JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., April 9, 2013 – FFA members from across the state will meet in Columbia, April 18 – 19, to honor fellow members for outstanding achievements, conduct association business, elect new officers and participate in leadership workshops at the 85th Missouri FFA Convention.
Value The Past, Embrace Your Future is the theme for this year’s annual convention, which is expected to attract more than 8,000 students and guests to the Hearnes Center on the University of Missouri campus.
According to Keith Dietzschold, Missouri FFA executive secretary, the state association will present Missouri FFA Degrees to 752 members who, as a result of their agricultural and leadership achievements, have qualified for the state’s highest FFA degree. The State Star Farmer, the State Star in Agribusiness and the State Star in Placement also will be named.
Members will receive awards in various agricultural proficiency areas including communications, dairy production and food science; career development events including agricultural sales, floriculture, horse judging and speaking competitions; and other organizational program areas.
The Missouri FFA also will present awards to several adults and groups for their support of agricultural education and FFA. This year 24 Honorary State FFA Degrees will be presented.
During the two-day event, State FFA President Jaelyn Bergmann, a member of the Paris FFA Chapter, will lead 662 delegates, two from each chapter, in official business sessions.
The convention’s keynote speaker, Harriet Turk from Memphis, Tenn., will challenge FFA members to think seriously about life choices. Attendees will hear a unique perspective regarding leadership, loyalty and living fully. Turk has worked as a probation officer, youth programs coordinator, flight attendant, pharmaceutical sales representative, college professor, and professional speaker, trainer, and consultant. With each of the positions, Turk said there was one underlying appeal-connecting with others. Turk emphasizes that while each individual might be in charge of their life choices, we do not always get to choose the consequences. Learning how to cope with failure and trying again are essential. She will share how to Just Deal With It! Turk will speak Friday evening.
During Friday afternoon’s general session the Peterson Farm Brothers will perform. Greg, Nathan and Kendal are employees of the Kansas-based Peterson Farm and Livestock. They have gained popularity for their agricultural-themed parody music videos, “I’m Farming and I Grow It” and “Farmer Style.” The brothers also will be at Friday’s FFA Career Show.
This year’s National FFA officer address will be given by National FFA Secretary Kalie Hall from Carnesville, Ga. Hall was elected as a national officer in October during the national convention in Indianapolis. During her national officer term, Hall and her national officer peers collectively will log more than 100,000 miles representing FFA to top leaders in business, government and education. The national officers will also lead numerous personal growth and leadership training sessions for FFA members, set policies that will shape the future of the National FFA Organization, and promote agricultural literacy. Hall is currently studying agricultural education at the University of Georgia at Athens. Hall will speak during the Thursday afternoon session.
The Missouri FFA Association has 25,062 members, ranking fourth as a state in membership. FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
