October-November, 1985 armet Published by the Future Farmers ^f America Inside This Issue: Stars Over America 1985 The American Advantage DEE PICKETT Former PRCA Rookie of the Year and six-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo. Why wear just any hat, or cologne, when you can wear STETSONS In the early 1850s on a lonely Colorado trail, John B. Stetson invented the first cowboy hat. Broad of brim and high crowned, it was the perfect wind and weather hat. Today, over 130 years of rich tradition stand behind each and every Stetson made. When quality means dependability, style and fit . professional rodeo cowboys like Dee Pickett go for the genuine article. Rather than wear just a hat, he wears a Stetson. STETSON HAT COMPANY GROUP, A Division of the John B. Stetson Company 4500 Stetson Trail, St. Joseph, MO 64502 lUUUiii , Mure hrmer October-November, 1985 1 0027-9315 Published h> Ihi- luluiv FurnnTs «f Amprlra Volume 34 Number ISSN A Word With The Editor In This Issue Tips From the Masters FFA's top livestock judges share their winning tips. 10 "Agriculture is a way of life in America, and a state of mind: 'Scratch an American Brian's Secret? and you find a farmer.* Stories of life on the How a high school freshman develops a livestock operation. 14 farm are part of America's folklore, both clouding and informing our view of the farm Kansas City Countdown and its place in American society. The FFA gets ready for the 58th National Convention. 16 Just how important is that place today? Small Town, Big Dreams Should we keep treating the farm as one of She proves that big does not always mean better. 18 our culture's hallowed institutions'.' Should we try to shore up agriculture against the Stars Over America 1985 forces of change? Meet the eight finalists of FFA's highest achievement award. 22 These are questions that come up every The Preservation of Liberty four years when we work out a contract with FFA joins the effort to restore America's symbol of freedom. 37 our farmers. It's called the 'Farm Bill,' it has been going on for decades, and it's one of the Carry the Banner! highest-stake debates in Washington." The FFA gets a challenge from the Secretary of Agriculture. 44 The above statement by the publisher describes the setting for a new book. A Tough The American Advantage Row la Hoc. The 1985 /arm Bill and Why American agriculture is ahead of Russia. 46 Beyond. It is a book every serious student of Chicago's Vo-Ag School agricultural policy will want to read. Chicago's last farm is first ag school. 48 A lough Row to Hoc surveys the history of past agricultural policies, the sources of The Bread and Butter Boys current agricultural crisis, and suggest goals Share in the fun of a fishing trip to remember. 54 for the future. It analyzes three key issues that shape the environment for agriculture macroeconomic policy, tax policy, and farm credit. It offers a detailed examination of four basic approaches to farm policy, as well as realistic projections of the probable effects ol each option of different goals, groups, and interests. It concludes with an explanation of the issues around which the agricultural policy debate is likely to center for the remainder of the century. OveralI.it provides an indispensable framework for understand- ing the bargain between agriculture and the In Every Issue New In Agriculture 50 rest of American society. The book is available from Hamilton News In Brief 4 Chapter Scoop 52 Press. 4720 Boston Way, Lanham, Ml) 20706. Paperback is $9.95, Cloth SI 9.95. Mailbag FFA In Action 58 plus S1.25 for postage and handling. Looking Ahead 8 The Joke Page 64 7Vibia*t @a**te& The Cover: Cover Photo by Bill Stagg Brian McClarren, of Delta, Ohio, with advisor Jim Spciss and part of his winning diversified livestock program. See page 14 for Brian's story. Magazine Staff National Officers National Staff Advertising Offices Editor-in-Chief Wilson W Carries National President Steve Meredith Route!, National Advisor. Chief Executive Officer. Larry The National FUTURE FARMER Senior Editor. John M Pilzer Glendale KY 42740 National Secretary. Mike Case. Executive Secretary. Coleman Harris. PO Box 15160 Associate Editor William F Stagg Gayaldo PO Box 966. Kelseyville. CA 95451 National Treasurer. David A Miller. Alexandria VA 22309 03-360-3600 Contributing Editor Michael Wison National Vice Presidents Mike Barrett R R 1 Administrative Director. Wilson W Carnes. The Brassett Company Publishing Assistant Jo Colley Box 5 Mead NE 68041 Nana Mason. P O Box Manager of International Programs Lennie 17409 Marquardt Avenue Director of Advertising Glenn 412 Collins D MS 39428 Graham Boyd, Route 1. Gamage FFA Program Specialist (Awards!. Cerr.tos. CA 90701 213-802-2571 luedke Box 5 Pinetown. NC 27865 Brad Bass