FFA
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NEW HORIZONS THE MAGAZI NE OF THE N ATIONAL FFA ORGA NIZATION | December 2 008
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ways to resist peer pressure
Tqbsljoh! Joufsftu Welding in agriculture becomes a hot career
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In with the new! Meet the 2008-09 National FFA Officers at …
ffanewhorizons.org
december 2008
10 cover story
Contents
Sparking Interest Welding in agriculture is becoming a hot career.
Good to the Last Crop
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Emilie Magnus considers a career in custom harvesting.
All Creatures, Great and Small
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Tony Andis raises livestock, helps rehabilitate wildlife.
departments
Scrapbook Read news, jokes and more.
FFA Faces Win a Chevy T-shirt.
Healthy Lifestyles Learn to resist peer pressure.
National Officer Q & A Meet Vice President Kari Boettcher.
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How To ...
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Your Money
Get great gear for National FFA Week.
Learn about FFA scholarships.
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What’s On
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Back Talk
See the secrets of soil.
Get hypnotized by Dr. Al Snyder.
On the Cover Wesley Viriamontes, Gadsden FFA, N.M. Photo By Ian Curcio
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EditoR’s note
What’s Inside
FFA
Volume 56 Number 2
NEW HORIZONS
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For Our Mechanically Minded Members I’ll admit that I was not one of the good welders in my agricultural mechanics class. My lap welds, while somewhat functional, weren’t much to look at, and despite my best tries, I never got my “Tâ€? welds to hold. Needless to say, I was never a member of my FFA chapter’s agricultural mechanics career development event team. Maybe that’s why I have so much Kim Newsom respect for those of you who can weld practically anything together, all the while making the welds look professional and clean. To me, that’s a gift. This month’s cover story on page 10 is meant for those of you who have this mechanically minded, ďŹ x-anything gift. Through the story of FFA member Wesley Viriamontes, who is now in school to become a professional welder, we share the outlook for careers in agricultural welding. In my research for the story, I learned that there is a real need for welders, especially in agriculture, since many of those currently employed in the industry are close to retirement. What a great opportunity for our talented FFA welders! I hope you’ll also take note of the smaller story, titled “Getting Started,â€? which offers tips for those of you interested in a technical career. For more resources and connections to welding career information, check out FFA Nation during the month of December. Hopefully by now you’ve heard about (and signed up for) FFA Nation – the ofďŹ cial online community for FFA members. You can register at ffanation.ffa.org, create a proďŹ le, take part in groups, talk in the forums and more. In December, we’ve invited our friends at Tulsa Welding School to join us in the Discussions section of the site, to answer your questions about agricultural mechanics careers. Log on anytime, and submit your question under the “The Word on Weldingâ€? thread. Then check back to see what our experts have shared. Also, be sure to visit the site this month to sign up for our special giveaway – an autographed guitar from country music artist Taylor Swift! Hope you enjoy this issue and our special online features! Kim Newsom, editor ffanewhorizons@ffa.org
The magazine of the National FFA Organization JULIE WOODARD KIM NEWSOM JOYCE CARUTHERS JESSY YANCEY ANDREA BLOOM, CHRIS HAYHURST, JESSICA MOZO KEITH HARRIS BRIAN McCORD JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER NATASHA LORENS CHRISTINA CARDEN HAZEL RISNER MELISSA HOOVER, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT LAURA GALLAGHER, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY GARY SMITH BRIAN SMITH ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ TWILA ALLEN KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL RAY LANGEN CARLA H. THURMAN CASEY E. HESTER MARK FORESTER TEREE CARUTHERS JEFFREY S. OTTO BETH MURPHY
Editorial Director Managing Editor Copy Editor Assistant Editor Contributing Writers Creative Director Senior Photographer Staff Photographers Production Director Assistant Production Director Pre-Press Coordinator Production Project Managers Senior Graphic Designers Graphic Designers Ad Traffic
Distribution Director Web Development Director Web Project Managers Web Designers Color Imaging Technician FFA Communications Executive Vice President Sr. V.P./Sales Sr. V.P./Operations V.P./Visual Content V.P./Editorial Director Photography Director Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division JOHN LACEY Integrated Media Manager RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY Custom/Travel Sales Support RACHEL MATHEIS Sales/Marketing Coordinator
For advertising information, contact John Lacey, (800) 333-8842, ext. 281, or e-mail jlacey@jnlcom.com. 2007-08 National FFA Officers ZACH KINNE, MO BECKY SULLIVAN, KS TYLER TENBARGE, IN MORGAN PARKER, CO BRADY REVELS, FL KARI BOETTCHER, OR
President Secretary Eastern Region Vice President Central Region Vice President Southern Region Vice President Western Region Vice President
National FFA Staff LARRY CASE National Advisor, Chief Executive Officer Executive Secretary Chief Operating Officer National Treasurer Division Directors
STEVE BROWN DOUG LOUDENSLAGER MARION FLETCHER JULIE ADAMS, MARK CAVELL, DALE CRABTREE, TOM KAPOSTASY, JANET MALONEY, DENNIS SARGENT, KENT SCHESCKE, VICKI SETTLE, LEE ANNE SHILLER, TONY SMALL, BILL STAGG, WILL WAIDELICH
National FFA Board of Directors – Members LARRY CASE Chair, USDE, VA STEVE BROWN Secretary, USDE, VA MARION FLETCHER Treasurer, State Supervisor, AR ROBERT B. CALVIN Agriculture Teacher/USDE, MO WILBUR CHANCELLOR State Supervisor, MS THOMAS DORMODY Teacher Educator/USDE, NM DENNIS FISCUS State Supervisor, AZ IKE KERSHAW State Supervisor, OH BRUCE LAZARUS FFA Executive Secretary/USDE, AR JOEL LARSEN State Supervisor, MN JOHN RAKESTRAW Business Representative/USDE, CO Subscription Information: FFA New Horizons (ISSN 1069-806X) is published Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct. and Dec. by the National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art or any other unsolicited materials. For subscription information contact: FFA New Horizons Subscription Services, (317) 802-4235 or e-mail newhorizons@ffa.org. Periodical postage rate is paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and additional mail offices. Postmaster: Please send address changes to FFA New Horizons, P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960.
CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A
CopyrightŠ 2008 by the National FFA Organization and Journal Communications Inc. The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
FFA members watch welding demonstrations at the national FFa Convention.
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Share National FFA Week ideas, tips and more at
Visit ffanation.ffa.org and submit your questions about welding careers. Our Tulsa Welding School experts will be checking the site and giving great insider information about the outlook for the welding industry. To submit your question, sign on (or register for) FFA Nation and click on Discussions.
ffanewhorizons.org
“I THINK FFA NEW HORIZONS SHOULD DO A COLUMN ON THE NEW CHAPTERS IN THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION!”
– Erica Garcia, Kingwood Park, TX
Go online to submit your story ideas. Photo slideshows
WEB POLL
Kim Newsom
Read through our ¼ Convention Blog from the 81st National FFA Convention.
What is your favorite “school’sout-for-winter” activity? If[dZ j_c[ m_j^ \Wc_bo c[cX[hi
To comment on articles and our convention blog. Watch our videos from the 81st National FFA Convention. You might see someone you know!
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FbWo m_dj[h ifehji Ib[[f bWj[ [l[ho ZWo =e ^eb_ZWo i^eff_d] Vote online at \\Wd[m^eh_pedi$eh]. Febbi Y^Wd][ h[]kbWhbo" ie visit often!
Need a past issue? Click on ¼ Virtual Magazine for current and archived editions.
Get the Inside Scoop Read special inserts from other associations in ¼ State Scoop.
FFA scrapbook
Express yourself
66% of farmland acres in the United States are controlled by farms with more than 1,000 acres, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
82,368 crayons can be produced from one acre of soybeans, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Signs of the Times The New York FFA camp has a new welcoming appearance, thanks to two chapters in the state. Clymer FFA built a large FFA emblem to be used at the entrance of the camp and three smaller emblems to be used along the route to the camp. Chateaugay FFA members provided a new sign to replace an old version at the camp’s entrance. Their hard work has been viewed by numerous FFA members. Oswegatchie, as the camp is called, hosted members from four other states this summer, breaking the attendance mark of 700 campers for the first time in 30 years.
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Members of the Watertown Area FFA Chapter in South Dakota are participating in a new dual-enrollment program between their high school and Lake Area Technical Institute. Last year, 13 students took courses in animal science, precision agriculture and animal health. This year, more than 30 are enrolled.
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FFA members in Pennsylvania are doing their part to help preserve the state’s farms. Through the
Saving Area Farms Effectively (SAFE) program, participating chapters produce farm emergency response maps with clearly identified farm features that will help emergency response personnel. For example, the maps include farm structures, diesel pumps and more. Besides potentially helping save farms from fire and hazards, the members get to learn mapping, GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) skills. To learn more, visit www.ffafarmsafe.org.
FYI
Just Joking
YOUR TURN
What did the farmer use to fix his farm? Cabbage patches Jessica Baker, Shultz, N.D. What is the most dangerous parliamentary motion? Appeal – because you can slip on it. Shawn Dygert, Kuna, Idaho What did the cotton boll say to the farmer? Stop picking on me! Jamye Freeman, Dyersburg, Tenn. Why don’t cows have any money? Because the farmers milk them dry. Lauren Woloohojian, Exeter, R.I.
ffanewhorizons.org Have a good one? Submit your favorite jokes at ffanewhorizons.org.
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From Iowa to Hawaii This summer, Iowa’s Maple Valley FFA advisor Dennis Benson took 20 of his students all the way to Hawaii. There, they learned about Hawaiian agriculture, visited the beach, saw a volcano and more. While it was likely an exciting trip for all the travelers, it was especially meaningful for Benson, who recently started his 30th teaching year. He has taken his students on a summer trip every year except his first, and by traveling to Hawaii this summer, members from his chapter have traveled in all 50 states plus Mexico and Canada. Other trips have included learning about lobster in Maine, reindeer and salmon in Alaska, caladiums in Florida, and feedlots in Colorado – to name a few.
