We all know that FFA members can run their own businesses, give knock-out speeches, and solve problems in their schools and communities. But, did you know that many of them can sing and dance, too?
Do you think you may have the chops to be a member of the National FFA Band, Chorus or Talent program?
By Kelsey Kennedy
Dazzling colors, swirling flutes and Native American dance took over the national convention stage after the last opening session on Wednesday night. The award-winning Native American musical group Brulé performed while dressed in traditional regalia. For Paul LaRouche, a member of the Lower Brule Sioux tribe and the founder of Brulé, their performance at national convention was “combination outreach, combination education and part rock concert.”
By Kelsey Kennedy
For Josh Moore, it all started his senior year of high school with an essay contest sponsored by the Intertribal Agriculture Council, an organization that promotes the conservation, development and use of agricultural resources for Native Americans. Soon, Moore was elected state vice president of the Arizona FFA association and was traveling all over the country to spread his message: Native Americans and their contributions to agriculture are important and these students need something like FFA in their lives.
The Agri-Entrepreneurship Awards honor FFA members who recognize market opportunities and develop solid business plans which capitalize on them. Awards are available at the chapter, state and national levels.
All Agri-Entrepreneurship Award applicants will receive a rating of bronze, silver, gold, or national winner. Ten National Agri-Entrepreneurship Award winners are selected annually. Each winner receives a $1,000 award and is recognized onstage during the National FFA Convention. The winners’ projects are also featured in a booth at the National FFA Agricultural Career Show. The winners’ FFA chapters also receive a $500 grant to help them promote entrepreneurship in their agriculture programs.
The Agri-Entrepreneurship Program is sponsored by USDA Rural Development as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
Here is a profile on one of this year’s 10 winners…
Brannon Agri-Energy
Name: Caleb Jay Brannon
Age: 15
Chapter: Calloway County FFA
Parents: Dr. Tony L. Brannon and Ms. Lisa Brannon
Advisor: Jacob Falwell and Bill Sampson
Caleb Jay Brannon of Puryear, Tenn., has a family history steeped in farming and the entrepreneurial spirit. So it’s no surprise that the Calloway County FFA freshman created a business that is on the cutting-edge of technology utilizing agriculture.
With gas and electricity prices continuing to rise and society continually talking about green initiatives, Brannon thought it was an ideal time for him to export agricultural-related energy enterprises. He formed Brannon Agri-Energy, an emerging technology, farm-related business that grows and markets switchgrass for bio mass and future cellulosic ethanol production.
by Kara Miller, 84th National FFA Convention Newsroom Intern
Have you seen your fellow FFA members wandering around the FFA Shopping Mall and the Career Show with their convention guidebooks open? If you didn’t already know, located on page 54 of your convention guidebook there are two pages that list all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Our challenge to you is to get a signature from an FFA member in each of those 52 locales. There are so many events going on at FFA convention, but this unique opportunity gives you the ongoing chance to meet new people and develop new friendships that could last a lifetime.
If you are unable to make it to convention this year, we encourage you to use other opportunities such as FFA Nation, FFA Connect, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. The opportunities are endless to create new friendships within the National FFA Organization!
by Lauren Schwab, 84th National FFA Convention Newsroom Intern
For the first time, I am experiencing national FFA convention in its fullness!
I live in Ohio, only two hours from Indy, so I’ve only come to convention a day at a time in the past. Today I had my first story assignment on the newsroom crew. I attended a press conference held by Case IH (read my coming article and see the pictures!) and their continued support for the National FFA Foundation.
The career show is amazing as always. I was able to see some familiar faces from Collegiate FFA and I have made new friends on the newsroom crew! I loved the feeding the world exhibit, I highly recommend checking it out. Did you know that right now one farmer feeds 155 people, but by the year 2050 a farmer will have to feed 264 people in order to feed a population of 9 billion!
This will be a continued challenge for the agriculture industry, but I have faith this is possible with great future leaders like FFA members.
This afternoon I worked on my news article while taking a short break to see the first few minutes of the opening session. I was blown away by the laser show, blue and gold glow sticks, music videos and energy in the room. I am looking forward to what the rest of the week brings and will keep you updated on this wonderful experience!
by Kelsey Kennedy, 84th National FFA Convention Newsroom Intern
Every year, the National FFA Band and Chorus kick off the national convention festivities with a march down FFA Way to Conseco Fieldhouse. This year, some rainy Indianapolis weather had other plans.
