A2o—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 18,1984
Pennsylvania FFA
(Continued from Page Al)
membership enrollment, publicity,
setting up a Foundation and ac
tivities of the state association at
the national convention each year.
Initially, it is planned to finance
the post with an extra 10 cents per
box of citrus that chapters would
turn back to the state association.
When a Pennsylvania FFA
Foundation is established pat
terned after the national concept,
the post and other FFA activities
could be supported through
agribusiness grants and donations.
And there are some other firsts
for the Pennsylvania FFA
Association.
During FFA Week, which
started today, Witmer and other
state officers will launch a
program of visits to Pennsylvania
businesses and industries which
have been supportive of the FF A.
Visits during the coming week
will be made to Victor F. Weaver
Inc., Sperry New Holland, Lan
caster Farming, Lancaster
Newspapers, Wenger Farm
Machinery, Ashcombe Farm and
Greenhouse, Country Market
Florist and other businesses who
aid the FFA in various ways.
“Like the visits of national of
ficers, we want to express our
personal appreciation of the help
shown by these businesses and
industries and to ask for their
continued support,” Witmer said.
And the dynamic, forward
looking FFA presifdent, who is
seeking a career in agribusiness
public relations, also has some
other “firsts” in mind.
After a recent visit to Maryland,
she’d like to see an FFA Citizen
* f
&**L
♦
✓
In addition to all of her commitments as State FFA
president, Carolyn Witmer works in produce department of
Yoder's Country Market, New Holland.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Nearly
1,000 individuals and businesses
agreed with the 1983 National FF A
Foundation Sponsoring Committee
Chairman’s theme, “Today is the
Day to Shape Tomorrow’s
Leaders,” by giving record
amounts to the FF A.
Sponsors showed their faith in
the Future Farmers of America in
1983 with $1,601,000 in support to
fund the organization’s programs
and awards. This is a new record
for sponsor giving to the
organization and represents a
17.1% increase over the 1982
campaign. Also, over $1,600,000 in
deferred giving - grants from wills
and trusts was pledged in 1983 to
help support FFA activities in the
future.
The FFA Foundation serves
FFA members by providing
monies for numerous incentive,
leadership and citizenship
programs on the chapter, state and
ship Program adopted in Penn
sylvania, in which FFA Chapter
presidents and state officers get
together with legislative and other
governmental officials once a year
to discuss mutual interests and
needs.
“Due to our large number of
chapters, we might have to divide
such a program into two sessions
for the eastern and western sec
tions of the state,” Witmer said.
“But it could be a valuable
meeting to keep in touch with state
officials.”
And what does the future hold for
this “FFA President of Firsts?”
Well, like her male predecessors
in the post, she’s about to begin the
annual FFA banquet circuit that
will take her to some 30 or more
parent-member gatherings in the
next couple of months.
And, that will bring her almost to
June Activities Week when she will
officially relinquish the reins of the
State Association but still be active
as past state president.
And active personifies the
Garden Spot High School graduate
who held just about every FFA
post in the Grassland Chapter, was
a member of the winning State
Parliamentary Procedure Team,
had breeding sheep and market
lamb projects on-farm and works
at Yoder’s Country Market off
farm. And also managed to win the
State Extemporaneous Public
Speaking Contest.
And I’m sure the “firsts” aren’t
over. She’ll likely be the first
female FFA candidate from
Pennsylvania for national office.
If not this coming year, possibly
next year.
t> * *
\ i
Record year
With the close of calendar year
1983, the FFA Foundation Spon
soring Committee has begun work
on the 1984 fund raising campaign.
Dr. Hilmer L. Jones, fhe 1984
chairman has announced this
year’s theme, “Keeping America
on the Grow Vocational
Agriculture and the FF A.”
ON THE GROW
As president of the Pennsylvania Association of the Future Farmers of America,
Carolyn Witmer, R 2 East Earl, participates in many statewide functions. Standing at
right, she joins other state presidents of vocational organizations for the signing of a
proclamation by Governor Thornburgh for Vocational Education Week, which was held
during the past week and is followed immediately by FFA Week, which began today.
Chapters plan FFA Week events
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Nearly
one-half million members of the
Future Farmers of America will
be involved in promoting
FFA/vocational agriculture and
the agriculture industry across the
nation during FFA Week, which
began today.
FFA members in over 8,350
chapters across the U.S. and its
territories will be organizing
events and activities to create
awareness of and support for
FFA/vocational agriculture
education.
