Table Of Content

The 66th National FFA Convention ROCEEDINGS November11-13, 1993 MinnesotamembersKimbertyPetersonofMountainLakeandCarlAarkeofHawley spenta briefmomentas twoofthe461 delegates whovotedon issuesaffecting the NationalFFA Organization. — mm Letter From the Editor Translating theenergy, thesmiles,theexcitementofthebiggestcon- ventioninhistoryintothese72pageswasachallengingtask,butonethat weapproachedwithenthusiasm.Yousee,everyonewhoworkedonthis reportholdsFFAclosetotheirhearts.Eachpersonlistedbelowiseithera LEADERSHIP^AMERICA formermember,partofthenationalFFAstaff,oraprofessionalwhoclears hisorherscheduletobeinKansasCityeveryyearforthebigevent.We Contents know how special the convention experience is to both newly initiated freshmenandseven-yearveteransearningtheirAmericanFFADegrees, becausemanyushavebeenthereourselves. Achievementin Volunteerism 26 Inthesepagesyouwillfindtheofficialrecordofthe66thNationalFFA AgriscienceStudentofthe Year 9 Convention.Wehopeyourecognizesomefaces,andthatthephotosbring Agriscience TeacherRecognition 9 backmemoriesofsomespecialdaysinyourFFAcareer.Maybeoneofthe AlumniConvention 48 AmericanFFA Degrees 19 retiringaddressesmotivated you tosetnewgoals,orperhapsyouwere inspired by thestoriesoftheproficiencywinnersand decided someday Band 29 youwanttosharethespotlightonstage. Morethananyotherevent,the BuildingOurAmericanCommunities 26 national convention highlighted FFA's commitment to developing pre- Business 52 CareerShow 51 mierleadership,personalgrowthandcareersuccessinyoungpeople. ChapterAwards 27 Ifyouwereoneofthe32,111 peoplewhojoinedintheannualcelebra- Chorus 28 tion,wehopeyoutooktheexperiencehomeandshareditwithothers.If you'venotyetmadethejourneytoKansasCity,wehopethesepagesgive CommitteeReports 56 youasenseoftheintenseactivitythatcanhappenonlyatconvention,and Auditing 56 Awards& Degrees 56 thatyoucanbepartofitinyearstocome. Enjoy, Communications& PublicRelations 57 LynnHamilton Contests 58 InternationalDevelopment 59 Leadership& PersonalDevelopment 60 Marketing& Merchandising 61 MembershipDevelopment 63 Proceedings NationalFFA Convention 65 Nominating 66 PartnerDevelopment 67 ProgramofActivities 68 VolumeLXVI November11-13,1993 StudentPublications 69 The 66th National FFA Convention PROCEEDINGS is ComputersinAgriculture 18 published by the National FFA Organization as a record of Contests 15 its annual convention held in Kansas City, Mo., CourtesyCorps 31 November 11-13, 1993. Delegates 53 DistinguishedServiceCitations 47 PROCEEDINGS Staff ExtemporaneousSpeakingContest 12 FFAAchievers 49 Editor EditorialAssistant NationalFFA FoundationRecognition 46 LynnHamilton Marion Fay Communications HonoraryAmericanFFA Degrees 44 ResourcesTeam NewNationalOfficers 71 AssociateEditors WilliamF.Stagg OfficerCandidates 25 ThelmaMarkwart Photographers DirectorTeamLeader ParliamentaryProcedureContest 15 SueAnnStuever SamHarrel PreparedPublicSpeakingContest 13 JenniferWest LightfootPhotography Communications LawinnaMcGary ProficiencyAwards 16 KellyRogers Consultants RetiringAddresses 32 ArtDirector OrlinWagner JenniferConway LindaFlint RoniHoran TravisPark 32 MichaelWilson GaryStaszak Kevin White 34 PhotographyEditor DennisDegner 35 MollyWilson SpecialThanksto: ToddHingson 39 SaundraCampbell JohnKleiboeker 40 DeskTopPublishing GayleFortenberry RickPerkins 42 ShellyRichardson