Keep us informed! This is your chance to be a part of FFA New Horizons. Send us a short article about your latest chapter activities, awards you’ve received or even your involvement outside FFA. Be sure to include a high-quality color photo and your contact information. Want an easy way to send your story? Visit ffanewhorizons.org and click on ¼ Tell Us. Or, send to: FFA New Horizons P.O. Box 68960 Indianapolis, IN 46268 newhorizons@ffa.org
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FFA Faces
Members in action
Win a Chevrolet T-Shirt Chevrolet, the sponsor of FFA Faces, will award a T-shirt to featured members. Nominate yourself or a fellow FFA member by sending us the following details about the nominee: name, grade, address, FFA and academic achievements, interests, and extracurricular activities. To be considered, submissions must include a high-quality color photo. Send to: FFA New Horizons P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268 Or e-mail to newhorizons@ffa.org
MO Kelsey Hancock Chapter: Sheldon FFA
Kelsey, a college sophomore, used her FFA experiences to fuel her college career. Through her beef production entrepreneurship SAE, Kelsey owns 15 cow-calf pairs, one bull and one steer. She also participated in the meats evaluation CDE and earned her state FFA degree. She is majoring in animal and meat science, and is pursuing a career as a federal meat inspector.
IA
KS David Pottroff
Morgan Greiman
Chapter: Horton FFA
Chapter: Iowa River FFA
This college freshman developed many entrepreneurial skills through his supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) in turf grass management. David participated in the agricultural mechanics career development event (CDE) and placed first on the district level. David is currently attending Kansas State University with a major in engineering.
Morgan has several SAE programs, including beef production, small animal production and care, equine science, and diversified livestock production. She has also been active on the national level by competing in the national livestock evaluation CDE and attending the Washington Leadership Conference. Morgan is currently attending Iowa State University.
TX
ND
Morgan Breaux
Levi Klitzke
Chapter: Tomball FFA
Chapter: Powers Lake FFA
A high school sophomore, Morgan is very active in livestock shows and exhibits lambs, steers and goats on the local and state levels. She also enjoys working with her horses and competes in roping and barrel racing. In addition to receiving numerous proficiency awards, Morgan was named FFA Star Greenhand and participated in the FFA Creed speaking CDE.
Levi, an eighth-grader, is off to a great start in his FFA career. An active member on the chapter level, he participates in pizza and holiday wreath sales and chapter game nights. He has begun developing his SAE by raising hogs and exhibiting them at the local fair. Levi is also a member of his school’s football, basketball and golf teams.
MO
IN
James McBride
Kayla Lumpford
Chapter: Savannah FFA
Chapter: Brownstown Central FFA
This high school sophomore enjoys spending time with his friends by participating in FFA activities. He has developed his SAE program in beef production placement, competed in the meats evaluation CDE, attended FFA camp, and earned his Greenhand degree. James plans to study agricultural mechanics and own his own farm.
A college freshman, Kayla has participated in the prepared public speaking, extemporaneous public speaking and parliamentary procedure CDEs. She also received a first-place rating on the state level for her agricultural sales placement proficiency. Kayla is currently majoring in business marketing and hopes to own a country restaurant and store. – Andrea Bloom
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Cover Story
Wesley Viriamontes learned to weld in his agriculture class at gadsden high school in New Mexico. Now he’s learning to weld professionally at the Tulsa Welding School in Tulsa, Okla.
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Story by Chris Hayhurst Photography by Ian Curcio
Sparking
Interest These days, welding is one hot career
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ike working with your hands? Don’t mind a little heat? Then listen up, because Wesley Viriamontes has just the job for you. “Welding is a lot of fun,” says Wesley, a recent graduate of Gadsden High School in Anthony, N.M. “I liked it the first time I tried it, and I like it just as much now. It takes a lot of patience and concentration, and it can be challenging. But if you like putting things together – building things and fixing things – it’s great.” When it comes to hot careers, welding is right up there with the best of them. According to industry insiders, the United States is facing a serious welder shortage. While more than 500,000 welders are currently employed in this country, their average age is in the mid-50s, and many are planning for retirement. Meanwhile, as the country’s infrastructure continues to grow, as bridges and skyscrapers and factories inevitably age and require repair, demand for new welders is growing faster than ever. “The bottom line is, we’ll be short about 200,000 welders in the next 10 years,” says Jamie Pearson, vice president of training at Tulsa Welding School (TWS) in Tulsa, Okla.
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“It’s bad now,” he says, “but it’s only getting worse.” Wesley is clearly onto something. The first time he tried welding, he says, was through his agricultural education course and FFA membership. It was sophomore year, and he was taking agricultural mechanics. “We started with stick welding,” says Wesley, using the informal term for what professional welders know as “shielded metal arc welding,” or SMAW. Basic SMAW is the craft at its simplest. Imagine a burly guy in heavy leather coveralls wearing a scary metal mask behind a brilliant cascade of leaping sparks, and you’ve got the picture. “We made lots of things. I think our first big project was to build a bumper-pulled trailer for car hauling,” Wesley says. Once he gained a few skills, he recalls, Wesley entered the FFA agricultural mechanics career development event, a competition that also tests students’ proficiency in hands-on techniques like electrical wiring and carpentry. “I had a good time learning everything,” he says. “I thought it was
Getting Started You don’t have to go to school to become a welder (you can apprentice under an experienced welder instead), but it sure helps. So what does it take to get in? According to Mike Thurber, director of admissions at Tulsa Welding School, you’ve already got a leg up – simply because of your FFA membership. “FFA members are appealing to us because they have a great work ethic. They’re used to working on farms and doing things with their hands.” Enroll in agricultural mechanics at your high school, Thurber says, and get as much welding experience as you can. If you have the opportunity, enter a welding competition – doing so will help you to improve your skills and teach you to work under pressure. Beyond that, you’ll need to be physically fit and willing to devote a significant amount of time to learning state-of-the-art techniques. Welding, after all, is constantly evolving as technologies improve. For more information on welding schools and careers, visit the American Welding Society’s website at www.aws.org.
