June 2008, FFA New Horizons

FFA

速

NEW HORIZONS THE MAGAZI NE OF THE N ATIONAL FFA ORGA NIZATION | June 2 008

Take Note

5

tips for keeping good records

Hsbc!Mjgf! cz!uif!Sfjot Cowgirl shows no fear when training horses and buffalo

( Just Unveiled! See the 2008 National FFA Convention logo at

) ffanewhorizons.org

See the 2008 National FFA Convention theme at

It’s time to plan for the 81st National FFA Convention. Visit our convention page at ffanewhorizons.org to find out the latest news!

ffanewhorizons.org FFA NEW HORIZONS HELPS FFA MEMBERS AROUND THE COUNTRY KNOW THAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS OUT TO HELP EVERYONE. I BELIEVE THE OFFICERS AROUND THE NATION SHOULD SEND IN A MAGAZINE ARTICLE TO LET THE OTHERS KNOW WHAT THEIR CHAPTER DOES. – Ashley Nodine, McDonald County, Mo.

Go online to read more member letters.

Photo slideshows

Submit your best chapter activities to be shared in the ¼ Editor’s Blog Kim Newsom

WEB POLL

to comment on articles and submit story ideas.

What FFA event will you be attending this summer?

9^Wfj[h 9eeaekji B[WZ[hi^_f 9Wcfi

Test your career knowledge in our online quizzes.

ffanewhorizons.org

MWi^_d]jed B[WZ[hi^_f 9ed\[h[dY[

Need a past issue? Click on ¼ Virtual Magazine for current and archived editions.

B_l[ijeYa I^emi Vote online at \\Wd[m^eh_pedi$eh]$ Febbi Y^Wd][ [l[ho m[[a" ie l_i_j e\j[d$ Read special inserts from other associations in ¼ State Scoop.

FFA

Volume 55 Number 5

NEW HORIZONS

ÂŽ

JUNE 2008

Contents

The magazine of the National FFA Organization

JULIE WOODARD KIM NEWSOM JOYCE CARUTHERS JESSY YANCEY ANDREA BLOOM, CAROL COWAN, CHRIS HAYHURST, RAVEN PETTY KEITH HARRIS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, BRIAN McCORD NATASHA LORENS CHRISTINA CARDEN HAZEL RISNER MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT LAURA GALLAGHER, VIKKI WILLIAMS CANDICE HULSEY, AMY NELSON MEGHANN CAREY, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN GARY SMITH SHAWN DANIEL ANDY HARTLEY RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ CORY MITCHELL KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL RAY LANGEN CARLA H. THURMAN CASEY E. HESTER MARK FORESTER TEREE CARUTHERS JEFFREY S. OTTO BETH MURPHY KATHLEEN ERVIN KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JOHN LACEY PATTI CORNELIUS

Editorial Director Editor Copy Editor Editorial Assistant Contributing Writers Creative Director Staff Photographers Production Director Assistant Production Director Pre-Press Coordinator Production Project Managers Senior Graphic Designers Graphic Designers Ad Traffic Distribution Director Web Design Director Web Project Manager 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 Custom Advertising Sales Manager Marketing Director Integrated Media Managers Custom Sales Support

4 cover story

For advertising information, contact Kimberly Johnson, (800) 333-8842, ext. 277, or e-mail kjohnson@jnlcom.com.

National FFA Officers ZACH KINNE, MO BECKY SULLIVAN, KS TYLER TENBARGE, IN MORGAN PARKER, CO BRADY REVELS, FL KARI BOETTCHER, OR

8

President Secretary Eastern Region Vice President Central Region Vice President Southern Region Vice President Western Region Vice President

Grab Life by the Reins Ashley Travis shows no fear when training horses, cattle and buffalo

Best in Show Virginia member earns livestock ribbons, learns life skills

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 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 Agiculture Teacher/USDE, MO THOMAS DORMODY Teacher Educator/USDE, NM DENNIS FISCUS State Supervisor, AZ STEVE GASS State Supervisor, TN IKE KERSHAW State Supervisor, OH JASON LARISON Agriculture Teacher/USDE, KS JOEL LARSEN State Supervisor, MN 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.

2

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.

Read news, jokes and more.

12

FFA Faces

14

Healthy Lifestyles

16

Your Money

17

What’s Hot

18

National Officer Q & A

20

What’s On

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

CopyrightŠ 2008 by the National FFA Organization and Journal Communications Inc.

Scrapbook

Win a Chevy T-shirt.

Encourage diversity and win an award.

Keep good records for your SAE.

Have a seat in the new soy-friendly cars.

Meet Vice President Morgan Parker.

Grow plants with NASA’s lunar growth chamber.

14

17

20

>ZSOaS `SQgQZS bVWa [OUOhW\S

On the Cover Ashley Travis, Bakersfield, Calif.

