FFA New Horizons

36 Pages·1995·2.9 MB·English

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©1995RoperApparel.ADivolKannai,
FFA
NewHorirons
OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION
July-August, 1995 Volume 43 Number 6
CAREERS
10 14
Careers in Horticulture You Can't Raise Just One
Just Keep Growing Rodents are life savers for this
Think about ajob in this field snake lover.
where the pay is good, initiative and
16
hard work are typically quick to be
recognized and rewarded and it's Prime Time For Ag Production?
easy to get started. Take a look at the positive points
about getting into agriculture.
COVER PHOTO
8
Get Out Of The House
See how you can have fun outdoors
while you teach elementary students
about the environment.
Photo by Lawinna McGary
LEADERSHIP
18
How To Be Heard Page 20
Gain people's respect and attention
when you follow these tips.
22 DEPARTMENTS
The Buddy System
Make a positive difference by 4 News In Brief 28 MyTurn
working hand-in-hand with
6 You Asked 29 FFA In Action
young PALS.
7 Mailbag 34 Joke Page
TheFFAMission
FFAmakesapositivedifferenceinthelivesofstudentsby
developingtheirpotentialforpremierleadership,personal
growthandcareersuccessthroughagriculturaleducation.
^jjgfa
w
f TheNationalFFAOrganizationaffirmsitsbeliefinthevalueofallhumanbeingsandseeksdiversityinitsmembership,
leadershipandstaffasanequalopportunityemployer.
July-August, 1995
.
NEWS BRIEF
NewHorizons IN
Magazine Staff
Editor,JimScott
ContributingEditor.JohnM.Pitzer
Art&Production.LindaFlint Around the World With FFA
DirectorofAdvertising.GlennD.Luedke
PublishingAssistant.CarolynSalata
CirculationFulfillmentManager.DottieM.Hinkle
Assistants.HarriettFidd,PamelaHolbert
National Officers State Officer Special livestock, general farming or
NationalPresident.CoreyD.Flournoy. 12032South European Tour horticulture operations in Belgium.
TBriasvhiospD.StHreaegte.nC.hi1c6a6g1o.FoIrLes6t06A4v3e:nuNea.ti#o2n0a,lSCehcirceot,arCyA. Imagine 13 exciting days being France or Germany (where you can
95928;NationalVicePresidents.TrishaBailey, 1720N. whisked around Europe by your hosts, also work on a fruit production farm).
DoverRoad,Dover,FL33527;JennaferNeuleld,
Route2.Box75,Inman,KS67546;LeeSchroeder, theYoung Bavarian Farmers. Apply now ifyou want to go
4602303RRDoa14d6.5,CRarRpe#n3t,erL,eiWpsYic.82O0H544.5856;GregVetter. Only state officers are eligible to this summer.
attend this exclusive Greenweek
Board of Directors The Royal Treatment
CCohxa.irJmaamne.sLaCrrrafyt.CaMsaer;ioMnemFlbeetcrhsero,fLtehseOBlosaernd,.EDadvwiadrd SGermeiennawreethkatExbpeogi,nsa oinncBee-rilni-na-altiftehteime Did you know winning the national
Smith.EdwardStephens,RandyTrivette show displaying livestock, fertilizers, FFA dairy and livestockjudging
National Staff machinery and agricultural products competitions in Kansas City, Missouri,
NEaxteicountailveAdSveicsroert.arCyh.ieCfolExeemcauntiHvaerrOifsf;icCerh,ieLfarOrpyerCaatsien;g from around the world. could land you in Scotland and Wales?
Officer.BernieStaller;Na—tionalTreasurer,K.Eugene Bring your dancing shoes for the The first-place teams represent the
SEcuoltitn;geTr;eaTcheearmSLeeravidceerss,RaSntduydeBnetrnShearrvditc;esP,arJtinmer Lanjugendball orYoung Farmers" U.S.A. at the Royal Highland Show in
BRuetllaetri;onHsu,mJaoync&eWFiinstcearltRoen;soSuprocenss,orLeRnelnaiteioGnas,maDgoeu;g Dance. And get ready to tour Berlin, Edinburgh, Scotland.