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Cover Story
Students interested in welding careers can start by competing on their FFA chapter’s agricultural mechanics career development event team. all really interesting. I guess I just liked working with metal the most.” When high school graduation came around, Wesley had a decision to make. He’d considered entering the military, but he’d done so much welding, and had such a good time doing it (by the time he was a senior, the trailers he was building were 20-foot goosenecks), he eventually changed his mind. Also, he says, there was that issue about employment. “I knew if I went out and learned to be a welder, I could come home to New Mexico and find work at an oil refinery or on a pipeline,” he explains. “There are a lot of jobs out there for welders.” There’s also plenty of money. According to Jamie Pearson at TWS, where Wesley eventually enrolled, the average starting pay for last year’s graduates of its Master Welder program was more than $56,000. “For a seasoned welder willing to travel and work long hours,” Pearson says, “it’s not unusual to
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make over $100,000 a year.” When Wesley talks about welding, the technical terms of the trade roll from his tongue like beads of molten metal. There are “T plates” and “bevel plates,” “butt welds” and “lap welds.” There’s “tungsten arc” welding, “gas metal arc” welding, and “flux-cored” welding. It sounds complicated, and it is. But the way Wesley sees it, he’s just getting started. He’s learning as he goes, honing the skills – the physical endurance, the manual dexterity and the technical know-how – that will make him a great employee wherever he decides to work. The Tulsa program includes 10 intensive training phases and takes seven months to complete. When he’s finished, he says, he’ll not only have his diploma; he’ll also have what he needs to start his career. “I’ll start from the bottom, as a welder’s helper, so I can learn more about working in the field,” Wesley says. “From there I’ll just work my way up.”
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Story by Chris Hayhurst Photography by Todd Bennett
Good to the Last
Crop
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Emilie Magnus Considers a Career in Custom Harvesting
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ollege must feel easy for Emilie Magnus. Despite her double major (agribusiness
and agricultural economics), including all the homework, the class time, the meetings, and the day-to-day hustle and bustle that is required of anyone hoping to make it to graduation and earn a degree, she’s seen worse. Far worse. Emilie, a junior at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., grew up on a farm nearly three hours away in Arkansas City, a small town just across the border from Oklahoma. There, she says, as she worked with her family – and especially her uncle, who owns a custom cropharvesting operation – she learned what it means to put your nose to the grindstone and get things done. “We harvest about 1,500 acres of grain crops each year, and close to 300,000 to 400,000 acres of forage,” Emilie explains. “During harvest season, we are out there every day. If it isn’t raining, we are out in the middle of a hayfield somewhere, driving around in circles.”
A NEW CHAPTER IN HER LIFE When we caught up with Emilie, she had just moved onto the K-State campus. She’d spent the previous two school years at Cowley College, a highly respected community college in her hometown. She was in transition, she says, looking for a part-time job, and “ready to take the
classes that will help me figure out what to do with my life.” It turns out she has lots of choices. Thanks to a busy high school career, Emilie has racked up the résumé and experience to go almost anywhere she wants. “She’ll be successful at whatever she chooses to do,” says Cory Epler, Emilie’s FFA advisor at Arkansas City High School. “She works so hard, and she’s such a phenomenal leader, she can do anything.” Epler’s confidence in Emilie is not surprising. She was a chapter officer for three years, two of them as president. She was a three-time national FFA proficiency award finalist and a winner twice – in diversified crop production and forage production. This year Emilie, a member of the National FFA Alumni Association, was chosen to participate in the highly competitive New Century Farmer program. “Emilie did everything she could to make the chapter better,” Epler recalls. “She carried a great deal of influence among her chapter members just because of the example that she set.” Emilie still helps out at her home chapter whenever she can. “I do a lot of activities with the current members,” she says. “I try to stay involved as much as possible because I love FFA and I love agriculture.”
New Century Farmer Program Emilie Magnus was one of just 40 individuals selected for the 2008 New Century Farmer program. The highly competitive program, designed for students interested in careers in production agriculture, consists of a fiveday, all-expenses-paid conference that includes hands-on workshops, talks from industry experts, and information on everything from business financing and marketing to risk management. Most of those who attend the New Century Farmer program see it as a great chance to catch a glimpse of the latest agricultural technologies in action. It’s also a way to meet people on the field’s cutting edge – the current crop of professionals who make it all happen. “For me,” Emilie says, “it really made it clear that there’s a lot we’ll need to do in the future if we’re going to meet the world’s demands.” For more information about the program, including application details, call (317) 802-4356 or visit www.ffa.org/programs/ncfarmer/index.
