ONE!" With an explosion of cheers from every corner of the arena, the convention was underway. FFA members frolicked in the downtown streets, and the final tap of the gavel on Saturday afternoon brought the 68th National FFA Convention to a close. Years of Effort and Dedication to a single company was awarded during the ProficiencyAwards competition, held on Friday morning and evening.The Supervised Agricultural Experience program of the 115 finalists in 29 award areas was highlighted during the awards ceremony.
The national winners were selected based on their data and an interview before a panel of judges. The winners each received $500, a plaque, partial travel expenses for the convention and the opportunity to participate in the 1996 European Travel Seminar. The finalists in each category won $250, a plaque and. Sponsored byMallinckrodt Veterinary, Inc.and NascoDivision/Nasco International, Incorporated IDAHO:Justin Tindall,Rimrock INDIANA:BahWatkins,Shenandoah TENNESSEE:RandyCroft,McMinnCounty VIRGINIA:RichardL.DurrerJr.,Greene. Sponsored by Chore-Time Equipment Division of CTB Incorporated; Hudson Foods, Inc.; and Schering-Plough Animal Health.
Sponsored by American Cyanamid Company, Agricultural Products Division INDIANA: DanielE.Walstra,NorthNewton IOWA:JasonSallach,RedOak. Sponsored by Kubota Tractor Corporation; Na-Churs Plant Food Company; and Wilbur-Ellis Company GEORGIA:AndyTate,JeffDavis.
AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS
Winning teams and individuals were invited to the stage to be recognized and receive plaques during Saturday morning's conference sessions. Top teams and individuals received plaques, and some event sponsors provided scholarships to the first-place teams and individual players.
AGRICULTURAL SALES
DAIRY CATTLE
DAIRY FOODS
FARM BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT
FLORICULTURE
HORSE
LIVESTOCK
MARKETING PLAN
MEATS EVALUATION AND TECHNOLOGY
NURSERY/LANDSCAPE
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
POULTRY
AMERICA
AMERICAN STAR IN AGRIBUSINESS FINALISTS
AMERICAN STAR FARMER FINALISTS
NATIONAL WINNER
SECOND PLACE
THIRD PLACE
FOURTH PLACE
In fact, 750 million people die every day because of food in their own countries. The United States can't always compete in the number one concern, but other countries have to feed these people. HillarySmith had a long way to travel from Perry, Ga., to the National Finals Stage for the prepared public speaking competition. The end of that road led to successSmith gave a speech entitled "IBelieve" and captured the title of NationalFFA PreparedPublicFFAFPrepared Speech for the 1995 competition. of the genetic code. This should make it relatively easy to transfer genes to other plants. Genin N tobacco fights viruses, genin L6 flax prevents fungal infections and .
Jeffrey R.Glass,Russellville;DanielGray,East Lawrence;JasonE.Green,Russellville;Michael W.Hargrove,Clements;TehE.Head,Stacioni Smiths;MathewJones, EastLawrence;. Proctor,LoganCounty;JosephBradley Reddick,CarlisleCounty;ChadE.Shaw,Metcalfe County;Davin Smith, County Caldwell;Todd Stephens, Scott County; ScottTurpin, Madison Central;J.RyanWhite,UnionCounty;Luke Windsor,Hopkinsville;JaredW.York, County Caldwell. Rohrer, Verdigre;ChadRuzicka,NorthBend; Kevin Sagehorn,LoganView;Ann M.Schlautman,Howells-Clarkson;MatthewMichael Schlueter,Scribner-Snyder;KimberlyStuart,Nebraska.
King,Western Brown;TracyKitchel,National Trail;Eric Klotz,Bowling Green;Keith Leatherman, LibertyCenter;KennethLehman, Benjamin Logan; BrianE.Leindecker, Ridgewood;KimberlyDawnLindsey, Georgetown;ClayMace, MadisonPlains;. TobyHuizenga, Harrisburg; ChadA.Johnson, Lennox Sundstrom; JasonR.Knutson, Centerville;JoelKroll, Groton;DavidLeheska, Chamberlain;Marty Michalek,Chamberlain;.
NATIONAL FINALISTS
GOLD
Coming out on top is quite a feeling for National Agriscience Student Recognition Program winner Sarah]. Rhoades-Nichols of Cascade, Mont. The Yelm, Wash., FFA chapter struck gold not once, but three times at the 1995 National FFA Convention. In addition to the National Chapter Award, Yelmis also received gold honors in the National Chapter Safety Award and BOAC programs, making it one of six TripleGold chapters in 1995. NORTH CAROLINA: SouthRowan NORTH DAKOTA: Finley-Sharon, Rugby OHIO: BowlingGreen, Elmwood, Indian Valley, MiamiTrace, NationalTrail, NewBremen, Talawanda.