CommunicationResources,WilliamStagg;Distribution Prague Castle the Alps and a collective
Resources.JanetLewisandJamesLong;
FFAVentures.DennisShafer farm in the former East Germany. How To Get There From Here
You*11 make life-long friends in
PF.FOA.BNoexw1HA5o1rd6i0vzoensrtising Offices ySoouutrhheorsntGfeamrimlayn.y, when you stay with EurGorpaebanyoGurrecehnawneceekftoorura,sapecial
Alexandria,VA22309 703-360-3600 livestockjudging competition in
T1h7e37BrFaasisregtrteeCnoDmrpiavenySuite100 Be World-Wise Scotland orone oftheWmEanAy
Fullerton,CA92633-1515 714-525-8011 From Japan to Ireland, FFA's World exciting short or long tours by
MKiadrwaebsatne/rnLaSbtianteersAssociates,Inc. Experience Abroad (WEA) program calling or writing Bruce White: 703-
75EastWackerDrive Suite930 gives you incredible options for 360-3600, ext. 319, P.O. Box 15160,
CPKheainrcnasabygalonv.a/nILiLaa.b6i0Dn6ee0lr1aAwsasroec,iaNteesw,JIenrc.sey 312-236-6345 wyoorukaipnpglyanndolweayronuincganint1a7kecoyuonutrripeisc.kIf 5Al6e3x2anMdtr.iaV.erVnAon22H3i0g9h-w0a1y6,0.
130West42ndStreet
NewYork,NY 10036 212-840-0660 from three- or six-month stays on dairy.
RobertFlahiveCompany
22BatteryStreet
SanFrancisco,CA94111 415-781-4583
FFANewHorizons(ISSN 1069-806X)ispreparedand
publishedbimonthlybytheNationalFFAOrganization, FFA Growing!
5632MountVernonMemorialHighway.Alexandria, Is
VDierpgainritam2e2n3t0o9f-0E1d6u0c,atiinoncoaospearasteirovnicweitthotshteatUe.aS.nd There are 443,389 members
localvocationalagriculturaleducationagencies.2nd
ClasspostagerateispaidatAlexandria.VAand this year.
additionalmailoffices.
POSTMASTER:Pleasesendchangeotaddressesto: (That's 15,000 more members than in 1994.)
CirculationDepartment,FFANewHorizons,PO.Box
15160,Alexandria.Virginia22309-0160
CORRESPONDENCE Addressallcorrespondenceto:
FFANewHorizons.P.O.Box15160,5632Mt Vernon
MemorialHighway.Alexandria,Virginia22309-0160.
OfficeslocatedattheNationalFFACenter,
approximatelyeightmilessouthofAlexandria,Virginia Rolling In The Dough Keep KidsAlive
SpoUsBSCRI:oPnTsI(OFNF:A$m5e.m0b0epresr$y1e.ar75inpaUi.dS.wiatnhddues). FFA members won more than 850 Farm Safety 4 Just Kids staff, at
Ssiunbgs,ci >3$1S.850;00fivCeoopryrmiogrhte17959e5ebacyht.heForeign scholarships valued at more than 1.2 1-800-423-KIDS, provide assistance on
National - Organization. million dollars through the National many safety topics and offer video
ManagingEl nnaMcGary FFA Foundation scholarship program. tapes, activity books and warning
McGaryComn, Ifyou would like to apply for a 1996 decals. Give them a call, and make sure
scholarship contact JenniferWoods at your chapter, school and family have a
703-360-3600. ext. 321 safe summer!
FFA NewHorizons
CONSIDER
Notfo PEACE CORPS
'95
^Office* On To*
In developing countries all
over the world, people go
hungry because
Movin' On Down they lack the
farming
• See You On TV—"CBS This knowledge
The Road
Morning was a little nervewracking you might
because I knew it was a live show, so if tgarkaentfeodr. As
Eight months into their I messed up, I knew it went national." a Peace Corps
says National President Corey Flournoy Volunteer, you
term, the national who also appeared on the "NBC can share your
skills and make a
officers say they're still Nightly News." lasting difference in
lovin' every minute of it these people's lives.
Peace Corps offers two years
of international experience,
the first five months of 1995, the language training, paid living
In
national officers spent an average of expenses, medical care,
about 12 days at home. "When we get travel and more. It's an
unforgettable opportunity for
tired, the ongoingjoke is, 'We'll sleep personal and career growth!
next year,'" says National Central
Region Vice President Jennafer Neufeld. Peace Corps Volunteers must
be U.S. citizens and at least 18
But all ofthat time trotting around the years old. There is no upper
country is paying off. "We really feel age limit. Married applicants
like now we're beginning to make a are welcome, but your spouse
difference as national officers," says The serious work of the national must also qualify for an
Jennafer. Here's an inside look at the officers is never done. National assignment.
Western Region Vice President Greg
national officer's lives. Vetter(He'sthe oneonthe left.) hangs TOLEARNMORE,PLEASE
out with a Disney character during a MAILINTHE REQUESTFOR
What's Up national officer team retreat and work INFORMATIONORCALL:
• Coast To Coast Honors—From session in Orlando, Florida.