FFA member Emilie Magnus helps her uncle custom harvest wheat, hay and other field crops. among her many tasks, she pulls the grain buggy or mows the hay.
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WORKING ON THE FARM Emilie’s love for agriculture goes back at least to her freshman year in high school. That’s when she began helping her uncle with his custom-harvesting business, working with a variety of crops – everything from wheat and hay to milo and soybeans. “As a kid I’d go ride around with him, and then as I got older, he let me drive the tractors. I started out kind of just raking hay and doing small tasks like that, like helping him grease equipment, and then by the time I was a junior in high school I was able to run every piece of equipment he had, including the combine, the swather, the grain trucks, everything.” As it happens, says Emilie, her
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uncle is now thinking about retirement, and he’d love to see her take over the operation. “He says that he can hold out for another two or three years to let me get through college and make sure this is truly what I want to do,” she says. “But he’s got it all set up for me if I want to take over.” For Emilie, even as she continues her studies and continues slugging her way through school, that’s the million-dollar question: Does she want it? “I’ll never leave agriculture,” Emilie says. “It’s where I plan to be the rest of my life. I’m just not sure if I’ll be on the production side or in some other area of agriculture.” To help her decide, Emilie says, she’s considering a number of
agriculture-related internships for next summer’s break from college. “I just want to experiment with different careers in agriculture,” she explains. “Even if I leave the farm for a year or two, I know I can always return. The farming opportunity will always be there for me.”
Emilie spends a great deal of her time driving farm equipment.
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All Creatures, Great
and Small FFA member Tony Andis raises livestock, helps rehabilitate wildlife
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Story by Chris Hayhurst Photography by Brian McCord
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veryone has something they’re passionate about. For some, it’s sports. For others it’s video games or trucks or politics. For Tony Andis, a 19-year-old freshman at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Va., it’s wildlife, livestock and the great outdoors. Lock this guy in a classroom for the day, or coop him up in an office, and he gets a little uneasy. Like the animals he loves to work with, he needs fresh air. “Ever since I was little, being outside was what I wanted to do,” Tony says, “I wanted to hunt, I wanted to fish. I wanted to play in the dirt. That’s just been me forever. I guess one thing’s led to another, and here I am.” “Here,” in this case, is his family’s farm, where Tony helps raise cattle and hair sheep. He has a partnership with a local grocery chain, Food City, to market his sheep, and it’s been a good enterprise, Tony says. In addition to his responsibilities with the livestock, Tony works at the Smith Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, a nonprofit animal reserve owned and operated by Tony’s mother, Dianne. The facility is nestled into the family farm in Bristol, Va., and is just down the road from Abingdon High School, where Tony turned his interest in working with animals into an award-winning FFA project. “My SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience program) really just kind of happened,” says Tony, who was a wildlife management proficiency award finalist at the 2007 National FFA Convention. “We’ve always had animals of
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all sorts – horses, cattle, sheep, pigs. My mother opened the center, and I started out doing technician-type stuff, helping her clean and feed and those sorts of things.” Tony adds that it was a natural fit for him, since many of the tasks were the same things he also must do for his livestock. As the animals – everything from squirrels to deer to gray horned owls – kept pouring in, it wasn’t long, says Tony, before his “helping out” became a full-time job. Abingdon High School allows students to supplement class time with nontraditional educational experiences, so when it came time to develop his SAE, that’s exactly what Tony did. “He would leave here around lunchtime,” recalls Jane Clark, his FFA advisor, “and head home for work. It was a lot of manual labor,
and most of the time it was voluntary. I don’t know that you’d find too many other kids willing to do the work he did for free.” That work, says Tony, ranged from driving his four-wheeler around the property to check fences and feeders to building cages, repairing equipment and vaccinating new arrivals. Today Tony continues to work with his mom, but he also has his mind on other things – like finishing college and pursuing a career. He’s not exactly sure what that career will be, but it will more than likely take him outdoors, and you can bet it will involve helping animals. “They were here long before us,” says Tony. “We have to do what we can to keep them around.” Considering what’s at stake, he says, environmental issues like wildlife and species habitat
Tony Andis of abingdon, va., knows that a good livestock producer must pay close attention to record keeping and proper newborn management.
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conservation should be important not only to individuals like himself, who grew up hand-feeding injured animals and willing them back to health, but to everyone. “We have to realize that whatever we do to the environment affects us all. When you think about it, we’re all the same. We’re animals just like them.” Nurturing wild animals so they can thrive once again on their own is a slow, painstaking process. It involves what Tony calls a “soft release,” where the animal is allowed to leave its cage, explore the land a bit, and then return. “They come and go as they please, at their own free will. And then one day they’re 100 percent independent and they leave for good.” Along the way, says Tony, it’s easy to become close with the
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animals he sees day in and day out. Still, he says, he never gets overly attached to any one – whether it’s a rescued animal or one of his sheep. “That just doesn’t happen,” he says. “You know why they’re here,
and you know where they need to go. The satisfaction comes from knowing you’re helping the ecosystem, that you’re increasing herd size or diversifying the gene pool. That’s what’s important.”
tony also enjoys raising cattle on his family’s farm in virginia.
