By KAREN BINDER
Illinois Correspondent SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Springfield also becomes the capital of Illinois FFA for three days beginning June 14, when roughly 3,000 conventioneers are expected to converge at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center for their annual gathering.
Young farmers, along with parents, advisors, sponsors and alumni from throughout the state, will find their days packed with speakers, educational sessions, exhibitors and what nearly all of them are most excited about – the state competitions. Then there’s plenty of business and learning at hand.
For example, there’s training on how to be an FFA delegate, election of state officers for the coming year, the FFA Foundation Dinner, recognition of major state officers, the Leadership Luncheon next Wednesday and delegate election speeches.
Eighteen delegate candidates went through the state FFA officer selection process in March. Out of those 18, 10 advance to the state FFA Convention. The candidates will present themselves to the delegates Tuesday afternoon and elections will take place the next day, during evening session.
FFA officers are required to perform at a high level and follow a demanding schedule. That means there’s plenty of emphasis on officer qualifications and willingness to perform.
Illinois has elected a state FFA officer team since 1929; the team was expanded from four to five positions in 1992. The five officers were elected from a group of nine candidates who had previously been selected by an officer selection committee earlier in the spring.
Each of the five officers will put their collegiate pursuits on hold for a year as they serve the Illinois FFA. Each officer will travel more than 20,000 miles during the year as they visit chapters around the state, conduct workshops and meetings for FFA members, represent the FFA at meetings and conferences and promote agricultural education.
They will also have the opportunity to travel overseas in January on the International Leadership Seminar for State FFA Officers.
Naming of winners of major awards is another highlight of the convention, with members looking forward to the Agri-Entrepreneurship Award, National Chapter Award Chapter Development, Agri-Science Student Award and Ag Science Fair Award, the GROWMARK Essay Contest Award, Heritage Award, Chapter President’s Award, Cooperative Award, Ag Career Challenge Recognition, the National Chapter Award, the National Chapter Award Finalist and the State Bankers Plaque – just to name some.
Don’t forget about winning a Star Award, regarded by most as the highest individual honor the state association presents each year to one member out of more than 17,000 FFA members in 300 Illinois chapters. Four district Stars in Agribusiness compete for the award.
A panel of judges selected the winners based on the quality of a supervised agricultural experience and knowledge of the program. State winners then submitted a 20-page application to the National FFA Foundation and the applications were narrowed by a committee into three groups – bronze, silver and gold
The committee will narrow them again to the top four. Those four will attend a National Chapter Award Convention in Indianapolis in the fall.
The state convention offers a parade of speakers sharing their experience and wisdom. They will hear from Tiffany Rogers, National FFA Eastern Region vice president; presentation of the FFA Creed by the State Winning Creed Speaker; and Jeffrey Barnes’ retiring address as Illinois FFA treasurer.
Certainly there’s some fun built in as well, such as a dance on Tuesday night in the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Nearly $20,000 in incentives for competing in the 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge competition were awarded in May to 13 Illinois FFA chapters. Each of those will receive a $1,500 line of credit courtesy of Monsanto with the National FFA Organization, that can be used to pay for FFA-related activities and expenses throughout the year.
Formerly known as Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization provides agricultural education to more than 523,000 student members in grades 7-12 who belong to one of 7,487 local chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture.
For more information, visit www.ffa.org |
