April 2009, FFA New Horizons

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L O G O N AT F FA N E W H O R I Z O N S . O R G

Angelica Gallegos doesn’t let mud bog her down

AnimalsMembers fl ock to veterinary medicine careers

Wild About

NEW HORIZONS®

FFAT H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N A T I O N A L F F A O R G A N I Z A T I O N | A P R I L 2 0 0 9

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Racing Through the Mud – On Camera!Visit ffanewhorizons.org for scenes from a mud-bogging competition

and an interview with FFA member Angelica Gallegos.

What’s New

Lyndsey Combs,

Garrard County FFA, Ky.

Go online to submit your FFA experiences.

“THE DECEMBER ISSUE IS SO

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HOT FOR A CAREER. I LOVE WELDING!”

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FFA Volume 55 Number 4

The magazine of the National FFA OrganizationNEW HORIZONS®

On the CoverMud bogger Angelica Gallegos, Las Vegas, N.M. Photo By Kevin Young

JULIE WOODARD Editorial Director KIM NEWSOM Managing Editor JOYCE CARUTHERS Copy Editor JESSY YANCEY Associate Editor ANDREA BLOOM, CHRIS HAYHURST, Contributing Writers JESSICA MOZO, SARAH JACKSON, RYAN VADEN KEITH HARRIS Creative Director BRIAN McCORD Senior Photographer JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, Staff Photographers ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER CHRISTINA CARDEN Associate Production Director MELISSA HOOVER, Production Project Managers KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT LAURA GALLAGHER, CANDICE SWEET, Senior Graphic Designers VIKKI WILLIAMS ERICA HINES, AMY NELSON Graphic Designers JESSICA CHILDS, MARCIA MILLAR, Ad Traffic PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY GARY SMITH Distribution Director ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ Web Project Managers FRANCO SCARAMUZZA Web Design Lead RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ Web Designers JENNIFER GRAVES Web Production TWILA ALLEN Color Imaging Technician KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL FFA Communications RAY LANGEN Executive Vice President CARLA H. THURMAN Sr. V.P./Sales CASEY E. HESTER Sr. V.P./Operations MARK FORESTER V.P./Visual Content TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./Editorial Director NATASHA LORENS Production Director JEFFREY S. OTTO Photography Director BETH MURPHY Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division JOHN LACEY Integrated Media Manager RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY Custom/Travel Sales Support RACHEL MATHEIS Sales/Marketing Coordinator

For advertising information, contact John Lacey, (800) 333-8842, ext. 281, or e-mail [email protected].

2008-09 National FFA Officers PAUL MOYA, NM President NESSIE EARLY, CA Secretary HANNAH CROSSEN, OH Eastern Region Vice President LAILA HAJJI, OK Central Region Vice President REGINA HOLLIDAY, GA Southern Region Vice President RILEY BRANCH, TX Western Region Vice President

National FFA Staff LARRY CASE National Advisor, Chief Executive Officer STEVE BROWN Executive Secretary DOUG LOUDENSLAGER Chief Operating Officer MARION FLETCHER National Treasurer JULIE ADAMS, MARK CAVELL, Division Directors DALE CRABTREE, TOM KAPOSTASY, JANET MALONEY, DENNIS SARGENT, KENT SCHESCKE, VICKI SETTLE, LEE ANNE SHILLER, TONY SMALL, BILL STAGG, WILL WAIDELICH

National FFA Board of Directors – Members LARRY CASE Chair, USDE, VA STEVE BROWN Secretary, USDE, VA MARION FLETCHER Treasurer, State Supervisor, AR ROBERT B. CALVIN Agriculture Teacher/USDE, MO WILBUR CHANCELLOR State Supervisor, MS THOMAS DORMODY Teacher Educator/USDE, NM DENNIS FISCUS State Supervisor, AZ IKE KERSHAW State Supervisor, OH BRUCE LAZARUS FFA Executive Secretary/USDE, AR JOEL LARSEN State Supervisor, MN JOHN RAKESTRAW Business Representative/USDE, CO

Subscription Information:FFA New Horizons (ISSN 1069-806X) is published Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct. and Dec. by the National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art or any other unsolicited materials. For subscription information contact: FFA New Horizons Subscription Services, (317) 802-4235 or e-mail [email protected]. Periodical postage rate is paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and additional mail offices.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to FFA New Horizons, P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960.