MaryBethStagg SafetyAwards 27 StarsOverAmerica 10 PreparedandpublishedbytheNationalFFAOrganizationincooperationwith Talent 30 theU.S. DepartmentofEducationasaservicetostateandlocalagricultural educationagencies. VIPCitations 50 ©Copyright1993bytheNationalFFA Organization TheNationalFFA Organizationaffirmsitsbeliefin thevalueofallhumanbeingsandseeksdiversityinitsmembership,leadershipandstaff. mm A Moment Time Brief in V If The teamfrom the Springdale, Arkansas, FFA Chaptershows its thrillat beingannounced as thewinner in the National FFA Poidtry Contest. Springdale member, Brian Lloyd, (secondfrom right) was rankedas the highest individual. With palmsmoistwithperspirationanda 66thNationalFFAConvention.TheeyesofKansas highsupplyofnervousenergy, 18-yearold Citywereoneverymemberoftheseaofblue AmyLaSalleofMerced,Calif.,stepped forward to corduroythatdescended uponitinearlyNovember. recitehersix-toeight-minutespeechentitled,El KansasCity'sspotlightfocusedonFFA'swaveof CieloEstaCayendo. Forabriefmoment,theanxiety youngpeople,whooverflowed intothecitystreets seemedunbearable.Apprehensionsoongaveway withenergyandenthusiasm. toexcitementwhenhernamewascalledasthe Forabriefmoment,timeseemedtostand stillas winneroftheNationalPrepared PublicSpeaking agriculturaleducationand theFFAshowcased their Contest. brightestandbest. LikeLaSalle,itwastimeforeachmemberto sFFhAo.wStohemewocralmdewthoactoimtpmeetaen,tsotombeetaoepnatretrotfaitnheand Under Bright Lights in the Big City otherssimplytoenjoythesightsand soundsofthe ForsomeFFA members, thescenesoutsidethe (Continuedonpage5) mm ThisFFA memberpaid thepricewith longhoursofdisciplinedstudyandpractice tocompete in theNational Nursery/LandscapeContest.Althoughonherownhere,shewaspartofateamrepresentingherchapterandstate. 3 Ir By thelookon theirfaces, ridingaschool bus isn'tso bad,and it mightevenbekindoffun.BoundforKansasCity,theseGreenville, Texas,FFAmembershadplentyoftime toplan theirconvention activities. They could map out which workshops to attend and choosewhichspeakerstohear.Theridehomeleftplentyoftimeto compareandlearnfrom eachother'sexperiences. TheseDelawareFFAmembersshareapeacefulmomentoutside theKansas Cityairport beforemeetinghead-on with thehustle andbustleof32,111 convention attendees. V^ \.S U" mm MunicipalAuditoriumwereasmemorableas those within.Thetraffic,sirens,skyscrapersandurbanlife styleswereraresightsforsomemembersmaking theirfirstvoyageoutsidetheirhometown. Itwas somewhatofaculturalshockfornativeKansas Citians,too,whorelinquished theircity totheall- Americanseaofblue. Membersfound themselvesmakingtheirown decisionsandbeingresponsiblefortheirown — actions decidingwhattoeat,whichactivitiesto attend and howtogetfromheretothere.Theymade greatdepositsintheirbanksofknowledge,indepen- denceandexperience. Allofthiswasapreviewforthehotlightsandbig soundsofcountrymusicstarLeeGreenwood,who CarlosGancedoofBoysRanch,Texas,metcomedian wassponsoredbyCommerceBankofKansasCity. andcowboypoetBaxterBlackupcloseandpersonal. Memberswereequallydazzledby thewarmgreet- Black entertained everyone in the Municipal ingsoftheGibson/MillerBand. Auditorium during the Friday afternoon session, and told ofhis adventures as reporter of the Las Making It to the Big Time \ Cruets, N.M., FFA Chapter. FFA membersknewtheywereinthebigtimethe momenttheysteppedoffthebusin KansasCitywith