More Than 44,000 To Attend FFA Convention
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.
“FFA - Making the Connection” is
the theme for the 71st National
FFA Convention, symbolizing the
agricultural education organiza
tion’s mission to prepare students
to create the link between them
selves, their communities, the
agricultural industry, and the na
tion.
More than 44,000 FFA mem
bers, advisers, supporters, and
guests are expected to attend the
convention Nov. 12-14 in the
Municipal Auditorium and H. Roe
Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo.,
only a few blocks from where the
FFA was founded in 1928.
“FFA members are making the
connection by merging traditions
of the past with visions of the fu
ture," said Larry D. Case, national
FFA adviser, “and there’s no bet
ter place than the National FFA
Convention to see the energy, mo
tivation, and talent that will unite
us with our ever-changing world.
“Students from across the coun
try celebrate each other’s success
es, share their pride in American
agriculture, and concentrate on
leadership, personal growth, and
career success. Watching those
44,000 stdudents come together
with such pride and energy is the
best guarantee we have for the fu
ture of agriculture and of our na
tion.”
The national convention, the
culmination of a year’s activities
for FFA members, is an oppor
tunity for recognition, business,
elections and celebration. Dele
gates from each state will discuss
topics affecting the national or
ganization and elect a new team of
national officers. Exceptional
members and supporters will re
ceive awards for their achieve
ment and commitment to the FFA.
Students will compete for national
titles in several events, including
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speaking and parliamentary pro
cedure competitions.
Opportunities for personal
growth and leadership develop
ment continue with presentations
by educational and motivational
speakers including Cerda Klein,
author and historian, Baxter
Black, cowboy poet; Les Brown,
motivational speaker; Warren
Faidley, storm chaser, and Robin
Roberts, sport anchor.
Future education and career ex
ploration also ate key components
of the convention. Students will
have the opportunity to meet busi
ness and industry supporters of the
FFA, represented through the
1998 National FFA Foundation
Sponsors’ Board chaired by Char
les Fischer, vice president of Dow
AgroSciences, North America and
hundreds of exhibitors will pro
vide information about education
and career possibilities at the con
current National FFA Alumni
Convention and FFA National
Agricultural Career Show.
The National FFA officers,
team of six student leaders, help
plan the convention and other acti
vities and represent the FFA on a
national level. The officers kick
off the convention the afternoon
and evening of Nov. 11 with the
opening Reflections sessions, a
series of dramatic and motivation
al presentations that generate ex
citement and set the theme for the
convention. The 1997-1998 Na
tional FFA Officers are Hillary
Smith, national president from
Perry, Georgia; Shannon Wilcox,
national secretary from Kenton,
Ohio'; Mark Wilburn, central re
gion vice president from Laddon
ia, Missouri; Dana A. Fisher, east
ern region vice president from
Maurertown, Virginia; Amber
Miller, southern region vice presi
dent from Louisville, Alabama;
and Cody Nash, western region
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vice president from Inez, Texas.
American Star Fanner, Star
In Agribusiness Finalists
The National FFA Organization
named four finalists for each of its
two most prestigious awards, the
American Star Farmer and the
American Star in Agribusiness.
These awards recognize students
who have established profitable
agricultural enterprises or agri
business programs, demonstrated
outstanding management skills,
earned the American FFA Degree
the organization’s highest level
of accomplishment and met
other agricultural education and
leadership requirements.
Star Farmer finalists are Shane
Becker, 21, Worthington, Minn.;
Lance Dobbins, 22, Thomas,
Okla.; Dana Boehm, 21, Taylor,
Texas; and Charles Pearce, 21,
Walworth, Wis.
Star in Agribusiness finalists
arc Jere Stewart, 21, Nampa, Ida
ho; Andrew Tygrett, 20, Atalissa,
Iowa; K.C. Gregg, 20, Spencer,
S.D.; Troy Ambrose, 20, Amherst,
Wis.
Each finalist will receive
$l,OOO from the National FFA
Foundation and will travel to Eur
ope or Costa Rica for an interna
tional experience tour.
A panel of judges will interview
the finalists and select one winner
for each award at the 71st National
FFA Convention Nov. 12-14 in
Kansas City, Mo. Winners will re
ceive an additional $l,OOO.