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FFA healthy lifestyles
Peer pressure
7 Ways to Resist
Peer Pressure Sometimes
standing out is better than fitting in
We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in your circle of friends and someone suggests doing something that crosses the lines of your moral boundaries. You want to say no, but you don’t want to look like a loser. And besides, “everyone else is doing it.” It’s called peer pressure, and it’s a problem everyone faces at one time or another. Though it’s present even in adulthood, teenagers are confronted with it the most. “Research shows that 87 percent of America’s teens have at least one peer pressure situation every day,” says Sharon Scott, a Texas counselor and author of the best-selling teen book How to Say No and Keep Your Friends. “The most common forms of negative peer pressure include gossiping and cliques, cheating, skipping school, lying to parents about planned activities, speeding, and using alcohol or other drugs.” Contrary to what you may think, you can resist peer
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pressure and still keep your “cool” factor. So next time you’re faced with an uncomfortable situation, stand up for what you believe by trying some of these tactics: REACT QUICKLY. “If you take much longer than 30 seconds, you will get talked into the trouble as the peer is convincing you it’s no big deal and you won’t get caught,” Scott explains. “Or, if you debate the peer, you may get into an argument and end up losing the friend.”
1.
SAY “NO” AND MEAN IT. Find your own style of saying “no,” and follow through. Try joking your way out of trouble by saying something like “If I did that, my reputation might improve,” Scott suggests. Or give reasonable excuses, such as having to study, baby-sit, work or run errands for your parents. You can even resist peer pressure by suggesting a better idea – say you’d rather shoot hoops or go to the mall.
2.
BE AUTHORITATIVE. Make eye contact and show them you mean “no.” The more unsure of yourself you are, the more people will pressure you. On the
3.
contrary, if you are forceful in your refusal, they’re more likely to leave you alone. AVOID BAD SITUATIONS. Don’t go to a party if you suspect there will be drugs there. Don’t let yourself be alone with a member of the opposite sex if they might pressure you to get too physical. You get the drift.
4.
PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE. The activity in question may look thrilling for a few minutes or even a few hours, but if it’s something you’ll regret later or something that could get you into long-term trouble, it’s not worth it.
5.
SIMPLY LEAVE. “If the trouble idea would break the law or be dangerous, it’s imperative to leave the scene,” Scott says.
6.
FIND NEW FRIENDS. This may be the hardest one to do. No one wants to lose a friend, but if someone continuously puts you in stressful situations, you have to wonder if the friend is worth keeping. True friends like you for who you are, not for who you could be. – Jessica Mozo
7.
FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA National Officer
Q&A
A
I do enjoy scrapbooking. I also love riding my horse Chance, working in the nursery, making cookies, eating
ice cream at Dairy Queen, learning to surf, having long conversations in coffee shops, going shopping and trying new things.
Q
What has been your favorite experience this year?
A
One of my favorite memories was a week of chapter visits spent in Iowa. I had fun hanging out with Vinton
members, learning about Benton Community’s impressive greenhouse, seeing Hudson’s gigantic cow, going to breakfast with Wapsie Valley’s chapter officer team and meeting each of the other chapters. There was so much production agriculture, so many good people and good times!
FYI KARI’S FAVORITES This FFA member says the most important lesson she’s learned in FFA is to take risks. It makes sense, then, that she counts surfing and riding horses as two of her favorite activities. Read on for more of Kari’s favorites. Animal: Frog Number: 27 Book: The Giving Tree Color: Brown Smell: Coffee
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Q
What is it like to be on the “other” side of the convention – planning the
sessions, being on the stage constantly and running from place to place?
Kari
Boettcher FFA
National Western Region Vice President
A
A rush! It’s so cool to see the 50,000 blue corduroy jackets doing what they do best – showing off their agriculture
skills, attending leadership workshops and smiling. I loved getting to see many members again that I had met on the road
Growing up, Kari Boettcher didn’t have to look far to find an interest in agriculture and FFA. Her parents operate a retail nursery in northeastern Oregon, and her dad is a landscape architect. Kari’s sister Shannon was active in FFA, so it was a natural fit for Kari to join, too. Now, their younger brother Aaron is a member, and Kari has just completed a year of service as the 2007-08 National FFA Western Region Vice President. Read more about her experiences.
Q
You’ve had a really unique blog this year – with a digital scrapbook! What other hobbies do you enjoy?
this year and catching up on their successes.
Q
What advice do you have for members interested in pursuing careers in
agricultural education?
A
We need you! Keep going – there are so many fabulous people to support you along the way and such a rewarding,
fulfilling career ahead of you!
ffanewhorizons.org Click on our Convention page to see Kari and her teammates in action.
FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA How-to
Get Great FFA Week Gear
Gear Up for National
FFA Week
Blue and gold items to wear, give and enjoy
A
lthough National FFA Week doesn’t officially start until Feb. 21, 2009, it’s never too early to begin planning your fun activities. Whether you’re organizing a community breakfast, a school-wide FFA trivia game or even just a member social, you can rely on FFA gear to make it even more exciting and celebratory. Here are some of our best ideas for adding pizzazz to your FFA Week events! FFA NYLON BAG Accentuate your FFA Week visit to a nursing home with these colorful shopping bags filled with fruit or cut flowers.