U" bulgingsuitcasesinhand.Manyworked hard toget (Continuedonpage6) Friendships grow beyond your own FFA chapter. Patrice Carter of the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences,III.,andAmy Ericson, SycamoreHigh School, III., takea moment to sharea laughandasmileduringthebusyconvention. mm Fhe backs of FFA jackets confirmed that every part of the United States urns representedatthenationalFFAconvention, and that members are truly a part of somethinglargerthan themselves. From the kickoff of convention with Reflections Wednesday evening, Kevin White, national FFA secretary, and the rest of the officer team encouragedmemberstothinkaboutthemselves,aswellastheirplaceinthe V FFA,theUnitedStatesandtheworld.Eachdayoftheconventionhighlighted v one ofthese topics, and each was emphasized by neon signs such as the "USA"picturedabove. p Wliile this membergota special treat being on stage with LeeGreenwood,FFA members insideandoutof theauditoriumwereinspiredbythesinger'spatriotic performance,includinghishit"GodBlesstheU.S.A." at thecloseofReflections Wednesday night. (Continuedfrompage5) there;somespentcountlesshourspreparingfor challenged tobuildthecharacterneededtoservetheir competition. Longdaysand sleeplessnightswere family,communityandnationinwhatevercapacity thenormasmanyband,chorusand talentmembers theywerecalled.Theywereencouragedbyguest laboredformusicalexcellence. Manyevenpaid speakerEmoryAustin,co-sponsoredbyUnited — theirownway. But,itwasworthit. Telephone Midwest,tolettheFFAmold theirtalents TheMunicipalAuditoriumwasburstingatthe andabilities. seams.Truetoitschosentheme,theconvention Surroundedbytheconstantbuzzofdelegates, celebrated "LeadershipforAmerica." From nationalofficers,advisorsandchaperones,members ReflectionsonWednesdayeveningtothefallofthe couldn'thelpbutjoinintheflurryofactivitiesand gavelonSaturdayafternoon,memberswere growfromtheexperience.Thoughsurroundedby £^ WR thousandsofstrangers,membersfoundafeelingof Sincenoonecould possiblyseeanddoitall,some warmth,comfortandasenseofbelongingwith chaptersdeveloped amilitary-styleplanofactionto otherswhoshared theircommitmenttoagriculture divideand conqueralloftheconventionexperi- V and leadership. ences.Theyreturned fromtheirmissionsto compareadventuresand sharetheirfindings. Sharing FFA's Big Adventure Agriculturalprofessionalsrewarded that A View of the Big Picture commitmentbyraisingover$5million fortheFFA FFAmembersexpanded theirworld view andagriculturaleducationin 1993. Abigger-than- throughvisitswithinternationalexchangestudents, evercareershow, whichincluded230 exhibitors, highlighted themanydiverse careersavailableto youngpeoplewilling totakeonthechal- lengesofa progressive industry. FFAchalkedupa 15,888-member increasein 1993,soit wasnosurprisethat theconventiongrew, too.Attendancehitan all-timehighof32,111, and therewereplenty ofactivitiesforthe crowd toenjoy. Speakersrecounted storiesabouthowthe FFAhad helpedthem, fromthepersonal strengthofCoby Shortertothewitof BaxterBlack. Shorter wassponsoredby WesternRetail Implementand U.S. SecretaryofAgricultureMikeEspytoldFFAmembers, "Everywhereyou lookyou HardwareAssociation, canseesomephaseofagriculture. Everyoneisaffectedbyagriculture." Withdiscussions whilethetravelfor and debate about trade infull siuing, Espy went on to tell FFA members thatas trade Blackwasprovidedby