FFA Proceedings 2002
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Proceedings Contents Agri-Entrepreneurship Awards ....................................10 Agriscience Fair ................................................................15 Agriscience Student Recognition Program ..............14 Agriscience Teacher of the Year..................................15 American FFA Degree..............................................28-37 Band ....................................................................................21 Career Development Events (CDE) ......................18-19 Career Show................................................................62-63 Chorus ................................................................................22 Collegiate FFA ..................................................................17 Proceedings Convention Overview ....................................................1-5 Convention Candids..................................................77-79 Convention Speakers................................................40-41 Courtesy Corps ................................................................64 Creed Speaking CDE ......................................................12 Delegate Committee Reports ................................69-75 Delegate Session Summary ..........................................68 Delegates ....................................................................65-67 Extemporaneous Public Speaking CDE ....................13 H.O. Sargent Awards ......................................................16 Honorary American FFA Degree ..........................56-57 Membership Recognition ..............................................54 National Chapter Awards........................................52-53 National FFA Alumni Convention..........................58-59 PHOTO BY ED ZURGA National Officer Candidates ..........................................20 Convention allows FFA members to make friends from across the nation. National Officer Team, 2004-2005............................80 Prepared Public Speaking CDE ............................11-12 Proficiency Awards....................................................24-27 The 77th National FFA Convention Proceedings is published by the National FFA Organization as a record Retiring Address- Amy Rasmussen ..............46-47, 76 of its annual convention held in Louisville, Ky. Retiring Address- Anne Knapke....................44-45, 76 Retiring Address- Casey Hogan ............48-49, 76-77 Editor Photo Processors Andrea McNeely, Indiana Emily Rhoades, Florida Retiring Address- Christy Windham ............50-51, 77 Kelley Yates, Kentucky Associate Editors Retiring Address- Javier Moreno ..................38-39, 76 Sarah Heurer, Arkansas Photographers Retiring Address- Stacia Berry ..............................42-43 Chad McLeod, Florida Sam Harrel, Alaska Wales Hunter, Kentucky Sponsors......................................................................60-61 Photo Editor Kelly Rogers, Minnesota Amber Striegel, Indiana Ed Zurga, Kansas Stars Over America ........................................................6-9 Art Director Talent ..................................................................................23 Cindy Kelley, Indiana VIP Citations ....................................................................55 Learn, Lead, Succeed With eagerness and excitement, more than 50,000 FFA members, advisors and guests from across the country made their way to Louisville, Ky., Oct. 27-30 for the 77th National FFA Convention. The week was action-packed, filled with everything from convention sessions to career development events. The 2004 National FFA Convention officially kicked off Wednesday, when members watched the 2003-2004 National FFA Officers enthusiastically enter the first convention session to the tune of Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.” After four days of blue and gold jackets swarming the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, convention came to a close Saturday PHOTO BY KELLY ROGERS afternoon when the new Members at opening day of the convention. national officer team was installed. But in the midst of all the happenings, FFA members found one common purpose at national convention—Learn, Lead, Succeed. Learn Throughout convention, FFA members had multiple opportunities for learning, one of the foundations of FFA and agricultural education. Students learned from the experiences and inspiring stories of this year’s keynote speakers, including former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, who brought a message from President George W. Bush. “Your organization plays an OGITI BY WALES HUNTER important role in shaping our Many members took in the sites of beautiful downtown Louisville. future,” Veneman read from 1 Learn, Lead, Succeed PHOTO BY KELLY ROGERS FFA members show pride in their local communities. Bush’s letter. “You commitment to excellence can strengthen our nation.” Theismann, the NFL’s 1983 Most Valuable Player, recounted his days as a professional football player and shared with FFA members how they can learn from challenges and obstacles they face. “Don’t fight change,” Theismann told a crowd of 38,000. “Embrace it. Find out what you can get from it.” In addition to gathering wisdom of convention speakers, FFA members attended student development workshops hosted by former national FFA officers and other presenters. This year’s lineup, featuring 17 workshops, included a PHOTO BY SAM HARRAL memory-building session, a class that focused on personal mission statements, and other topics related to student development. One of the annual convention highlights, the National FFA Agricultural Career Show, allowed FFA members to 2 Learn, Lead, Succeed learn more about the agricultural industry and careers in agriculture. “The career fair shows you how much agriculture has an influence on everything,” said Minnesota FFA member Geoff Gerardin, who said he was impressed by his first trip to convention. Students continuously packed the South Wing of Freedom Hall, so they could browse more than 340 exhibits and talk to company representatives. Whether trying Spam for the first time, visiting PHOTO BY KELLY ROGERS the Army’s climbing wall or Leadership skills gained in local chapters are displayed on talking with university a national stage during convention. representatives, the career show was a chance for FFA members to have fun while learning about the agriculture industry. Lead In terms of leadership, FFA members showed why the National FFA Organization is the nation’s premier youth leadership organization. In fact, before convention began, FFA delegates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico spent two days discussing issues relating to the organization and possible changes to the FFA constitution. The delegate body – as always – was a vital part of national convention. Delegates sat on the floor level of the convention hall and helped energize the crowd before sessions began. Sessions, which were full of PHOTO BY SAM HARREL events that displayed FFA Information taken from the FFA National Agricultural Career Show helps leadership, were a huge hit with students find their calling. FFA members. Thousands of 3 Learn, Lead, Succeed PHOTO BY KELLY ROGERS National convention is the place where much time and energy turns into success. blue-jacketed students began pouring into The officers – Javier Moreno, Christy the seats of Freedom Hall about an hour Windham, Casey Hogan, Stacia Berry, Ann before each session. Students were treated Knapke and Amy Rasmussen – shared life to music by the National FFA Band and lessons that have shaped them into the Chorus, including the band’s movie medley leaders they are today. Last, ensuring that and the chorus’ powerful a cappella version the tradition of FFA premier leadership of the national anthem. National FFA continues, the newly chosen 2004-2005 Advisor Dr. Larry Case developed a rapport National Officers were installed at the final with students at the opening session as he convention session Saturday afternoon. led them in chants of “learn, lead, succeed.” By the end of the week, Succeed thousands of students cheered for Dr. Case For thousands of FFA members, national during opening ceremonies and encouraged convention is the place where much time him to do the “raise-the-roof” motion. and energy turns into success. FFA Also, the 2003-2004 National Officers members from every state came to gave powerful retiring addresses that drew convention not just for the purpose of praise and applause from the entire attending sessions and listening to convention hall. speakers but to participate in a career “The national officers actually tell stories development event (CDE) or present a you can relate to,” said Heather Wiilk, a project in hopes of winning one of many student from Cumberland FFA in FFA awards. The West Wing of Freedom Wisconsin. Hall, where most CDEs took place, was 4 Learn, Lead, Succeed abuzz with activity. FFA members and advisors formed long lines in the West Wing lobby, waiting to take pictures with event sponsors. One FFA advisor, standing with her farm business management team Wednesday morning, said participation in FFA events can lead to future success and is “an opportunity of a lifetime.” Finalists were chosen for each CDE, and winners were recognized onstage. Students also came to conven- tion hoping to walk away with a prestigious FFA award, such as the American Star Farmer or the Agriscience Student of the Year. All the award finalists demonstrated innovation