1.
FFA MUGS These colorful mugs will make great party favors or fundraising items for attendees at your chapter’s FFA Week pancake and sausage breakfast.
2.
CORDUROY SCRAPBOOK When all the dust has cleared from your FFA Week activities, fill an FFA corduroycovered scrapbook with pictures and newspaper clippings of your good deeds – then present the scrapbook to your school principal or superintendent.
3.
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CORD A. ROY BEAR When the mayor presents your FFA chapter with a key to the city, return the favor by giving the mayor a one-of-a-kind corduroy bear, appropriately attired in an FFA tie or scarf.
4. 5.
FFA WEEK ACCESSORIES Take your FFA Week banquet up a notch with all of the great accessories that will put the finishing touch on your standout affair. Go to ffaunlimited.org for centerpieces, program covers, appreciation pins and much more.
proud? Let FFA Unlimited customize sweatshirts or T-shirts just for you.
9.
OFFICIAL CASUAL DRESS For those FFA Week events that do not require Official Dress, look sharp for the public in polos, twill shirts and the brand-new blue corduroy shirt.
10.
FFA OFFICIAL DRESS When the FFA Week paparazzi start clicking, make sure your jacket, shirt, tie/scarf and pants/skirt are up for the challenge. And don’t forget to shine your shoes! – Mickie Miller and Ginny Berg
6.
FFA OUTERWEAR Brrrr! February is cold, so if your chapter is planning outdoor activities for FFA Week, consider wearing some of the new FFA logo outerwear. You’ll look cool, but you’ll be toasty warm!
7.
AMERICAN HERITAGE Pay tribute to Washington’s Birthday and FFA Week with our oh-so-awesome line of FFA American Heritage tees, hoodies, polos and sweatpants.
8.
CUSTOMIZED SHIRTS Need a group look that shouts your FFA chapter loud and
ffanewhorizons.org Click on In This Issue for more National FFA Week ideas and suggestions from other chapters.
FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA scholarships
Scholarship
Secrets
Tips to consider when applying for this winter
college funding
I
f you’re like most high school students, just thinking about the cost of college is
overwhelming. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the amount you’ll have to pay for your education. One of the best things you can do while still in high school is apply for scholarships, which translates to free money for college. As an FFA member, you have the opportunity to apply for scholarships that are
“Scholarships are available to high school seniors and students already in college,� says Teri Buchholtz, a program manager of the National FFA Organization’s Awards and Recognition Team. “Students are eligible to receive one scholarship while a high school senior and a second while they are in college.� To give the application process your best shot, Buchholtz offers these tips:
only available to FFA members. Here’s the really exciting part: Every year, the National FFA Organization awards about $2 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students. In 2008, FFA doled out more than $2.2 million to some
1. START EARLY. “Allow plenty of time in case you need to contact our office due to problems with the application or questions not answered on the website,� Buchholtz says.
How can you tap into that to make good grades. But keep in mind, grades aren’t the only factor judges consider. Your community service, FFA involvement, leadership skills and supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) are all important, too. To learn more about the 2009 FFA scholarship program, visit www.ffa.org after Nov. 15, 2008, where you can apply online. The deadline to apply is Feb. 17, 2009.
FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
3. DON’T RAMBLE. Be thorough, but also be brief. Keep in mind that text fields have a limited number of characters available for answers. 4. PROOFREAD. “Grammar and spelling checks are not available on the application,� Buchholtz says. “Consider typing essay-style answers on a separate document where they can be proofed. Then copy and paste them into the form.� 5. NOTIFY YOUR ADVISOR. “FFA applications need advisor approval,� Buchholtz says. “Allow time for your advisor to review your application in case changes are needed.� – Jessica Mozo
$ & !& $! & "! !
! "$ %
! $ "&"$% ($" & ( % "!
!% % & & ! ( $% &) " " $ ' &'$
)%&"! & $
1,600 college-bound members. money, you ask? For starters, strive
FFA your money
2. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
'! " &%
You’ll save yourself a headache later on if you read the instructions and Frequently Asked Questions before you start. “The FAQs address things like who can apply, how you’ll be notified and more,� Buchholtz says. “The Important Notes section answers questions about the application itself – how to navigate the form, what information is optional versus required, as well as steps needed to complete the application.�
& "! $ ! * & "! " & & ! ( $% &) !%& &'& " !" " ) "'& "& & & ! ( $% &) " " $ ' &'$ " " ! % ")"& "&"$ % !
$ &"$ '## ) " # !)
' % ! "" $ ! "$#%
FFA
NEW HORIZONS
29
FFA What's on
web
media buzz
tv
I Want My DTV!