barriersarelowered, "Worldtradewillofferamultitudeofcareeropportunities. Youwill PassportTravel.Other havemoreopportunity thananystudentanywherein theworld." speakersincluded Miss AmericaKimberlyClariceAiken,sponsoredby guestspeakersand FFA memberswhospokeof CHEVYTRUCKS;actressandcomedienneGeri globalconcerns. Jewell;AmericanSchoolCounselorAssociation Agriculturalissuesaresimilartheworldover,said PresidentDr.JackieAllen;U.S. Departmentof oneinternationalguest.Onethatseemsparticularly EducationAssistantSecretaryDr. Augusta Kappner; evidentisthelackofagriculturalliteracy. "The andJohnThompson, sponsoredbyCargill. averageGermandoesn'tknowwhatafarmerdoes," Tomakethemostoftheirtime,membersraced to said BernhardKleyboldt,aGermanwhohasbeen participateinasmanyoftheleadershipworkshops, workingona farminKansasthroughaninterna- generalsessions,retiringaddresses,dances,the AmericanRoyalandeducationaltoursaspossible. (Continuedonpage8) <^ f. wn BernhardKleyboldtofGermanyshowsoffahatwornbyfarmersandothersinBavaria,the southernregionofGermany.KleyboldtworksonafarminKansasandwillspendanother eightmonthsin theUnitedStatesduringhisone-yearinternationalprogramthroughthe FFA.KleyboldtcametotheU.S. toseewhathecouldapplyfromAmericanagricultureto the farms he manages in Germany. His proudest accomplishment so far is driving a combine,sincemostfarmersdon'towncombinesin Germany. "Mynextgoalis todrive asemi-truck,"hesaid. "Ionlyseethem in themovies.ItwasacultureshockwhenIgot hereandsaw them." (Continuedfrompage7) tionalFFAprogram. friendand tocelebrateabeliefinagriculture. Under Currentworld issuestookcenterstageasaprize- thebluecorduroy,theyleftforhomewithchests winningspeechaddressed theimpactoftheNorth filledwithprideanddreams.And forabrief AmericanFreeTradeAgreementwithMexicoand momentdreamedofhowonedaytheycould race Canada;andSecretaryofAgricultureMikeEspy acrossthestageastheFFANationalHorseProfi- relayedtheimportanceofbreakingdowntrade ciencyawardwinnerorthenewnationalFFA CNN barriersbetweennations. reporterJohn president. Hollimanreminded thegroupofhowworldevents Teachersreturnedtotheirclassroomsbrimming affecttheUnitedStatesandagriculture. Members withnewideas. FFAmembersreturned homewith realizedthatagricultureremainsthecommon, thevisionthattheybelongedtosomethinglarger deeplyanchored rootofallnations. thanthemselves. Forweeksand monthstocome, thestoriesofthatmagicalweekinKansasCity wouldberetold tomembersathome.Thisnew Leaving with a Big Impression inspirationwouldbeasourceofstrengthforallto Everyonewasshapedbytheirexperiences. makethedifficultdecisionstogrowpersonallyand Everyonetooktherisktoleavethefamiliarityof toimprovetheirchapters,communitiesandworld. home,tolearnsomethingnew,tomakeanew wn Agriscience Teacher of the Year Sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund and PCS Sales National Winner: ChristyMecey-Smith Glendale, Ariz. National Finalists: ARIZONA: ChristyMecey-Smith,Glendale GEORGIA: R. BlaneMarable, Bishop ILLINOIS:John R. Rentfrow, Shelbyville WESTVIRGINIA: LarryW. Watson, Mannington Offeringexcitinglearningexperiencesforher studentshasearnedChristyMecey-Smiththe nationalAgriscienceTeacheroftheYearaward. Mecey-Smithhasincorporated anagriscience biotechnologyprogramintoherschool'sagribusi nessandveterinarysciencecurriculum.Thenew programnotonlyconcentratesonplanttissue