P O Robert Seefeldt. FFA Program Specialist Robert Flahive Company Advertising Assistant Joyce Berryman Box 944 Mt Vernon TX 75457 (Contests). Ted Amick, FFA Program Specialist 22 Battery Street Circulation Fulfillment Manager i Leadership) Tony Hoyt. Director of San Francisco CA 941 11 415-781-4583 Doltie M Hinkle Board of Directors Information. Cameron Dubes. Audio-visual Assistants Chairman. Larry Case Members of the Board Specialist. William Stagg. Director of FFA Midwestern States Ada George Janet Magill. Robert Crawley Floyd Doermg Duane Nielsen. Supply Service. Dennis Shafer Executive Ag Group 20 Inc Dottie Welzel Yvonne Byrnes Jerry Paxton Lee Traver, Les Thompson. Director FFA Alumni Association, Robert W 400 N Michigan Avenue Helen Daugherly. Longina Rosco Vaughn. J W. Warren Cox. Manager of Accounting. JoAnn Grimes Chicago IL 60611 312-644-5560 Fiakowicz. Georgia Williams Ohio. Pennsylvania. Delaware New Jersey Harnett Fidd AgGroup20 Inc PO Box 251 Old Greenwich CT 06870 203-637-4397 The National FUTURE FARMER (ISSN 0027-9315) is published bimonthly by the Future Farmers ot America, 5632 Mount Vernon Highway. Alexandria, Virginia 22309 ADDRESS CHANGES: Send both old and new address to Circulation Department The National FUTURE FARMER P O Box 151 60. Alexandria. Virginia 22309 CORRESPONDENCE: Address all correspondence to The National FUTURE FARMER P O Box 1 5160 Alexandria Virginia 22309 Offices located at the National FFA Center, approximately eight miles south of Alexandria Virginia SUBSCRIPTION: S2 50 per year in US and possessions (FFA members Si. 25 paid with dues) Single copy 50c. five or more 35c each Foreign subscriptions. S2 50 plus S2 00 extra for postage Copyright 1985 by the Future Farmers of America Over -The FFA $8,000 in News in Brief National FFA Board Bill Stagg Joins The Meets National FUTURE Awarded IVIonthly Staff The National FFA Board of Directors FARMER completed their summer meeting at the Bill Stagg, FFA's Audio-Visual FFA Center in Alexandria, Virginia, Specialist for the past five years, has July 14-18. The board tackled a wide assumed duties as Associate Editor for range of issues that included action in The National FUTURE FARMER the following areas: magazine. Stagg's responsibilities will • Adoption of a strategic plan to be split between magazine and audio- guide the national organization over visual production. the course of the next five years; • Approval of a new National Agricultural Education Computer Service to provide information, reviews, and software to vocational agriculture programs; • Adoption of a balanced budget for fiscal year 1985-86; • Approval to recommend a dues increase of 50 cents to the 1985 National FFA Convention delegates; • Approval of 644 American Farmer Degree candidates; • Initiation of a constitutional amendment to allow states that use their quota of American Farmer candidates to submit an additional five candidates to make up for quotas not Draw Me filled by other states; and • Presentation to the of a You may win one of five $1,495.00 board check Art Scholarships or any one of fifty for $10,000 by the National FFA $10.00 cash prizes. Alumni as further repayment of their Make your drawing any size except original line of credit. like a tracing. Use pencil. Every qualified A communications graduate of entrant receives a free professional Virginia Tech, Stagg first came to estimate of his or her drawing. Agriculture Teacher work for the FFA in 1978. He has Scholarship winners will receive Joins FFA Board produced such shows as "Stars Over Fundamentals of Art taught Art by America" and "Be All You Can Instruction Schools, one of America's Jerry Paxton of Encampment, Dream." and has staged the audio- leading home study art schools. Our Wyoming, became the first high school visuals for the past five national objective is to find prospective vo-ag teacher to serve on the FFA students who appear to be properly conventions. Board of Directors. motivated and have an appreciation Paxton was named to represent the U.S. and liking for art. Strategic Plan Your entry will be judged in the Department of Education for a two- month received. Prizes awarded for year term. Developed for FFA best drawings of various subjects received from qualified entrants age National Advisor Larry D. Case 14 and over. One $25 cash award for New Foundation presented the FFA's first Strategic the best drawing from entrants age 12 Sponsors Plan for the national organization to and 13. No drawings can be returned. the board of directors at their July Our students and professional artists The National FFA Foundation meeting. Covering a period of five not eligible. Contest winners will be welcomes 18 new sponsors to its rolls: years, the plan includes a mission notified. your entry today.