Photo By Brian McCord

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

1

FFA scrapbook

Express yourself

Milk It Students and faculty at West Hancock High School in Iowa are enjoying healthier snacks, thanks to a milk machine that arrived in August 2006. Local FFA members lobbied for the machine to be placed in the school and the proceeds to go to the FFA chapter.

Now, nearly two years later, the project is still going strong. Agriculture teacher Paul Hauge says the chapter has made $3,000 to $5,000 so far this year.

Breaking Ground When tornadoes devastated Enterprise High School in Alabama – including the agriscience department, greenhouses and other facilities – on March 1, 2007, Enterprise FFA members and their advisor, Alan Waters, wondered how they’d bounce back. The deadly twister not only hit the school, where eight students lost their lives, but also affected the entire community.

In true FFA spirit, Waters and his students made the most of the terrible situation. They planted a fall garden – complete with cabbage, turnips, onions and broccoli – all the while learning about irrigating, fertilizing, harvesting and even preparing the vegetables.

2

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

Just Joking Why did the farmer plant seeds in a pond?

He wanted to grow watermelons.

Myriah Morris Fairhope, Ala. What do cows do in a barn all day?

Listen to moo-sic.

Anna and Alice Beckman Ashville, Ohio

ffanewhorizons.org Have a good one? Submit your favorite jokes at ffanewhorizons.org.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FYI YOUR TURN 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.

The Las Cruces FFA chapter in Las Cruces, N.M., has a new sign in the agriculture classroom. One of their members designed and painted the unique mural in FFA colors.

Standing Up for Recycling FFA member Brianna Bake of St. Pauls, N.C., is a strong believer in recycling.

She promotes it so much, in fact, that she lobbied her local town’s board of commissioners to create a better recycling program for their community.

Brianna wants the town to build a site where residents can drop off cans, bottles and newspapers so they can be taken to larger recycling centers in nearby towns. The board was impressed by Brianna’s initiative and gave her the go-ahead to present to local groups about recycling. Way to go, Brianna!

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

Back in Business After 40 years without an agricultural education program, the FFA program at Faulkton High School in Faulkton, S.D., is back!

A survey conducted among students confirmed agricultural education the top pick. The survey asked students which new classes they would want to have in the school.

“I am very excited about the opening of a new program because so many are being cut,” says first-year agriculture teacher Sarah Stratmeyer.

Stratmeyer says the students have new supplies including a SawStop table saw, four new welders and a plasma cutter.

“We are just taking it as it comes, and we are very lucky to have great support from families, communities and administration,” she says.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

3

Cover Story

Grabbing Life by

the Reins FFA member Ashley Travis shows no fear when training horses, cattle and buffalo

J

ust one student in a class full of overachievers, Ashley Travis, at first glance, might not stand

out. In many ways, she’s a lot like the other top-notch students in the prestigious North High agriculture program in Bakersfield, Calif., – smart, ambitious and, most of all, tireless.

But according to her FFA advisor, Chris Dickson, she’s also a bit understated. Or, that is, she was.

“I remember Ashley as a freshman,” Dickson recalls. “She was this very quiet girl. She was focused, but I guess I really didn’t notice it right away. She just quietly kept a 4.0 GPA and quietly took the rigorous advanced placement courses.”

Dickson adds, “But now she’s really come alive. She’s a lot more confident than she was as a freshman. These days, anytime we need something, Ashley jumps at the chance.”

AFRAID OF NOTHING North High FFA member Ashley Travis found her dream job at imperial ranch in bakersfield.

4

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

When you talk to Ashley about her high school career, one thing is obvious: She’s afraid of nothing. And

while she may have kept a low profile in her early days in FFA, behind the scenes Ashley took life by the reins – literally.

“I love rodeo,” Ashley says, “and I’ve been riding horses since I was a kid. When we moved here to Bakersfield before my freshman year, everyone was telling me to enter the local rodeo, so I did. But before I could compete, I needed to train my horse.”

With that in mind, Ashley talked to a professional trainer at Imperial Ranch, a horse training, breeding and boarding facility in nearby Shafter.

“I brought in my horse, but she couldn’t do what I needed her to do,” Ashley says. “So I used one of his, and things went well.”

Spending all that time around a professional horseman, Ashley eventually got to thinking – this work was pretty cool.

“So one day I just asked him if he could use some help, and he gave me a job,” she explains. “He put me to work cleaning stalls, saddling,

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

Story by Chris Hayhurst Photography by Brian McCord

Riding the horses and teaching them the proper reining techniques are some of ashley’s favorite tasks. She also cleans, brushes and saddles the horses.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

5

Cover Story

washing and brushing the horses.