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Copyright© 2009 by the National FFA Organizationand Journal Communications Inc.

The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

16 18 20

12

8 cover story Full ThrottleFFA member and mud bogger Angelica Gallegos sets the pace.

Wild About AnimalsFFA members flock to careers in veterinary medicine.

4 ScrapbookRead news, jokes and more.

6 FFA FacesMeet members from across the country.

16 What’s HotFind new ideas for fundraisers.

17 National Officer Q & AMeet Secretary Nessie Early.

18 Healthy LifestylesGain life skills in Washington, D.C.

20 How To …Go green in your community.

3FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

APRIL 2009 Contents

FFA as an Art FormWelding isn’t typically an art form,

but Turtle Lake (Wis.) FFA member Monica

Lutz has taken it to new heights.

Her FFA advisor Don Dipprey

suggested that she create a life-size

version of the FFA emblem out of steel,

so Monica started the project by taking a

photo of the FFA emblem and projecting

it onto sheet metal. After tracing the

design, she cut out each individual piece

of the emblem with a plasma cutter, then

arc-welded the emblem together with the

help of fellow member Josh Thornwall.

Sold during the National FFA Alumni

auction, the emblem was then donated to

the National FFA Center, where it is now

on display in the front lobby.

What kind of fruit do scarecrows like?Strawberries.

Dan Andrews, Wauneta, Neb.

Why did the raccoon only eat the corn at the bottom of the stalk?Because he was on a low-cob diet.

Tammy Wiedenbeck, Lancaster, Wis.

What part of the fish is the heaviest?The scales.

Dan Andrews, Wauneta, Neb.

Just Joking

Special InvitationRachel Powers from the Agri-Power

FFA Chapter in Iowa recently attended

the Presidential Inauguration in

Washington, D.C. Rachel was selected

to attend as a member of the National

Society of Collegiate Scholars at the

University of Iowa.

As a high school FFA member,

Rachel served as chapter president

and secretary. She also placed second

in the state radio broadcasting career

development event (CDE) and is now a

journalism major in college.

To read Rachel’s firsthand account

of the inauguration events, visit

ffanewhorizons.org.


FFA scrapbook Express yourself

FYIYOUR TURN

Keep us informed!

This is your chance to

be a part of FFA New

Horizons. Send us a

short article about

your latest chapter

activities, awards

you’ve received or

even your involvement

outside FFA.

Be sure to include

a high-quality color

photo and your

contact information.

Want an easy way to

send your story? Visit

ffanewhorizons.org

and click on Tell Us.

Or, send to:

FFA New Horizons

P.O. Box 68960

Indianapolis, IN 46268

[email protected]

This year the McLoughlin FFA Chapter was awarded the Washington State Fair Commission Award, an honor no other Oregon chapter has won before. The Mcloughlin chapter was chosen for its outstanding leadership and showmanship during the fair, and McLoughlin members represented their chapter well as livestock exhibitors. Congratulations!

Blue-Ribbon Banjo Player

When you’re as talented as Ohio FFA

member Steven Moore is with a banjo,

people notice.

This Union Local High School senior

scored first place at the 2007 Ohio State

FFA Talent Contest, and he was the champ

of the 2008 National Bluegrass Banjo

Competition.

When he’s not winning battles with his

banjo, Steven enjoys playing with the band

he co-started in 2004. The band, called

Almost Famous, strums tunes of bluegrass,

gospel and swing music.

Learn more about Steven’s music at

www.myspace.com/stevenmoorebanjo.