culture,butalsobiotechnologyapplications, genetics,animalphysiologyandembryotransfer. "Ibelieveateachermustprovidepositive experiencestobackupthosechallenges," said Mecey-Smith, "sothatstudentswillwantto Christy Mecey-Smith (right), a fifth-year agriculture instructor, accepts the continuechallengingthemselves." Herstudents AgriscienceTeacheroftheYearawardfromnationalofficerToddHingson. Mecey- conductresearchprojects,visitbiotechnology Smith teaches in Glendale,Ariz. corporationsandworkinagriscienceinternships. Mecey-SmithwashonoredonstageThursdayafternoon,andwaspresentedwith$1,500andaplaque. Agriscience Student Recognition Program Sponsored by The Agricultural Group of National Winner: Monsanto Company Julie R. Berry Adams, NewYork WhenJulieBerryreadanarticleinherAdams,N.Y.,newspaperthat claimedlightningtriggersplantgrowth,shewonderedabouttheother Runner-Up: positiveeffectslightningmighthaveonsoilandplants. JillS. McCrea "WhenIread thenewspaperarticle,itreallycreatedaspark," reflected Maysville, Mo. Berry,nowastudentatCornellUniversity. Herspark,knownas "TheElectric Greenhouse," earned theSouthJeffersonFFAChaptermemberan$8,500 scholarshipforherselectionasthenationalwinnerintheAgriscienceStudent National Finalists: RecognitionProgram. CALIFORNIA: Sharon Stephenson, Glennville Berry'sstudyexamined whetherornotpassingairthroughahigh-voltage current,createdbygraphiteelectrodestosimulatelightningand afanand IOWA:Andrea B. Clark, Algona MAINE:JodyR. Smith, Caribou sprinklersystemtosimulatewindandrain,would increasenitratelevelsin theJislolilM.cCreaoftheKingCityFFAChapterinMaysville,Mo.,wasnamed the TMNEIEXSWSAOSYU:ORRCIaK:r:rJiiJlelulCSi.aerMRmc.eCnBr,eerarP,yr,oMsAapydesarvmilsle nationalrunner-upandreceived$6,500inscholarshipawards.Herproject VIRGINIA: ChristieHyre,Winchester consistedofusinglichenstodeterminethesourcesofairbornepollutionand if WASHINGTON: MindyMcCoy, Sumner r-j theycouldbeusedindetectinglead pollution. WR Over America Stars Film sponsored by Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Universal Dairy Equipment, Inc. Cash awards funded by executive sponsors of the National FFA Foundation, Inc. TheStarsOverAmericaPageantThursday eveningspotlighted thecareersofeightoutstand- ingmemberswhohavereachedthepinnacleof JeffCole,20 DanielKeck,22 FFAachievement.Theirstoriesofsuccesswere Asbury,Mo. St. Lawrence, S.D. sharedwiththeconventionaudiencewiththeaid Liberal FFA Chapter MillerFFA Chapter ofafilmthatprofiledtheeightstars. American Starin Agribusiness American StarFarmer Familymembersandadvisorsthenjoinedthe starsonstagefortheannouncementoftheresults. TheAmericanStarFarmerand theAmerican Coleownsandoperatesalawn Keek'soperation isdiversified, StarinAgribusinesseachreceived$2,000,and the carebusinessand hasexpanded with86dairycowsand 130 nationalfinalistswerepresented with$1,000. hisservicestoinclude beefcows. Tofeed his Alleightstarsreceivedplaquesand aninvita- landscapingandsnowremoval. expanding livestockherds, he tiontoparticipateina 10-daytourofEuropean Heemploysthreepeoplefull-time raiseshay,cornandoatson and planstobuildagreenhouseto his1,380-acrefarm. agriculture. betterservehiscustomers. Accountinganddairy managementcomputer programshelphimmake informedfinancialdecisions. Talk about proud parents! Gloriaand Dennis Keck of St. Lawrence, S.D., couldn't be more pleased with their son, Dan, who was named American StarFarmer. mm 10