This year’s theme for FFA Week
- “Keeping America on the
National officers coming to NE
NEW YORK - The national
FFA officers will travel
throughout the Northeastern
United States during the next two
weeks to learn about American
business and industry.
This year, the two FFA “Stars”
(Star Farmer and
Agribusinessman) are ac
companying the six national of
ficers among others in the FFA
group visiting 30 cities in 10 states.
Thus, approximately 150
businesses and industries in the
Northeast will be visited in an
effort to teach the officers and
stars something about the struc
ture of the U.S. economic system.
New York City will be the
starting point for the two-week
tour. The group will meet with
Hilmer Jones, Vice President,
North American Operations, MSD
AGVET Division of Merck and
Company, Inc., Rahway, N.J.
Jones is also the Chairman for the
1984 National FFA Foundation
Sponsoring Board. From there, the
group will divide into three teams
and cover New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New Hampshire,
Maryland and Delaware.
“The U.S. tour will give us the
chance to visit with many
businesses and communities that
Grow” will be sgen throughout
local communities nationwide, not
only through promotional efforts of
the local students, but also through
a national public service an
nouncement campaign featuring
Eddie Albert.
FFA/vocational agriculture
education places a major em
phasis on developing leadership
skills, innovative practices and the
application of both to the industry
of agriculture.
Ron Wineinger, National FFA
President, sees FFA Week as a
“good opportunity for all involved
to reassess the importance of
support vocational agriculture and
FFA,” commented Ron
Wineinger, National FFA
President from Marion, Kansas.
He added, “It is our chance to
leam about their work and service
as well as an opportunity to ex
press our appreciation to them and
explain our current activities.”
During the first half of the
month, the national officers
participated in a two-week trip to
Japan.
The officers visited their
Japanese counterparts - the
Future Farmers of Japan and
stayed with host families provided
by the FFJ.
Hayes is Grassland speaker
NEW HOLLAND - Samuel E.
Hayes, Jr., Minority Whip of the
Pennsylvania House of
Representatives, will be the
featured speaker at the 25th An
niversary Banquet of the
Grassland FFA to Ipe held on
Friday, March 9. The program will
begin at 8:15 p.m. in the
auditorium of the Garden Spot
High School following
simultaneous banquets at the Blue
Ball and New Holland Fire Halls.
A former FFA member, Hayes
holds both the Honorary Keystone
Farmer Degree and the Honorary
American Farmer Degree. He
graduated from Penn State with
both a bachelors and masters
degree. He began his career as a
teacher of vocational agriculture
in Central Pennsylvania. In 1970,
he was elected to the Pennsylvania
House of Representatives and has
served seven consecutive terms.
Currently he serves as Minority
Whip, and he previously served as
Majority Whip for two legislative
sessions. In 1983, he was named
Lawmaker of the Year and was
also the recipient of the Miracle
Mile Award and Special Leader
ship Award given by the Rural
Electric Cooperative.
More than 500 current and for
mer FFA members maiding
recipients of chapter, county, state
and national degrees; chapter,
agriculture to us as individuals and
the nation as a whole.”
Traditionally, FFA Week has
included George Washington’s
birthday in respect for his
leadership and commitment to
strengthening America through
agriculture. Both the National
FFA Center and FFA National
Hall of Achievement are located on
part of the old Washington estate,
near Alexandria, Virginia.
Many chapters throughout
Pennsylvania plan special ac
tivities during FFA Week.
The Twin Valley FFA Chapter at
Elverson will hold an open house
from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the
vo-ag classroom and shop. The
chapter will have exhibits and
demonstrations of its activities and
accomplishments.
The Warwick FFA in Lititz will
be displaying some of the project
activities of members in the high
school lobby and distribute FFA
items to supporters, as well as a
newsletter of FFA activities to the
community. The school faculty will
also be treated to cherry pie on
Washington’s birthday.
In Berks County, Conrad Weiser
Chapter is planning displays in
area grocery stores; Oley Valley, a
display in the school lobby;
Hamburg, an FFA Dress-Up Day;
Kutztown, placements in
restaurants; and Tulpehocken,
bulletin boards displays and a sign
in front of the school.
Samuel E. Hayes Jr
county, state, and national FFA
officers; and charter members of
the Grassland FFA Chapter of the
Garden Spot High School are ex
pected to attend the activities. In
addition, teachers; administrators
and former administrators; school
board members; and community
and agri-business leaders will be in
attendance.
All former members of the
Grassland FFA are invited to
attend. For information about
tickets, call Clifford Day or Robert
Herr at (717 ) 354-4031. Reser
vations must be made by Feb. 21.