Join FFA Nation Have you signed up for FFA Nation yet? It’s FFA’s brand-new, exclusive online community, where members can talk about all things blue and gold! You can create a profile, upload photos, message friends, participate in forums, join groups and more! This month, you can sign up for an incredibly great giveaway – an autographed guitar from country music sensation Taylor Swift, who performed at the recent national FFA convention. Check it out today at
The 81st National FFA Convention may be over, but you can still relive the magic in the coming months on RFD-TV – if you’ve made the switch to digital television, or DTV. On Feb. 17, 2009, all TV stations will switch from analog to new digital broadcasts, which means clearer pictures, better sound and more new services. You’ll need to make sure your TVs are upgraded (no more rooftop antennas or rabbit ears). Make the switch soon so you won’t miss a single episode of “FFA Today” every Thursday on RFD-TV. Visit www.dtv.gov for more information.
ffanation.ffa.org.
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FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)
books
news
Dig It!
The Heart of Our Country If you’re looking for a great holiday gift idea, consider this new book that celebrates all that makes American agriculture unique and inspirational. American Farmer is the first portrait collection of modern U.S. farmers ever published. This book is a labor of love for photographer Paul Mobley, who traveled more than 100,000 miles from Alaska to Maine to shoot stunning full-color and blackand-white photographs of farming families across the United States. For ordering information, visit www.welcomebooks. com/americanfarmer.
FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Next time you are in Washington, D.C., be sure to visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), where you can get the dirt on dirt! NMNH is hosting a 5,000-square-foot exhibition called “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.” Visitors will learn differences among soil types, featuring soil samples from U.S. states and properties. “Dig It!” also explains soil’s role as a secret ingredient in medicines, foods, textiles and more. The exhibit is open until January 2010; for more details, visit www.forces.si.edu/soils.
1. Title of publication: FFA New Horizons 2. Publication number: 1069-806X 3. Date of fi ling: Sept. 26, 2008 4. Frequency of issue: 6 times/year 5. Number of issues published annually: 6 6. Annual subscription rate: $7.00 for non-FFA members; $2.25 for FFA members (as part of their $5.00 total national membership dues) 7. Complete mailing address of known offi ce of publication: FFA New Horizons, National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960 8. Complete mailing address of the headquarters of general business offi ces of the publishers: same 9. Full names and complete mailing address of publisher, editor and managing editor: Publisher, Julie Woodard, National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960; Executive Editor, Teree Caruthers, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067; Managing Editor, Kim Newsom, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067. 10. Owner: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a partnership or other unincorporated fi rm, its name and address as well as that of each individual must be given. If the publication is published by a nonprofit organization, its name and address must be stated.) National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960 11. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None 12. Not applicable 13. Publication title: FFA New Horizons 14. May/June 2008 15. Extent and nature of circulation Average no. Actual no. of of copies each copies of single issue during issue published preceding 12 months nearest to fi ling date A. Total number of copies (net press run) 521,800 531,510 B. Paid circulation 1. Mail subscriptions (paid and/or requested) 455,464 456,149 3. Sales through other non-USPS paid distribution 63,100 71,939 C. Total paid and/or requested circulation 518,564 528,088 E. Total free distribution (sum of 15D) 3,236 3,423 F. Total distribution (sum of 15C and 15E) 521,800 531,511 G. Copies not distributed 1,100 1,108 H. Total (sum of 15F and G) 522,900 532,619 I. Percent paid 99.4% 99.4% 16. This statement of ownership will be printed in the Nov./Dec. 2008 issue of this publication. 17. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete.
Julie Woodard, National FFA Organization
FFA
NEW HORIZONS
31
FFA Back Talk
Former members Reflect
Dr. Al
Snyder hypnotist
This veterinarian-turnedgot his start as an FFA member
A
Right after my second year as a Wyoming FFA state officer, I started the Wyoming State FFA Leadership
camp. That truly has been one of my proudest accomplishments. After directing it for a few years, I had a hypnotist whom I had met previously at a state convention come do a show at camp. I was not convinced that hypnosis was “real,” but after watching people I knew and their reactions, there was no doubt. I knew I had to learn more about it. That entertainer was Dr. Jim Wand. We became great friends, and a few years later, I was able to take a couple years to travel with him and learn the art of stage hypnosis.
Q
Do you find yourself using your FFA skills in your current career?
A
The skills I learned in FFA affect me every day of my life – from the public speaking to the record keeping to the
organizational and life skills. There is truly no way to describe what an impact the organization had; that’s why I continue Dr. Al Snyder, former FFA member and hypnotist, encourages a few national FFA convention attendees to feel “very sleepy.” P H O T O B Y T O D D B E N N E T T
to remain involved and committed to its continuation and success.
D
r. Al Snyder first found his interest in veterinary medicine as a Casper FFA member in Wyoming. For his supervised agricultural experience program, he worked at a veterinary clinic and on his family’s cattle ranch. Snyder served as an FFA state officer, and while in that role, he realized his passion for motivational speaking, which ultimately led to a career balancing all of his interests – veterinary medicine, public speaking, hypnotism and, of course, FFA.
Q
How does it feel to now perform each year at the national FFA convention?
A
I remember very clearly the first year I went to the national FFA convention in Kansas City as a sophomore in high
school. I remember being in the giant auditorium – dreaming that I might do something like that someday, but never really believing that it could happen. But it did, and it can happen to you, too!
ffanewhorizons.org
Q
Many of our members probably know you best for your stage hypnotism shows during the national FFA convention. How did you get involved in hypnotism?
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Click on In This Issue for more from our interview with Dr. Snyder.
FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG