was held in October at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. An active FFA leader and in his high school, Alpha served as secretary and president of the Ladysmith FFA Chapter.
OFFICAL DELEGATES
ALABAMA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
GEORGIA
GENE SCHWARM, Loogootee
KANSAS
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEW HAMPSHIRE BRUCE LYONS, Colebrook
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA DAVID ERVIN, Statesville
NORTH DAKOTA
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PUERTO RICO
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
NATIONAL FFA CHORUS MEMBERS
ALABAMA Randy Lee King
CALIFORNIA Dana Andrew Lawler
KENTUCKY
MICHIGAN Margaret E. Smith
NEW YORK Susan Edwards
NORTH CAROLINA Joseph E. Fulton
NORTH DAKOTA Tim Mecham
SOUTH DAKOTA
VERMONT
WASHINGTON Mary F. Alward
NATIONAL FFA BAND MEMBERS
CALIFORNIA Jan Backlund
CONNECTICUT John Pryor, Jr
KENTUCKY Dan Combs
MARYLAND Leona Ludwig
MINNESOTA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NORTH CAROLINA Randy E. Moles
PENNSYLVANIA
WASHINGTON Pamela Brown
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1974 General Business Session
Pechacek of Wisconsin presented the report of the National Leadership Conference Committee and moved its adoption; motion seconded by Stafford of Delaware and carried. Nowlin of Oklahoma presented the report of the Regional State Officers Leadership Conferences Committee and moved its adoption; motion seconded by Bellis of Missouri, and after considerable discussion carried.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1974
Tyson of Arizona moved to approve the recommendations of the Boards of National Officers and Directors; motion seconded by Brownback of Kansas and carried.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974 Morning Session
Music was then presented by the National FFA Choir under the direction of Marvin MyersofW. Clarksean of Minnesota moved that National FFA dues for next year be set at $1.50; a proposal supported by Lemmons of Washington.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974
Following music from the National FFA Band, Mr. Griffin, Associate Director of the American Vocational Association, delivered brief remarks. Bode of Oklahoma has proposed the adoption of this proposed amendment to the National FFA Constitution; motion supported by Blizzard of Alabama.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1974
The Third Session of the convention was called to order with the Opening Ceremony at seven thirty by President Mayfield. Presentation of the FFA Foundational Agricultural Proficiency Awards was made by the national officers during a colorful ceremony.
FUTURE FARMERS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1974
10 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL
Alpha Trivette, president-elect, presented Mark Mayfield with the gavel he used to open the convention. The last session of the convention was interrupted sine cube at nine o'clock with the closing ceremony of the new officers.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
CALIFORNIA
IOWA
LOUISIANA
MISSOURI
NEVADA
NEW JERSEY
NORTH CAROLINA
OHIO
Starling, Delaware Michael Lee Tobe, Ottawa JamesArthurTodd,Wooster TimothyT.Tryon, Greenville TedWilliam Waddle,Washington Kim Wells,Warszawa.
WASHINGTON
RobertTomasevich, College of Sequoias, Visalia, Kalifornië Paul Starbuck, Meeker High School, Meeker, Colorado EugeneDoss, Mulberry High School, Mulberry, Florida. Martin Aaser, Hoërskool Worthington, Worthington, Minnesota Vernon Bruhn, Hoërskool Waconia, Waconia, Minnesota. Hall, Four Rivers AreaVocational-Technical School, Washington, Missouri Jim Riley, Cameron High School, Cameron, Missouri.
Meineke, Beaver Dam Senior High School, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Arland C. Carlson, Lander Valley High School, Lander, Wyoming.
LIFE IS A CONTEST
FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA
But remember that life is a competition and a life lived without competition is nothing more than a life lived in mediocrity, complacency and stagnation. A year ago I said that the FFA was so great that you or I, individually, could not break it. Life is too short not to do that, and somehow this evening I failed once again to say how I feel and broadcast.
Likewise, I lament the number of state officials who refused to reap the full benefits of the FFA by trying endlessly. Life is not a short candle for me; it is a kind of beautiful torch that I have in my possession for a while, and I want to keep it burning as brightly as possible before I pass it on to future generations. Life is too short to live without a goal in mind, nor without joy in our lives.
Being a member of the FFA is a great opportunity to grow, and have the opportunity to learn, mature, care, love and realize like my five brothers and I.
A STORY EVER NEW
I wish we would all take the time to forget ourselves once in a while and show a genuine interest in the people we meet. There are some who say that there are no more Horatio Algers, that any boy cannot be president, that there are no great opportunities left. We just wouldn't make most of our history ever new if we didn't use our extraordinary abilities to do some extraordinary things.
It sure is an exciting story, this "Story Ever New." I really think the excitement of all this news would be too much for any of us.
34;I HAVE BUT ONE ENEMY"
Elmer Grim, a farmer back in the hills of West Virginia, shared this advice with me before I finally walked out the door on his farm. One of the many things I missed most at home this year was waking up in the morning to the chirping and singing of birds. Watching a newborn calf come into this strange and different world from the perfect environment in the mother's body.
Now that he stood proudly with his head high and accepted things as they were, he began to look for that first sip of milk.
SCENES OF 47TH NATIONAL FFA
CONVENTION-
34 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL
YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE
We are content to listen to people who continually say to us, "You can't get there from here." Too often we put our trust in people who stumble in the dark and are content to reach for the moon because they can't reach for the stars. It takes time to understand that 'perfect speed simply means you're there'. When we begin to understand, so will our eyes. Ultimately we will see how wrong those people were when they told us, "You can't get there from here." They could never do that because they didn't try, but you can because hard work got you there.
See with your understanding, find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.” We can be anything we set our minds to be, we only need to want to be.
WHY NOT?
It is a chance for growth for any FFA member who is willing to take advantage of it. But this year I've realized that people are still just people, wherever you go. They have the same basic needs and dreams that people have had for generations past.
This is not very difficult to do because people want to be inspired, they want to be excited.
38 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL CAREER SHOW
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
AUDITING COMMITTEE
BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE
42 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL STEVE LEMMONS, Washington
NATIONAL INCENTIVE AWARDS COMMITTEE
NATIONAL CHAPTER AWARDS COMMITTEE
BOAC
NATIONAL CONTESTS COMMITTEE
NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE
Mrs. Pam Powell, White House Staff Assistant, for her dedication and continued support of FFA. All the companies, civic clubs and individuals who sponsored and made possible the many activities providing involvement and enjoyment for FFA members. Respected judges, officials and participants in the various contests, awards programs and other special events that serve the FFA by selecting the winners.
The people of the American Royal for providing a day of festivities that were educational and entertaining for the members and allowing the FFA to have a part in dedicating the new arena.
NATIONAL DEGREE PROGRAM COMMITTEE
FFA ALUMNI COMMITTEE
We congratulate the FFA members who participated this year and conducted themselves in a manner that reflected the high ideals of FFA. An award system has been established that recognizes those FFA chapters that have an Alumni Chapter whose membership is equivalent to FFA chapter membership. Each chapter qualifies at least one recipient for the Legion of Merit Citation to be presented at the next National FFA Convention.
Each Alumni member must be involved in at least one function in conjunction with the local FFA chapter each year.
NATIONAL FFA SUPPLY SERVICE COMMITTEE
NATIONAL FFA CALENDAR COMMITTEE
48 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES COMMITTEE
Whether it is stated that the National FFA sincerely appreciates the efforts and cooperation of the United States Department of Agriculture, and a special thank you to Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz for taking time out of his schedule to meet with the participants of the State Presidents Conference speak. However, it may be concluded that the National FFA Organization sincerely appreciates President Ford and his entire White House staff and would like at this time to extend a very special thank you for the excellent tour of the White House, and for President Ford's comments on his support of the FFA. .
Rick Walz, the National FFA Officers and the entire National Staff for making the 1974 Summer National Leadership Conferences a success."
NATIONAL PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
34;Whether it is determined that the National FFA Organization commends and appreciates the work of the FFAC Center National Staff; Dennis Sargent, conference director;.
REGIONAL STATE OFFICER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
50 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL
FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA 51 THE NATIONAL FUTURE FARMER MAGAZINE COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL FFA TREASURER
M. CAMPBELL
The majority of the FFA Foundation's budget is spent on your incentive payments. All FFA financial data is now processed via a minicomputer in the FFA Center. This new system provides up-to-date cash flow information three times a week, which is very useful for FFA staff.
A copy of the audit is also submitted to the United States Congress as required by law.