WY

GA

IL MT

TN

Leah, a high school sophomore, first joined FFA because her dad is

an alumnus and even had the same advisor. She has a supervised

agricultural experience program (SAE) in sheep production and

raises Suffolk breeding ewes. Leah also participated in FFA Creed

speaking and parliamentary procedure CDEs. Last year, she was

named her chapter’s Star Greenhand.

Leah CherryChapter: Dyersburg FFA

As a high school sophomore, Megan values the opportunity to

travel to FFA events and meet other people from her state. She

raises rabbits and hogs for show, and also enjoys riding her

horses. Megan serves as chapter vice president and is also active

in student council and her church. She looks forward to competing

in horse judging and forestry CDEs.

Megan HawkinsChapter: McLeod FFA

This high school junior first joined FFA to participate in the horse

evaluation CDE. Last year, her team placed second in the state in

this event. Kali works on her family’s beef ranch and shows

horses. She serves as her FFA chapter’s student council

representative, is a member of the high school band and is an

actress in her school’s plays.

Kali PetermannChapter: Wibaux FFA

A high school junior, Gage owns two horses and six cattle on his

family’s Pass Creek Angus Ranch. He competed in agricultural

sales and environmental and natural resources CDEs, and he

serves as chapter vice president. He also enjoys welding, trapping

and bird hunting. Gage plans to attend the University of Wyoming

to major in animal science or agricultural business.

Gage LacekChapter: John B. Kendrick FFA

This seventh-grader is proud to be the first middle school FFA

member of his chapter. He serves as the chapter treasurer and

competes in the nursery and landscape CDE. He enjoys studying

plants, attending chapter meetings and developing career skills,

such as public speaking. Ryan also hopes to become chapter

president in the future.

Ryan HilburnChapter: Stone FFA

Johnathon, a high school senior, has served as his chapter’s vice

president for three years. He participated in livestock evaluation,

agricultural mechanics and agronomy career development events

(CDEs). Johnathon is also an active member of his high school band

and chorus. He plans to attend college and pursue a career as an

automotive or real estate investor.

Johnathon CaubleChapter: Dongola FFA

– Andrea Bloom

Create Describe NominateGo to ffanation.ffa.org and sign

up for an FFA Nation profile.Upload a profile photo, and fill out the fields to tell us about

your FFA experiences.

Under the FFA Faces thread on the Discussions page, tell us why you should be featured.

TX


FFA Faces

Stand Out in the CrowdNominate yourself to be considered for FFA Faces by following the steps below.

Questions? E-mail [email protected].

Mud bogger Angelica Gallegos sets the pace

ThrottleFull Story by Chris HayhurstPhotography by Kevin Young

Mud bogging is all about

going big – big trucks,

big wheels, big engines

and five to eight seconds of big-time

adrenaline. It’s a man’s sport, and

a big man’s sport at that. Or so it

would seem.

Talk to Angelica Gallegos,

though, a sophomore FFA member

at Las Vegas Robertson High School

in Las Vegas, N.M., and you might

get a different idea. At just under 5

feet tall, Angelica is definitely not

big. Far from it. But she is an avid

mud bogger – one of the few women

who compete – and she’s as intense

and excited and competitive as they

come. Especially, that is, when it’s

time to push the pedal to the metal.

GOING ALL OUT

Mud bogging, at least in theory,

is a relatively simple endeavor.

You strap on a helmet and other

protective gear, haul yourself into

the driver’s seat, steer your rig to

the starting line, put it in first gear,

and then wait for the signal. When it

comes, you floor it, and through the

mud and ruts you go. The engine

whines, tires spin, mud flies, and

your truck – or in Angelica’s case,

a souped-up Jeep – does everything

it can to wrench itself from your

grip and fly off course.

If you’re good, you cross the

finish line 100 feet later. If luck’s

not on your side, well…at least

you’ve got your helmet.

“It’s so fun,” says Angelica. “It’s

a pit, and you don’t have much space

to move, and there’s always the

possibility that you’ll overcorrect

and go off the side.” In fact, says

Angelica, last year, in her first race

of the season, she did just that. “I

went flying out and climbed up

the wall and was disqualified,”

she explains.

She wasn’t fazed at all. Not

in the least.

