—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, November 4,1978 130 Carter KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Sources at the White House state that President Jimmy Carter, a former FFA member himself, is a “definite possibility” as a special speaker for the Thursday afternoon session of the FFA’s Golden An niversary celebration slated for Kansas City, Mo., November 7-11. Paul Har vey, America’s most honored news commentator, is confirmed for a keynote address the morning of that same day. Stars over America being honored - for their agricultural expertise, the now-famous FFA Public Speaking Contest, the election of six new National FFA Officers - these ac tivities will once again be prominent at the convention, and some new additions to the program have been made. An expanded National Agricultural Career Show featuring exhibits from education, government and industry will be an attraction and a special time capsule ceremony serving posterity will be another. The un veiling of a large Com memorative Marker featuring a five foot high FFA emblem in downtown Kansas City will honor the founding of FFA - 50 years ago. More activities are planned in and around Kansas City. In addition to FFA business sessions, convention participants will be involved in career-related contests, final interviews for ag-related proficiency awards, and educational tours of Kansas City agribusinesses. An ex panded Agricultural Career Show will be held this year in H. Roe Bartle Hall and will give students an insight into careers open to students with training and experience may attend FFA’s Golden Anniversary in agriculture. Special exhibits in the “Hall of States” will depict the development of the 50-year old organization. Of the anticipated 20,000 in attendance about 6000 will be FFA advisors, parents, school administrators -and others with special interest in the FFA. Convention business will be conducted by the organization’s 122 student delegates who will vote on issues of business. The delegates, who represent 507,188 FFA members from the United States and Puerto Rico, will arrive a day early to par ticipate in committee meetings and give reports. Six national officers elected at the 1977 National FFA Convention will preside over all sessions. A Tuesday evening Vespers service presented by the National Officers and the National FFA Chorus marks the beginning of con vention activities. The music and entertainment through out the convention will be provided by the unique 113 piece FFA band and 123 member chorus. Additional entertainment will be provided by talented FFA members who perform on stage and at banquets throughout the week, demonstrating a variety of talents from group singing to string quartets. This year FFA Leadership Workshops will be held in the H. Roe Bartle Hall. The Workshops are sponsored and conducted by the FFA Alumni Association. National contests will get underway on Wednesday as outstanding FFA contest teams from almost every state m the nation will compete in one of the eight annual contests which in clude agricultural mechanics, dairy cattle, milk quality and dairy foods, livestock, poultry, hor ticulture, meats and farm business management. The official opening of the Golden Anniversary National Convention will be on Wednesday morning, November 8, when National FFA President J. Ken Johnson gives the official call to order. Convention participants will 'be welcomed to Kansas City by Mayor Charles Wheeler. A special ceremony will be held where each state will add a container of materials to the Golden Anniversary Convention Time Capsule to be opened in 25 years at the 75th National FFA Con vention. A highlight of the con vention will be held early Wednesday afternoon with the unveiling of a Com memorative Marker designating the site and date of the founding of the FFA. Streets will he blocked off for the 30-minute ceremony to be held on the comer of 11th and Baltimore Streets in Kansas City, the site where the old Baltimore Hotel once stood. It was in the hotel on November 20, 1928, that the first and founding con vention of 33 delegates of 18 states gathered to start the Future Farmers of America. Keynoting the Wednesday afternoon session will be Kyle Rote, Jr., North American Soccer League’s “Rookie of the Year” and professional soccer player with the Dallas Tornadoes. At the afternoon business session 118 FFA chapters will be recognized for achievement in the National Safety Award program. The award recognizes FFA chapters for participation in safety projects m their local community. The National FFA Public Speaking Contest on Wed nesday evening’s program will feature the speeches of four regional winners. A panel of judges will select the nation’s top speaker, to be awarded $3OO from the National FFA Foundation, Inc. Distinguished Service Citations will be presented to three organizations during the Wednesday evening session: American Association for Vocational Instructional Materials, American Red Cross, and Midcontinent Farmers Association for their out standing service to FFA. Thursday morning’s ac tivities will begin with Building Our American Communities Award presentations to 150 FFA Chapters. Four chapters will be recognized as regional BOAC winners, and one will be named to receive the National Citation for the top community action program in the nation. The program will feature presentation of regional and national FFA Proficiency Awards for outstanding achievement in 22 areas of production agriculture - and agribusiness. Sponsors of the awards will be recognized during ( the ceremony. Three hundred sixty-eight FFA chapters will be presented National Chapter Awards recognizing outstanding participation in a wide range of chapter activities. Thursday morning’s sessions will be keynoted by America’s most honored news commentator, Paul Harvey. Six individuals will receive the FFA’s VIP Citation for their continuing dedicated service to the National FFA Organization. On Thursday afternoon the Honorary American Farmer Degree will be presented to 198 vocational agriculture teachers and individuals in education, government, business and industry who have made outstanding contributions to the FFA and agriculture. The afternoon session will be keynoted by Dr. Ernest Boyer, U.S. Commissioner of Education. The American Farmer Degree, the highest degree presented to members of the Future Farmers of America, will be awarded to 807 FFA members, the largest number ever to receive the degree. The Thursday evening (Turn to Page 138)
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