54 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL CONVENTION FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND RETAINED INCOME
STAR FARMER OF AMERICA
STAR FARMER OF AMERICA JUDGES
Staheli, president, Allied Mills, Inc., Illinois; Roderick Turnbull, directeur Public Affairs, KansasCityBoard ofTrade,Missouri.
STAR AGRIBUSINESSMAN OF AMERICA
STAR AGRIBUSINESSMAN OF AMERICA JUDGES
I. duPont deNemours and Company, Delaware
NATIONAL CHAPTER AWARDS PROGRAM
SILVER EMBLEM
BRONZE EMBLEM
Iowa Falls Chapter, Iowa Falls; Manchester Chapter, Manchester; South Hamilton Chapter, Jewel; Waverly Shell Rock, Waverly. Big Walnut Chapter, Sunbury; Buckeye Valley Chapter, Delaware; Carrollton Chapter, Carrollton; Northwestern-ClarkChapter, Springfield; RiverViewChapter, Varšava;. Poglavje zlomljene puščice, zlomljena puščica; Collinsville Chapter, Collinsville; FletcherChapter, Fletcher; Morrison Chapter, Morrison; Pra-.
Dickson County Capitol, Dickson; Meigs County Capitol, Decatur; Polk County Capitol, Benton; Rogersville Chapter, Rogersville;.
GOLD EMBLEM
NATIONAL CHAPTER SAFETY AWARDS
The best applications from each state on the basis of one chapter per 5,000 members or greater, were sent to their various regional offices where a panel of experts ranked them in the gold, silver and bronze badge awards.
BUILDING OUR AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
Cadott Chapter, Cadott; Chapter Denmark, Denmark; Green Bay East Chapter, Green Bay; Stoughton Chapter, Stoughton.
AGRICULTURAL PROFICIENCY AWARDS
DAVID BRENT NANCE MIKE PEASLEE
BRENT BRONNER DON BROWN
BRISTOW
AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS
LYNN RAYGROFF DONALD ROGERS
AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING Grassland, Pennsylvania
DAVID L. PREWETT DENNIS EUGENE
SWILLEY PAUL BERGMANN
TAYLOR BROWN JERRY BURKETT
ROLAND F. PENCE HOWARD JAY
STOLTZFUS
BEEF PRODUCTION
RONALD BISCHOFF DAVID OSWALT
CROP PRODUCTION
BRIAN CARL MARTENS CALVIN L. TANNER
GREG LYONS CHRIS MICKMAN
MALCOLM WADSWORTH
HOME AND FARMSTEAD IMPROVEMENT Wetumpka, Alabama
JOHN ALLEN SMITH, JR
RONNIE BROCK GREGORY L. SNYDER
JOE TYRRELL PHILLIP E. BAGWELL
OUTDOOR RECREATION
STEVEN ALBER MICHAEL L MARTIN
HENNESSEE GARTH W
CHRISTENSEN RUSSELL KEITH
PRENTICE DEBRAA. GRANT
SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT ARTHUR ARNOLD Warren, Ohio National Winner
NATIONAL FFA PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST
JUDGES
SPEAKERS
FOOD EXPORTS — SALVATION OF AMERICA
THE CHOICE
FUTURE FARMERS— LEADERS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
THE COMING FAMINE RANDY HARRIS, Clovis, New Mexico
All businesses benefit from an adequate water supply for farming needs, because when water is plentiful, agricultural income will be sure and abundant. In Curry County, my home, total farm and ranch receipts were recently estimated at $30.3 million per year. The most practical, economical and conservative idea in many people's opinion is to transport water from wet regions to dry regions.
Think of the billions of dollars the Southwest would contribute after receiving the much-needed water, not just for its own.
76 FORTY-SEVENTH NATIONAL
NATIONAL FFA CONTESTS
East and Judy Ziegler, Instructor Alfred DeRose, Jr., Vocational Agriculture Instructor Atascadero High School, Atascadero, California. The team consisted of Dewayne Brake, Robert Smith and Brent Sturgeon and was coached by Melvin E. The team consisted of KentChambers, RickJensen and John Gutschenritter and was coached by WayneColtrain, Vocational Agriculture Instructor, Neodesha High School, Neodesha, Kansas.
IONAL OHGANIZA-'IOM
YAL ASSOCIATIO
FARMER