“What I like about mud bogging

is it’s not just about how you do,” she

says. “It’s also about seeing how the

competition does, and seeing what

they do to their vehicles.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR

And what do they do to those

vehicles? Let’s just say that

Angelica’s Jeep spent a good deal

of time in the shop last winter.

“We’ve totally redone it this

year,” she says. “We decided to get

bigger tires, which meant the gear

ratio needed to change, and then

we decided we’d get a new motor.”


FFA member Angelica Gallegos stands just under 5 feet tall, but she is unstoppable when she loads up in her 1958 Jeep and attacks a mud bog.

FFA SEE video ONLINE

Visit ffanewhorizons.org to see a

video of Angelica racing through the

mud and talking about her sport.

When Angelica says “we,” she’s

talking about her dad, Chris, who

introduced her to the sport and

who himself was a competitive mud

bogger back in the early ’90s. Dad

no longer races, but he does go to

Angelica’s events to coach, be her

mechanic and cheer her on.

“I always told him I was going

to mud-bog someday, but he didn’t

believe me,” Angelica laughs.

“Eventually he realized I was

actually serious.”

Two years ago, the summer

before Angelica’s freshman year,

he bought her the Jeep.

“I wanted a Jeep because it’s

little compared to what everyone

else is driving out there. It fits my

personality,” she says.

MORE THAN MUD

Now don’t get the wrong idea.

Angelica may be small, but her

personality is anything but,

says her Las Vegas Robertson

FFA advisor, Gary Leger.

“To give you an idea what kind

of person she is,” Leger says, “consider

that she’s in my agricultural

leadership class and in ag business

and marketing, but she’s also taking

ag mechanics. She’s an excellent

welder. I think that says a lot about

her. She’s so well-rounded.”

And busy. In addition to her FFA

work (she’s chapter treasurer, placed

in the top 10 at the district level in

public speaking, and was on an

agricultural issues team that won

state and competed at nationals),

Angelica takes college-level math

and practices karate. She also

manages the wrestling team. And

then there’s her other sport: track.

In seventh grade, Angelica says,

she was running with the track

team, but unsure what events she’d

compete in. Her coach asked if there

was someone who could run hurdles.

“When I said I’d do it, nobody

took me seriously,” she recalls. “I

was the shortest girl on the team.

They were like, ‘yeah, right.’”

As it turned out, she was not

only serious, she was fast – the

fastest hurdler on the team.

Now running varsity and a star

in the 100-meter event, Angelica has

her sights set on this year’s New

Mexico state championships.

NEW IDEAS

Angelica never thought she’d

join FFA, and before her freshman

year, it wasn’t even on the radar.

But after a friend signed her up,

she went to class and learned the

FFA Creed. She was hooked.

“For the last 13 years, I’ve

wanted to go to medical school and

be a pediatrician,” Angelica says.

“But lately I’ve been thinking I want

to go into agriculture and maybe

become an FFA advisor. I’ve had so

much fun with it; I’d love to share

my experiences.”

Until then, she says, it’s time

to hit the books, the track and, of

course, the mud. Saturday races run

April through November, and she’ll

be there on the starting line – in her

little Jeep, jacked up on huge tires.

“My dad is always telling me,

‘If you want to do it, do it,’” she

says. “So that’s it. I’m doing it.”Angelica says she performs much of the mechanic work with her dad’s help.


Passionate about animals and animal

care? Then the American Veterinary

Medical Association (AVMA) would

love to hear from you.

The AVMA, the organizing force behind

the association’s 78,000-plus veterinarians,

has identified what they’re calling a “growing

crisis” in the veterinary workforce. Simply

put, there are too few veterinary professionals

to serve all the pets, livestock and other

animals that need care. And according to

AVMA president Dr. Jim Cook, you’re just the

type of person they’d like to bring on board.

“FFA members have the ability to make

good decisions and be successful leaders,”

Cook says. “Their enthusiasm and passion

for helping animals, people and the

environment make veterinary medicine

the perfect career path.”