Stewart Saw Composting
Dairy Manure As
Business Opportunity
“I saw the potential for an op
portunity to start my own
business,” said Jere Stewart, Nam
pa, Idaho. “I was certain compost
would make a profitable business
for several reasons.” The 21-year
old began his business after being
approached about composting
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 7, 19984)3
their stockpile of manure on the
family’s dairy operation.
To recognize his accomplish
ments, the National FFA Organi
zation named him a 1998 Ameri
can Star in Agribusiness finalist,
one of the agricultural education
organization’s highest honors. He
will compete with three other fin
alists for the award at the 71st Na
tional FFA Convention Nov.
12-14 in Kansas City, Mo.
Stewart always knew he would
eventually take over his family’s
farming operation. However,
when he saw this opportunity to
start his own business, he started
setting goals. “My initial goal was
to make enough money to get my
investment back,” Stewart said.
He progressed toward his goals
faster than he expected. “I was
certain my business would grow
due to the greater education of to
day’s environment concerns, but I
never expected that in two and a
half years I would have to tell
someone that I was out of com
post," Steward said.
The former Kuna FFA Chapter
member won the National Agri
culture Processing Proficiency
award in 1996, which earned him
a trip to Costa Rica in 1997.
“One never realizes how much
work goes into doing something
until you’ve done it. I have to say
that I am pleased with what has
come about, and I’m excited and
looking forward to what the future
holds,” he said.
Stewart’s FFA advisers were
Joe Blackstock and Shawn Dy
gert.
Marketing Skills
Pay For Tygrett
“Many skills have had a major
impact on my success,” said An
drew Tygrett, Atalissa, lowa.
“However, the skill that have
helped me achieve and set future
goals are marketing skills.” The
20-year-old established markets
for his floral crops with three local
florists with four different farmers
markets within a 130-mile radius.
Tygrctt’s interest in floriculture
began in 1989 when his father pur
chased flats of annuals, which he
managed. In 1997 Tygrett bought
117 acres for expansion the
size and scope of which will allow
him to meet the demands of a spe
cialized market.
Finalist for the National FFA
Organization’s 1998 American
Star in Agribusiness Award, one
of the agricultural education or
ganization’s highest honors, he
will compete with three other fin
alists for the award at the 71st Na
tional FFA Convention Nov.
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“I have many advantages in my
program a local gladiolus
grower lives close by and has
served as my mentor. He has al
lowed me to use land to plant my
gladiolus conns, in exchange for
labor,” Tygrett said. “My parents
have also played an integral part,
in my success. They have helped
me expand my project by lending
a hand when needed.
“To be successful, I must have
attractive displays, competitive
pricing and produce quality
gladiolus, dahlias, vegetables,
bedding plants, and other cut
flowers that customers demand,”
Tygrett said. “I plan on using this
method in the future to market
new crops like organic vegetables,
hay and small grains to local cus
tomers and at farmers markets.”
The Wilton FFA Chapter mem
ber has won the 1997 National
Floriculture Proficiency and the
1996 National Agri-Entrepreneur
awards. Tygrett was also named
the 1997 lowa Star in Agribusi
ness. His FFA adviser is Bill
Hammes.
Long, Hard Hours Helped
Gregg With Future Goals
“During the course of the year I
participated in many school activi
ties, and did my chores in the eve
ning plus I would work 10- to
12-hour days most weekends,”
said K.C. Gregg, Spencer, S.D.
“This is a trait that I have learned
over die years from my parents
and grandparents.”
Gregg, 20, is a finalist for the
National FFA Organization’s
1998 American Star in Agribusi
ness Award, one of the agricultur
al educadon organizadon’s high
est honors. He will compete with
three other finalists for the award
at the 71st Nadonal FFA Conven
don Nov. 12-14 in Kansas City,
Mo.
“As a freshman I mapped out a
plan of what I hoped to be able to
accomplish with my SAE, which
included winning a proficiency in
beef production at the state level,"
Gregg Said. “I surpassed this goal
by winning the 1996 National Pro
ficiency Award in Beef Produc
tion Placement
“My job at Red Rock Angus
farm has offered me so much in
the pursuit of my future goals,"
Gregg said. “After a few years 1
increased my responsibilities with
Red Rock Angus. This past year I
artificially inseminated all the
cows and heifers, completed ra
tions for all the cattle on the ranch,
and maintained a herd health pro-
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