Gloomy skies and a constant drizzle soaked everything and everyone by early afternoon and it was decided to move the Grand March indoors. Instead of the big parade down FFA Way, the band and chorus entertained FFA members waiting get into the opening session from the main concourse stairs in Conseco Fieldhouse.
Members were treated to everything from The Kinks to Katy Perry and got a great preview of what we can all expect to hear when the band and chorus perform during the sessions this week.
by Kelli Fulkerson, 84th National FFA Convention Newsroom Intern
There was plenty of excitement Wednesday afternoon as the 84th National FFA Convention hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the 2011 Agricultural Career Show.
The 2010-2011 Central Region Vice President Mr. James Flatt cut the shinning red ribbon after a brief address to hundreds of FFA members. Once the ribbon dropped, FFA members were off to the races to visit 317 different booths in the 197,000-square foot show. Vendors and exhibitors offered an opportunity to explore agribusinesses, potential colleges, scholarship possibilities, and more!
Two new touches were added to the Career Show in 2011. The show, in a revised and larger layout thanks to a massive expansion of the Indiana Convention Center, featured a new pattern of organization by career cluster areas. Additionally, a new “AutoWorld” section was added with exhibitors from various automotive and racing industries.
The 2011 National FFA Band also helped to entertain the crowd with an energizing variety of music ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s, “Sweet Home Alabama” to Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” just moments before members rushed into the Indiana Convention Center.
by Dustin Petty, 84th National FFA Convention Newsroom Contributor
As we sit here in Indianapolis waiting for the 84th National FFA Convention to begin in earnest, I couldn’t help but think about how to keep growing the National Blue and Corn Gold. With record highs in membership and national convention attendance, the FFA’s profile has never been higher. How, then, can we increase the brand of FFA more, making even those not proficient in agriculture knowledgeable about our organization?
Cast FFA members in popular American TV shows, of course!
Here are just a few suggestions:
Glee: Anyone who’s attended a convention session featuring the National FFA Choir knows that our members can belt it like Aretha and croon like Sinatra. What better way to showcase this to a nationwide audience than to have a blue corduroy clad member join the New Directions? Even Sue Sylvester will think this is a keen idea.
True Blood: Those scantily-dressed creatures of the night need an FFA member to teach them how to get their nutritional sustenance from a medium-rare porterhouse and leave the blood-sucking to the sparkly Twilight crew.
Mad Men: We know that Don Draper and his crew have some experience with the agriculture industry (if you haven’t seen the episode with the John Deere lawnmower, please make it a priority), so why not have the team come work to develop a marketing campaign for the dapper ‘60s Future Farmer fellas? Perhaps they can teach Don to make better life choices, too. Just saying.
The Simpsons: Isn’t it time that Springfield get an FFA chapter? With Bart as chairperson, I see some cutthroat parliamentary procedure contests against neighboring Shelbyville.
What TV show would you like to see FFA members appear on?
The convention main stage inside of Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse during rehearsals
Can you believe it? We’re back at it again here in Indianapolis, celebrating the talents and accomplishments of FFA members nationwide, at the 84th National FFA Convention. This year’s theme? Just take a look at the fancy logo on the right: “I Believe.”
We’ve already started the first rounds of competition for national finalists in Career Development Events, and the 197,000-square foot Agricultural Career Show opens today at 12:30pm. Then, today at 4:00pm/ET the first general session kicks off the 84th version of this terrific tradition in the best way possible.
Don’t let the official start date of convention — today, Oct. 19 — fool you. Folks in downtown Indianapolis started seeing the iconic corduroy jacket over the weekend as 38 National Officer Candidates put all of their hard work and preparation on the line during interviews for the most prestigious FFA office.
Monday, 475 delegates from each FFA state association got to work in Indianapolis on the key issues they’re charged with handling. The delegates serve as a congress of FFA, making decisions about programs, rules and more through a parliamentary process. 90 of those delegates even took part in the first ever social media training to be held at a national FFA convention, thanks to support from Rabo AgriFinance and AdFarm.
On this blog, we’ll be updating you as we go with quick stories here, there and everywhere about all of the convention proceedings and events. We have an entire newsroom crew dedicated to telling the story of the 84th National FFA Convention. Here’s hoping that you can enjoy the ride!
We’ll be updating you in several places other than this blog, too. Including:
facebook.com/nationalffa
twitter.com/nationalffa
twitter.com/FFA_CareerShow