These talented FFA members represented chapters in 25 states and collaborated on a number of performances throughout Kansas City during the convention. During the Reflections sessions or at the “Taste of Kansas City” dinner, singing melodious ballads or trumpeting showstoppers, the choir captivated audiences wherever they went.
Over the past year, I have met many people on my journey who were frustrated, distressed, or lacked the confidence to follow their dreams because they didn't understand all that they were capable of achieving. Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse is a constant reminder that whatever I do and wherever I go, success is indeed possible and never far off. This verse gave me direction and confidence to move forward and live my dreams. We have been labeled Generation X. We can read about it in newspapers, see it on TV and hear it on the radio. Generation X, the idle, lazy, irresponsible generation that stays at home, eats junk food and plays Nintendo.
My first season was during my freshman year. It was the first game of the season for our team. There were guys who were faster, stronger and definitely more talented, but they didn't have my confidence. After several weeks of serious preparation, the cold day arrived in the winter of 1980. I could do it. It can take away our confidence. That's when we choose not to try. No one can laugh at the person who does nothing at home. There is no shame like Dan Jantzen, Olympic speed skater and number one gold medal contender, experienced when he fell twice in two different Winter Olympics when everyone knew he should have won. Trust is the only thing that holds this. LarryBird, NBA MVP and leader of the championship team, the Boston Celtics, said: “In the final seconds of the game, when the winning point is to be scored, I want the ball in my hands, in no one else's, in no one else's worldwide." That's a lot of trust, and it is.
Now the question is how do we become a master of what we do? How do you develop truly extreme leadership to succeed? We model it because success leaves traces. How do you become a 4.0 in school? How do you get elected to an office? How do you get rich? Make the team. Successful people consistently do the same thing over and over again. If we want a 4.0, we have to do what the 4.0 student does. The hard truth, this, in the words of Vince Lombardi, is a habit; unfortunately loses. The winner always wins because they work to lose. Who would have dared to step on the space shuttle Discovery after seeing the challenger blow before their very eyes? It is their risk takers, the visionaries and people like you who are willing to step forward and embody the risk philosophy. If we want the edge in life, we have to walk.
The youth of America need the edge. The edge that says, we make something of our lives. Life is too short to live in front of the television, education is too valuable to live in the back of the classroom, and life is too exciting to live doing nothing.
He found a metal strip on which the secret of the "touchstone" was written. A touchstone is a small pebble that could turn base metal into pure gold.
NATION AL FFA CONVENTION 'Kansas City, Missouri
AGRICULTURE TEACHERS
NATIONAL FFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
TRUSTEES AND CONSULTANTS
PARENTS OF NATIONAL
OFFICERS
PARENTS OF STAR IN AGRIBUSINESS AND
STAR FARMER FINALISTS
AND WINNERS
YEAR SPONSORS
35-YEAR SPONSORS
25-YEAR SPONSORS
15-YEAR SPONSORS
SPONSORS' BOARD EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
RETIRING SPONSORS'
BOARD
NEW AND CONTINUING SPONSORS' BOARD
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CITATIONS
AWARDS
BUSINESS
AUCTION
They were everywhere - checking bad doors, helping speakers backstage, posting news releases and handing out TheFFATimes. They were the Courtesy Corps: hundreds of members who volunteered for behind-the-scenes duties. These helpful members ensured that the convention ran smoothly from the opening of the last page is the show, and the tribute.