800-424-8580
Washington, D.C. to California to
Rhode Island in three days meant National Eastern Region Vice
Central Region Vice President Jennafer President Lee Schroeder and National
Neufeld spent 15 hours out of72 in Secretary Travis Hagen went behind the MAILTO: PReoaocemC8o5rp0s6,
the air. — scenes to gain national exposure for 1990 KStreet, NW
• The Terminator Travel can be National FFA Week. They gave NBC's Washington, DC20526
tough on you, your luggage and clothes. "The Today Show" host, Bryant Name
Death toll ofFFA gear for National Gumbel. their business cards and
Secretary Travis Hagen: Two pairs of mentioned the upcoming FFA event. Address
slacks, ripped in Japan. Two white The next day friendly weatherman
shirts, "worn out completely. I have nine Willard Scott announced the news on
shirts that I wear. I poked a couple of the air. — City
holes in my luggage yesterday. I need a • CareerTip "When we asked
new set." agribusiness people what they are State ZIP
• On Top OfMt. Rushmore... "I was looking for in the people they hire, they
impressed. I'd only seen it on postcards said they weren'tjust looking for Phone # ( )
and in history books. It was amazing," academic success, they were looking SSN#
says Southern Region Vice President for the skills FFA gives you." says
Trisha Bailey ofher visit to Mt. National President Corey Flournoy. U.S. citizen: Yes No
Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota. "They are looking for trainable and
While she was outWest, Trisha also cooperative employees," adds National Age
handed out awards at the Nevada state Southern Region Vice President Type offarmingexperienceyouhave:
convention in Las Vegas. Trisha Bailey. •••
July-August, 1995
How Long? -;
.
^^
*><?*> *>
FFAjudging, band or athletic practice,
—
and y—our social life all at the same
time is good practice forjuggling the
Questions Answered Here. demOarngadnsizoafttieoancahlisnkgilllisfec.an make or
break you when you're training teams,
teaching five or six classes a day,
attending leadership seminars with
You
fi&kedl students and, in your spare time,
learning new greenhouse management,
livestock record-keeping, computeror
biotechnology techniques.
To learn more about the teaching
life, find a mentor. Your agricultural
I'm interested in teaching fora neighbor. Expose yourselfto every instructor is a good place to start
agriculture. How can I teaching situation possible. that search.
prepare? While you're at it, work on your Next plan your formal education.
leadership skills. Enter speaking You'll need a bachelor's degree in
contests, run forof—fice,joinjudging agricultural education. Check with your
L^9 »Do you care?That's the first teams, play sports try anything that local library to see which state colleges
• #
• question successful will teach you teamwork, how to meet offer teaching degrees. Write the
agricultural teachers say you have to people and how to present your schools you're interested in, or call or
answer before you really decide to ideas to others. write the NVATA office at P.O. Box
teach. Will you be motivatedjust by In between FFA and other leadership 15160, 5632 Mount Vernon Memorial
knowing you're helping Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309-0160,
students become better 703-360-3600. They'll send your name
people, even ifthey don't and address to the right people in
thank you, even ifyour pay your state.
is lower than you could Don't let lack ofmoney hold you
get elsewhere? back. FFA members were awarded 850
Do you love to learn? scholarships worth more than one
Staying on top ofnew million dollars through the National
technology is crucial to FFA Foundation Scholarship Program.
keeping "yourclassroom Many ofthese dollars are available for
alive and up-to-date," says agricultural education majors. For your
Sheila Barrett, who has taught application, phone JenniferWoods at
for six years in Fullerton, 703-360-3600, ext. 321
California.
Once you've decided that s"TahyesirSattetveentiWoenadsipcakn, iPsreabbloeutStheanwnmieneuteFsF,A" The GoodNews
making a difference in young member, Camden, Ohio, about the fourth Whether you teach for a few years
people's lives is more graders he taught during his chapter's Food or for the rest ofyour life, it's a great
important than say, being a For America program. He makes sure to way to build skills. "Ifyou can handle
millionaire, and that learning constantly change the pace of his that (teaching) you can handle
is your life-long passion, get gpruensensatfaettiyo,nsthaeboeuntviirnosencmtesn,t,prolpieverstnouctkritaionnd, anything," says Stewart. •••
busy teaching.