Talk like that is music to the ears of Liz

Pritchard, a member of A&M Consolidated

FFA in College Station, Texas.

“I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian,”

Liz says. “My goal is to be a large animal vet

and specialize in equine medicine. I’ve been

riding horses since before I could walk, and

I’ve trained and worked with these animals

as far back as I can remember.”

Last year Liz was one of 18 students in

her junior class to take the Introduction to

FFA members flock to veterinary medicine careers

AnimalsWild About

Story by Chris HayhurstPhotography by Thomas Shea

FYIWANT MORE?

For more information,

check out the American

Veterinary Medical

Association’s website,

www.avma.org.

Other valuable

resources include the

Veterinary Hospital

Managers Association

(www.vhma.org) and

the National

Association of

Veterinary Technicians

in America

(www.navta.net).

Also, the Feb. 25

episode of “FFA Today”

featured a story on

vet careers. Visit

ffatoday.ffa.org

to find links to

archived shows.

A&M Consolidated High School student Morgan Gonzales, left, and her teacher, Lisa Pieper, perform a checkup on a miniature poodle. Right: Kelby McMullen holds a rabbit, one of the animals used for hands-on learning in the veterinary medical class.


Veterinary Medical Science course

at her high school.

The course, says agricultural

science teacher Lisa Pieper, teaches

FFA members everything from how

to bandage a horse to how to do the

clinical work typical of veterinary

medicine – grooming, taking vitals,

administering injections, drawing

blood and more. Interested students

can even spend time at nearby Texas

A&M University, home to one of the

nation’s 28 veterinary schools.

The two-semester class meets

for one period each day. Those who

complete the course, as well as master

certain technical skills they learn

outside the classroom at area clinics,

can take an exam to become certified

veterinary assistants.

“The first semester is a lot of

terminology,” Pieper says. “Second

semester is more hands-on. The idea

is to see what veterinary medicine is

all about and to really expose them

to all of the related opportunities

that are out there.”

Those opportunities, says

the AVMA’s Cook, include not only

careers as a clinical veterinarian –

be it small animal, large animal or

mixed practice – but also jobs in

associated positions.

“If you don’t choose to take the

four-year veterinary program, you

can enroll in a two-year program

to become a licensed veterinary

technician,” he explains. “The

employment opportunities for

veterinary technicians today are

excellent. As a technician, you can

work in clinical practice, research

or the public health arena.”

For those who choose to become

certified veterinarians, Cook says,

“There is no end to what they can do

with their degrees.”

“You can work for the USDA. You

can work in wildlife preservation, in

environmental studies and in public

health,” he explains. “For example,

the U.S. food supply and food safety

are heavily dependent upon

veterinarians. It was a veterinarian

who discovered the cause of West

Nile virus, and veterinarians were

the first to do hip replacements.

They’re really on the front lines of

scientific research in both animal

and human health.”

Kyle Jordan, a senior at A&M

Consolidated who worked in a local

clinic while taking the same class

as Liz, has another career idea:

veterinary management.

“I really like the business side

of things,” Kyle says. “I may apply

to veterinary school, but I want to

keep my options open and be

prepared for anything.”

Toward that end, for his

undergraduate work, which he’ll

begin next year, Kyle says, he’s

looking at schools that offer not only

agricultural and pre-vet programs,

but also good business programs.

No matter how you look at it,

or what you intend to do, pursuing

a future in the veterinary field is

anything but easy. It takes lots of

time, and requires a great deal of

hard work.

Still, Liz says, it’s worth it –

especially since for her, it’s both

a career path and her passion.

“I’m not going into it for the

money,” she explains. “I’m going into

it because I know this is what I want

to do. I’m doing it because I want to

be happy more than anything else.”


The Perfect Proficiency

The new Veterinary Medicine profi ciency

offered by FFA is a great way to explore

the fi eld of veterinary medicine. Students

in the program can work with veterinarians

in clinical practice, research facilities, colleges

of veterinary medicine, the animal health

industry, and in a number of other capacities.