HALL OF STATES EXHIBITORS
AGCO
- Include internships, mentorships and job shadowing on the proficiency award application
- Create a Governmental Issue Leadership Conference where current events are presented by the agricultural
- Develop an informal meeting on current FFA
- Continue to promote and develop programs such as Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS), Food For
- Develop a question/answer brochure, which includes the mission statement, to be used to educate the public
- Continue to show the diversity of FFA members and events through FFA publications and promotional
- Develop a national FFA home page on the Internet which includes all facets of the National FFA Organiza-
- Market the FFA by using a postage stamp commemorat-
- A) Develop a public awareness campaign in every state. A committee consisting of various leaders and
- Develop a low-cost video with emphasis on the name
- Designate sections or FFA New Horizons to promote awareness of Career Development Events
- Create a promotional video on SAEs and proficiencies that expand student ideas on diverse SAEs and profi-
- Develop a program that allows FFA members to have access to FFA information on the Internet
- Use FFA Advisors Making a Difference and FFA New
- Develop an Internet home page with an interactive bulletin board
- Provide an e-mail address for each dues-paying mem-
- Submit news to Channel One including coverage of the national convention, programs and award updates
- Develop or modify a publication to inform members about ways to improve public relations at the state and
- Add a community involvement section to the National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO)
- Conduct a National FFA Alumni/Sponsor Appreciation Day
- Send FFA New Horizons to United States congressmen
- Dedicate a portion of FFA New Horizons to alumni/
- Create and update public service announcements to be dispersed to state associations
- Conduct a news release writing workshop at NLCSO
- Focus groups
- Speakers bureau
- State convention opportunities workshops
- Student leadership handbook
- Award-winning speeches resource book
- Provide information on sponsoring a Made For Excel- lence program, particularly to states that have not held
- Provide a guide book for every FFA member containing
- FFA Ventures provide an envelope with a reminder checklist to improve order accuracy
- FFA Ventures provide a separate page concerning jacket sizing, to better ensure proper jacket fit
- Improve quality of plaques by ensuring that name
- Embroider polos on page 6 and western jackets on page 59 with collegiate and alumni logos
Delegates voted to increase National FFA dues to $5 per year. They voted against a proposed increase in the amount of productively invested dollars and hours required to earn an American FFA degree. KristinRegal,Fallbrook;ElizabethRitter,Visalia- Gldn.West;RyanSchohr,Gridley;ScottStoller,Altaville-BretBarte;LisaSwanson, Jurupa Valley; CallieWalker, RedBluff; KellyAnn Warner, Ramona; JohnWiser, Biggs; Brian Woolery, HamiltonCity. FLORIDA: HaAllen, Suwannee; ChrisBrown, Kathleen; JeremyBurris, PlantCity; Robbie Cason, LakeButler; AlisonChastain, West Orange Sr.; SarahDasher, Branford; Jolie Gillis, PonceDeLeon; MaggieGoddin, Taylor Sr.; DustinJones, Trenton Sr.; Clint McWaters, Okeechobee; MandyMoss , SouthLake; Rocky Russell, Malone; JamesSmith, MooreHaven GEORGIA: AmyBertrang, BanksCounty; Chad Crews, Brantley; TobyFoster, Adairsville;.
VIRGINIA:RobBalderson, Essex;Mendy Beckman, Turner Ashby; Tara Cupp, Turner Ashby; DanaFisher, Central; Scott Gunnell, Tunstall; Jason Hawks, Dinwiddie; Jeff Kerr, treasurer; Heidi Martin, Caroline; HollyMills,. Create a mission statement for career development events. For example: the purpose of career development events. For example, the purpose of career development events is to enhance members' skills necessary for their lifelong endeavors and enable them to acquire skills to enhance their career success. Add a community engagement section to the National Leadership Conference for State Officials (NLCSO) Leadership Conference for State Officials (NLCSO) handbook to include chapter visits.
Provide information about sponsoring the MadeForExcel-lence program, especially to countries that did not have a lence program, especially to countries that did not have an MFE.
DURANGO BOOT I BURAN60 BOOT
- Improve upon existing incentive programs by giving states responsibility for the programs so they
- Promote advisor awards for 100% membership and National Chapter Awards by sending certificates to
- Promote collegiate FFA by having colleges and the National FFA Organization create pamphlets about
- Develop a shadowing program sponsored by national
- Encourage advisors' families' involvement in FFA
- Develop a brochure of FFA opportunities to send directly to eighth graders
- Develop a program to promote cooperation among
- Complete all business sessions by Tuesday
- Continue to sponsor quality workshops on communica-
- Develop a home page on the Internet concerning FFA
- Recognize school counselors who support FFA and
- Develop a national FFA home page on the Internet
- Allow time for chairs to meet with subcommittee chairs and vice chairs prior to the delegate dinner
- Demonstrate good sportsmanship by being modest in winning and generous in defeat
- Make myself aware of FFA programs and activities
- Focus articles on accomplishments of current and former FFA members and include articles highlighting
- Develop a format to assist chapters and members in obtaining sponsorship in the local area
Improve the quality and update the styles of jewelry: replace fishhook earrings with hoop earrings, replace ID bracelets with new improved watches (ie MontanaSilversmith leather and silver watches with FFA logo). Also try to place everything. Corie Seibman, TX AmandaWoodrum, TX JasonHawks, VA MontySchilter, WA .. new and creative method that is ineffective and produces. tive meetings and ways to encourage more participation from officers, members and advisors. FFA, as high school students interested in agricultural education, can accompany FFA counselors during a school day.. activities and explore the possibility of counselors' families attending FFA workshops and conferences.
Part of the FFA convention experience involves seeing parts of KansasCity outside of the municipal auditorium. Members of the American Falls, Idaho, FFAChapter ventured out to look around our host city. Over the years, our vast agricultural resources have flourished, thanks to the efforts of the men and women who grow crops and livestock and work to improve production every day.