*PALS (an FFA program othertopics. 'Call 1-800-PALS-FFA to find out how you
and yourchaptercan participate.
in which you ^pend time with an events, take the tough classes. Then,
elementary stuc I; agricultural keep your grades up. "I think you need **Ag In The Classroom programs are
literacy activities :h as **Ag In The to do well academically—period," says usually handled Py your local Farm
Classroom and ***j I ForAmerica: Marshall Stewart, executive director of BInureaTuhestaff.ClYaosusrcoaonm,getdReotaoimlsfro3m1:7-AAg,
little league Softball, i hall and the National Vocational Agricultural Administration Bldg., U.S. Department of
basketball and 4-H offei kinds of Teachers' Association, Inc., (NVATA). Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250-0991
chances to guide young pi. "It doesn't mean you need to be magna
Ifyour community does, cum laude or anything, but you need a A"m'eSreincdayopurresreenqtueers'sts gfouridae FtooodRFoodr
any ofthese programs, voluntt. r broad perspective in science, English Duckworth, P.O. Box 15160, 5632 Mount
a teacher's aide or tutor at your school. and math" he says. Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria,
Be a summer camp counselor. Baby-sit Besides, keeping up with homework. VA 22309-0160.
6 FFA NewHorizons
— —
Ifone ofyou suffers from the you'll overcome the selfish temptation
"disease ofme," is caught cheating or to go for a quick win, easy recognition
M A L B A G doing something wrong, your whole or rewards at any cost. Rather, I hope
I FFA team suffers. It doesn't take long you'll approach your projects with a
for people to go from one person's full heart and a sense that what you are
misconduct to making assumptions doing counts for something. I hope
A Winning Team about the whole group. One athlete that, us members ofFFA. you live and
Most of—you probably have heard the takes drugs and suddenly all athletes act in ways that help and support your
expression—"Winning isn't are "on drugs." One government team-mates and that foster their trust
everything it's the only thing." While official is found to be corrupt and in you and in FFA as an organization.
some people associate it with coach pretty soon, all ofthem are "suspect" H. D. Cleberg
Vince Lombard!, the quote actually was in the public eye. President & CEO,
made famous by anotherfootball I hope that, as members ofFFA, FarmlandIndustries, Inc.
coach—Red Sanders. What Lombardi Chairman 1995 FFA Foundation
said was "Winning isn't everything
but wanting to win is."
While the drive to win Lombardi
We
talks about helps make champions, guarantee these Buck Knives
Sanders' view suggests that winning is
sIto'siampfoorrtmanotft"hawtinnnoitnhginagteallslecomsattst.e"rs. cut costs. Not comers.
Those ofyou who saw the movie "Wall
Street," in which Michael Douglas
played a corporate raider whose motto
in life boiled down to "greed is good,"
watched an example ofthe kind of
attitude and behavior Sanders was
—
talking about in the business world
rather than on the football field.
—
That—attitude that winning is all
there is seems to be popular in some
circles—these days. You've heard the
jargon "Who says you can't have it
all?" "Cheating is wrong only ifyou
get caught." NewYork Knicks Coach
Pat Riley call those who live by that Look at these great new
attitude people who are sick with "the knives from Buck. Mentor, the
disease ofme." They develop an
sheath knife. Protege, the folding
exaggerated, blown-up beliefin their
own importance. They feel under- lockblade, available with or without
appreciated. They think they're being serrations. Genuine Buck knives. Buck's
cheated out oftheir share ofattention.
top-qualityAmerican-made steel. Comfortable,
They try to outshine everyone else
around them and resent anyone who's rubber-like handles that give you a sure grip. Backed
good at what he or she does. Eventually, by Buck's famous no-nonsense Lifetime Guarantee.
they cause their teams to lose.
As members ofFFA, you're part ofa So you see, we've cut no corners! Yet priced so
team.—(Not a business team or a sports low you'll check the name BUCK on the blade to be sure
team but a team) made up ofothers in
your local chapter and ofmore than a it's genuine.
halfmillion other young people in Ask your dealer to show you the knives... and the low
chapters all over the country. Andjust price. Or call toll-free, l-[phone].
as with individuals on a basketball
team, what each ofy—ou does reflects on
the rest ofyour team on how it BUCK KNIVES
performs and on what people think
about it.