Those who take part in the program

may compete for profi ciency awards at

the chapter, state and national level.

The awards, which are sponsored by the

American Veterinary Medical Association,

include $1,000 for the national winner.

According to Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA

chief executive offi cer, the new profi ciency

was created to give students the opportunity

to be recognized for their interest in

animal health and to encourage them to

pursue veterinary careers. There’s a

shortage of veterinarians in the workforce,

DeHaven says, and that shortage is

especially acute in rural areas.

“We hope the award will attract more

talented young people to the profession

and all that it has to offer,” DeHaven says.

FYITEST YOUR ANIMAL IQ

Do you have the smarts to work with

animals? Take our veterinary medicine

quiz to find out.

Those who work in the veterinary career

field must learn about all species of

animals – from cats to dogs to even

exotics. Many who end up with animal-

related careers find their passion by

caring for the family dog, working with

livestock on a farm or even by taking a

behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo.

FFA can also help prepare you for an

animal science career. Visit www.ffa.org

and click on Career Cluster to discover

more information and resources about

the industry of veterinary medicine.

ANSWERS: | 1 D | 2 B | 3 A | 4 C | 5 A | 6 A

A. Its black and white hide

B. Its dark brown face

1

THE HOLSTEIN BREED OF DAIRY CATTLE, KNOWN

FOR ITS HIGH MILK PRODUCTION, IS RECOGNIZED BY:

THE PRINCIPLES IN THE VETERINARIAN’S OATH, AS DETERMINED BY THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INCLUDE:

A. Using scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society

B. Practicing the profession conscientiously

C. Keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics

D. All of the above

AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COMPLETES A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM AT A TECHNICAL COLLEGE IS CALLED A:

A. Veterinarian

B. Veterinary technician

C. Dog groomer

D. Receptionist

CARDIOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF THE:

A. Heart

B. Lungs

C. Eyes and ears

D. Brain

THE NORMAL TEMPERATURE FOR A CAT IS (AS MEASURED IN FAHRENHEIT):

A. 97.5 degrees

B. 98.6 degrees

C. 101.0 degrees

D. 110.5 degrees

REMOVING THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF A FEMALE DOG IS CALLED:A. Spaying

B. Neutering


Veterinary medicine FFA Careers

6

5

2

1

3

4

Money Matters

For most FFA chapters,

fundraising is an integral part

of ensuring that activities can

continue. We’ve heard from many

of you who want to learn about

new and innovative ways to raise

money for your chapter, but also

make it fun and educational.

On this page, you’ll find a few

ideas from other FFA chapters.

We hope you’ll go online to FFA

Nation at ffanation.ffa.org and

continue sharing fundraising

ideas on the Discussions page.

Putting On a Good Show

If you’re looking for a good show, look no further

than the clinic on showmanship etiquette hosted

by the Sebring Senior FFA Chapter in Florida. These

members demonstrate the appropriate methods for

showing cattle, poultry, swine and rabbits.

Competition judges also attend to inform visitors

about what they look for and what every showman

should know. Sebring Senior provides the clinic for

all county FFA chapters and 4-H clubs.

FYIFROM THE GROUND UPEach summer,

Bakersfield FFA

members in California

learn how to work the

ground at the chapter’s

pumpkin patch.

Participating members

gain experience in

planting, weeding,

irrigating and

harvesting crops. After

harvest, the pumpkins

are sold at a local

farmers’ market, and

participants use the

profits for FFA

activities.

Maple Trees Are Money TreesLove FFA and maple syrup? Then head

to New York to catch an exhibit about

maple syrup performed by the Vernon-

Verona-Sherrill FFA Chapter.

Every spring, the chapter raises money

and educates others about this sweet

treat by drawing its own syrup straight

from the tree. The chapter travels with

a mobile trailer to schools, fairs and

festivals around the state, telling

people all the great things about

maple syrup production.


FFA What's hot Cool stuff to know

EarlyNational FFA Secretary

attending school board meetings on behalf

of your FFA chapter, or inviting community

members to your annual banquet.

Q What was your favorite chapter

fundraiser as a member?

A My favorite and our most successful

chapter fundraiser was our annual

plant sale. Boy, do people love plants!

Though I didn’t grow the plants each year, I

enjoyed helping people pick out their favorite

plants and watching their happy and satisfied

faces as we loaded them into their vehicles.

Q A lot of FFA members show livestock,

like you did. What made the show ring

such a great place for you?

A The show ring often felt like a second

home for me. It provided a place for

me to learn to work hard and to be

challenged each time I entered. I’m thankful

for the support I was given and friendships

I have gained because of my experiences in

the show ring. Plus, not too far outside of the

ring is bound to be some amazing fair food!

Q Do you have any advice for FFA

members looking to start their own

competitive show string of livestock?

A The best way to start and maintain a

successful livestock show string is to

be a continuous learner. Watch how

others raise, show and market their livestock,

and constantly ask questions. Don’t forget

to make it fun! Getting my family involved,

making friends in the showing community

and helping others made “working” with my

livestock enjoyable for me. And, eventually,

it became one of my passions.

California native Nessie Early is extremely

passionate about FFA, animals and being an

ambassador for the industry of agriculture.

This year as your national FFA secretary,

Nessie is utilizing all three of her passions.

Q How can FFA members be agriculture

ambassadors in their communities?

A As FFA members and knowledgeable

members of agriculture, we have a

great opportunity to be ambassadors!

Some possible ways to do so in your own

community are by writing an agriculture-

related article in your school and community

paper each month, adding an agriculture

fact in your school’s daily announcements,

Nessie

ffanewhorizons.org

Click on In This Issue for more from our interview with Nessie.

FYINESSIE’S FAVORITES

When this Californian was 10, she wanted to be a Hollywood actress. These days, she’s leaning more toward becoming a college professor. Learn more about Nessie and her favorites.

Hobby: Riding horses, snowboarding and jogging with my dogs

FFA historical event: 1933, when the blue corduroy jacket was adopted

Personal hero: My mom

Cartoon: Pink Panther

Board game: Apples to Apples

Sport to watch: Hockey


FFA National Officer Q & A

ServeLiving to

Washington Leadership Conference

is a life-changing experience

Got any exciting plans for this

summer? You do now.

The National FFA Organization’s

annual Washington Leadership Conference

takes place over seven weeks in June and

July and gives FFA members a chance to

explore our nation’s capital, make friends

from across the country and learn to become

authentic leaders.

“Students visit the monuments and places

like Arlington National Cemetery and talk

about those leaders – how they knew what

their purpose was and how they took action,”

says Whitney Danker, education specialist

for leadership delivery for the National FFA

Organization. “It can be an overwhelming

experience to be in our nation’s capital.

For many of them, it’s their first time.”

Besides visiting the U.S. Capitol and

meeting their state senators and

representatives, FFA members learn what

it really means to be a leader. The five-day

conference focuses on serving others and

gives students the opportunity to create a

“Living to Serve” plan to put into action

upon their return home.

“We discuss how they can use their

talents to better their communities,” Danker

says. “We have an in-depth session where

they discover a need in their hometown,

state or even the world. It could be related to

racism, poverty, teen pregnancy or drunk

driving. They pick a need that tugs at their

heart – something that makes them want to

make a difference.”

The conference teaches students how to

gather the resources and people they need to

make their “Living to Serve” plans a reality.

After attending WLC in 2008, Asia

Pruckler of Nevada, Iowa, came home

and volunteered to clean up debris in

Parkersburg, Iowa, a small town that had

been completely destroyed by an F5 tornado

in May. She also recruited volunteers.

“I got my dad to volunteer his plumbing

ability for the people of Parkersburg,” Asia

says. “Teachers in my school volunteered

to drive students to Parkersburg every

weekend so they could help clean up. My

church also had a big part in raising and

donating money. It was amazing to see a

whole state come together and help a small

town rebuild itself.”

Not only did Asia’s “Living to Serve”

plan change the lives of the people in

Parkersburg, it also changed hers.

“I always thought the world was too

big for one person to affect it, but I know

it’s possible now,” she says. “WLC changed

my life for good. ‘People need me’ is my new

motto. When I did good for others, it made me

feel good about myself. It also made me more

humble. I realize how fortunate I am to have

everything I have.”

– Jessica Mozo

FYIFIND YOUR WAY TO WLC

The dates for the 2009

Washington Leadership

Conference are:

Week 1 June 2-7

Week 2 June 9-14

Week 3 June 16-21

Week 4 June 23-28

Week 5 July 7-12

Week 6 July 14-19

Week 7 July 21-26

The cost for the

conference is $660 per

student. Many states

have scholarship

programs, and

chapters can also hold

fundraisers to raise

money to attend.

To register for WLC or

for more information,

visit www.ffa.org and

click on the WLC link.

WLC participants help glean a field.


FFA healthy lifestyles civic engagement

PALBe a

Partners in Active Learning Support program offers ways to teach kids about

‘going green’

new direction in 2008 and is now

incorporating sustainability and

green practices into its efforts to

reach young people.

“In August 2008, Campbell Soup

Company officially became the PALS

sponsor,” says Damon Spight, National

FFA Organization program manager

for PALS. “In October 2008, through

the coordination of the National

Association of Agricultural Educators

and funding from Campbell Soup

Company, three PALS chapters were

awarded $7,000 grants to implement

or advance a greenhouse project as

part of their educational outreach

to elementary school children.”

The three award-winning

chapters were in Kismet, Kan.;

Mapleton, Iowa; and Lamar, Ark.

In April, PALS will be releasing

the second edition of the PALS Activity

Handbook, which includes activities

for third- and fourth-graders. It also

includes enhancements to 50

teaching and training modules,

adapting them to incorporate the

latest and greatest teaching and

learning strategies.

“New, first-time modules on

renewable energy, technology and

recycling are also being added to the

handbook,” Spight says. “Our release

date will be close to Earth Day.”

There are countless other

opportunities for PALS chapters

to help promote green practices

in their communities as well.

“Numerous PALS chapters

utilize Food For America activities;

greenhouse and garden projects;

recycling activities; and general

land, water and food programs to

educate and raise sensitivity among

both students and adults on the

importance of meaningful, ongoing

A few decades ago, Earth Day

was the only time of year

most people thought about

“green” practices like recycling and

conserving energy. But times have

changed, and now the “go green”

movement is everywhere you look –

in the news, politics and even at the

grocery store (paper, plastic or an

eco-friendly reusable bag?).

Water shortages, global

warming, land development, and air

and water pollution are just a few of

the problems that have caused society

to pay more attention to green

practices. And the PALS (Partners in

Active Learning Support) program is

helping chapters across the country

get on board.

PALS is a mentoring program

that matches high school agriculture

students with elementary school

students. By exploring their interests

in plants, animals and the world

around them, the students develop

one-on-one relationships, stronger

social skills, trust and positive

self-esteem.

The PALS program has been in

existence since 1991, but it took on a

sustainability and green practices,”

Spight says. “We believe PALS is an

invaluable outreach program, and

we envision FFA membership and

agricultural education broadening

at the high school. middle school,

elementary and collegiate levels.”

Talk to your FFA advisor about

starting a PALS chapter at your

school. For more information,

visit ffa.org and click on Award

Programs, then PALS.

This spring, you can request

free Campbell’s tomato seeds. Visit

www.HelpGrowYourSoup.com to

learn more. This will help Campbell

and FFA donate seeds to plant

gardens in communities and

schools across America.

“Through this campaign,

Campbell will donate 22.5 million

tomato seeds to national FFA, which

could help FFA chapters nationwide

grow more than one billion tomatoes,”

Spight explains.

– Jessica Mozo

ffanewhorizons.org

Click on In This Issue to learn more about PALS and find links to more information.


FFA How-to go green

April 2009, FFA New Horizons

Documents

Transcript of April 2009, FFA New Horizons