July-August, 1995 Dept. NHF-795, P.O. Box 1267, El Cajon, CA 92022
—
Get Out Of
See how you can have fun
outdoors while you teach
elementary students about
the environment
By Lawinna McGary
reeling in fish watched erosion sweep away soil, ran a
right and left. relay race where their goal was to keep
Few other the most water in theircup, counted the
students are rings on a log (to tell how old it was),
catching planted and took home their own
anything alive. flower and put grass clippings in a
(Water-logged compost bin.
twigs don't "Today, when we were outside, we
count.) But let them have fun," says freshman FFA
there's lots of member Beth Nabors. who explained
action. composting (fermenting yard and other
Elementary waste material to make organic
students are fertilizer) to the kids. "We let them go
whipping pick up grass clippings and dirt and
their poles pretend like it was a kitchen. I said add
back to heave your ingredients such as your grass and
their hooks leaves and then stir it up.
into the "We let them sit down and tell us
water. FFA stories (about what their parents and
members grandparents do for the environment),
are either but then we would get back on track
Fun atthetishing helping the little ones with learning...and ask them 'What are
cast, or making sure everybody gets out you going to do next time you're
ofthe way when they do. cutting the grass?'"
want to go where the fish are Many ofthese same FFA members Beth says the kids got a kick out of
where Will is!" says kindergartner spent their morning teaching the talking to high school students. "It
I Nikki Benford. Fifteen minutes of preschoolers about the environment. makes them feel important. When I
sitting quietly, while the fish ignore her "We had a wildlife track station talked to them their eyes were all big
bait has made the six-year-old restless. where they could learn to identify tracks and wide open. They listened and paid
Especially since,just a couple ofpoles and then make their own," says chapter attention to you. They felt like
down, her classmate Will Hawn is President Megan Howard. Kids also somebody older cared for them. It made
"
House!
The
them feel important, really
special."
"I think everybody got
something out ofit." says
Megan. "The ability to talk to
the kids, how to teach them. Not
only did FFA members learn
about what they were teaching,
but they also learned how to
communicate better with
youngerchildren the importance
ofprotecting the earth."
Earth Day is a perfect time to
hold these environmentally
friendly events, but it's not the
only time these Madison-
Morgan. Georgia. FFA "I learned how to deal with little kids," says Beth Nabors, who, along with chapter
members have natural resources PresidentTuckerWebb, explained composting to the preschoolers.
on their minds.
"We bring the students out here for Open 24 Hours A Day involved with the environment with
a tour on our nature trail." And "We put All ofthe trees on the nature trail hands on activities."
on a Mother Earth play in the picnic that runs to the elementary school are The chapter's nature work didn't
area..." says Megan. Members also hold identified with signs. "The teachers ask keep them in the woods though. Megan
an annual all-day fishing derby. ifwe can give a tour maybe once a recently won a trip to the White House
Just four years ago the lush nature month, but the classroom is open to to accept the Presidential
area and fishing pond "was an old anybody in the community at any point Environmental YouthAward from Vice
deserted piece ofland covered with in time." adds Megan. President Albert Gore.
trash." says Megan. "Ourcha—pter "I think that even though we are
formed a group called RSVP—Recycle kind ofin a rural area, that a lot ofkids
Soon It's Vital To Our Planet and we who have grown up in the country have "If we don't protect the
opened up a recycling center in our taken things for granted," says advisor
parking lot. We cleared this area...and Blane Marable. "They've seen the trees earth today, we're not
installed a pond and stocked it. We put and farm animals from a distance. So going to have
up bird houses and bat houses and all this kind ofgave us an excellent
sorts ofthings to attract wildlife." opportunity for our students to become anything left for future
generations.
mmmmmiiMihM
July-August, 1995
Careers
in
Horticulture
Keep
Just
Grouting
By Bob Bruce
the first place I realized what I as Angie points out. nurseries and
really wanted to do. ..." garden centers are hungry for hard-
Now she works at a small garden working employees who have some
center. On Tuesdays, she pretty much knowledge and confidence.
runs the place. "I sell plants and tell "To get my secondjob," she says. "I
jf So openings, no future, no luck, people how to take care oftheir trees." just walked in there and asked them if
/m 7Thejob outlook for some Ofcourse you have to be sharp, but they needed any help. The manager said
# W industries is downright bleak.
Not so for horticulture.
The pay is good, initiative and hard
work are typically quick to be
recognized and rewarded and it's easy
to get started.
Almost 25 percent ofthe temporary
seasonal workers in the nursery and
landscape industry are high school and
college students. Wages, which start at
around $4.75 for a beginning part-time
laborer, can easily reach $30,000 to
$35,000 in a couple ofyears.
Plant Power
Although Angie Jackson is still in
high school, at the Warren Occupational
Technical Center in Golden, Colorado,
she's already worked for two nurseries.
She started her firstjob not knowing
much .. it horticulture, but willing to
learn. "1 . , lot ofthings...," she
recalls. "I p <\. I watered and I
learned. They : many different things Rick Michalak didn't plan on a career in the green industry. "I was looking for
there, from tropi ants to trees and something in ag business atfirst," he says,"but this will be my fourth mowing
shrubs, perennials a nuals. It was season and I may change my mind."
10 FFA NewHorizons