And I eventually progressed to riding the colts, starting the 2year-olds, and showing. I basically became an assistant trainer – his right-hand ‘man.’ Whatever needed to be done, I did it.”

NOT QUITE HARD WORK While there’s no doubt her job, which she juggles with school and FFA, takes a considerable amount of time and effort, Ashley refuses to call it hard work.

“It’s a passion I have,” she says.

“So yes, it’s work, but it isn’t hard – it’s fun. When I go to work, I have fun. I’m doing what I love to do.”

Fortunately for Ashley, she’s been able to apply her time at Imperial Ranch to her supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) in equine science.

“There’s a lot of hands-on breeding work,” Ashley says. “It’s a huge process prepping the mare, getting the stallion ready and doing the artificial insemination. And then there’s the foaling, which we also do. Plus I’m riding and working the horses, training them to cut.”

Cutting, explains Ashley, involves using a horse to get one cow to part from its herd – a handy skill to have on a cattle ranch.

“We use buffalo for the training,” she explains. “The cattle figure out your game so fast that within three weeks they won’t do it anymore. The buffalo don’t figure it out. They think it’s fun. So we teach horses cow sense with buffalo.”

If the buffalo are slow, Ashley is anything but. In 2006, she was

6

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

recognized at the 79th National FFA Convention as one of four national finalists for the equine science placement proficiency award.

Meanwhile, says Ashley, she used one of her classes – agricultural biotechnology – to study endometriosis, a condition which afflicted some of Imperial Ranch’s mares.

“They weren’t getting pregnant,” she says. “It turns out, they had this bacteria inside the uterus that would basically kill the fetus. I went out and cultured the horses, sent the cultures to a lab, collected data, and wrote a paper about it.”

A true scholar, Ashley enjoyed her agricultural business management class and represented her chapter as its FFA sentinel.

“She’s been a great role model,” says Dickson. “She’s not only been a leader in FFA, but she’s also shown how it’s possible to take your passion to the next level. She could have just learned to train horses, and that would have been great. But she chose to go further than that. That’s not something you see very often. She took that next step.”

A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION These days, Ashley attends California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. There, she is studying equine reproduction while majoring in animal science with an agricultural business minor.

“I want to open up a breeding barn,” says Ashley, “maybe here in California. That’s my goal – to have my own ranch.”

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

Ashley saddles a horse at imperial ranch before practicing her riding skills.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

7

Story by Chris Hayhurst Photography by Ian Curcio

Best

in Show

Brandon Reeves earns livestock

ribbons, learns life skills

Brandon Reeves raises show steers on his family’s cattle farm in swoope, va.

8

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

I

f livestock judging is your thing,

winning – no matter how good you

Development Event (CDE) in

here’s a little warning: Facing

are – drop like a load of cow manure.

Louisville, Ky., Kaufman says that

off against a team with Brandon

He’s that good. And he’s not there to

Brandon really stepped up to the

take second.

plate. But then, just as quickly, he

Reeves is not going to be pleasant.

Not that Brandon’s a bad guy.

In fact, he’s amazing. He’s also really friendly. At Buffalo Gap High School

stepped down.

STRONG ROOTS Brandon, of course, would laugh

“He was high individual, but he made sure it wasn’t about him,”

in Swoope, Va., where Brandon is

at all this. He’s about as modest

she says. “And that’s always the

a senior and the president of his

as they come. He does admit to a

way it is with Brandon. The team

FFA chapter, all the students

competitive streak, but he’s really

is always first.”

think he’s great.

just in it for fun.

“He gets along with everybody,”

“He’s a great leader and

Raised on a 1,500-head cattle farm in nearby Mount Solon, Va.,

says Shirley Kaufman, his advisor.

an awesome team player,” says

Brandon and his sister, Laura Kate,

“I don’t know a single person who

Kaufman, who has known Brandon

took to the livestock trade early,

doesn’t like him.”

since he was 9 years old, when she

starting their own show cattle

coached him in 4-H.

business – which Brandon

So what’s the deal? Why is he to be feared? Well, let’s put it this way.

When his FFA team from Buffalo

eventually used for his supervised

Should you meet Brandon at a

Gap won the 2005 National FFA

agricultural experience program

competition, your chances of

Livestock Evaluation Career

(SAE) – in 2002.

Brandon says he works with his show cattle daily to help calm and train them for upcoming livestock shows.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

9

“We bought 15 heifers from my dad and grandpa,” he says, “then bred them and raised their calves.”

The learning curve for the siblings was steep.

“We started out not knowing a whole lot about the show cattle business,” he says. “But as we’ve gone along we’ve gotten more experience and produced better cattle, and we’ve kind of developed our own little market.”

Brandon and Laura Kate sell many of their heifers and some steers to locals in the 4-H program.

Others are shipped out of state.

He and his sister work well together, Brandon says, and it’s a good thing. There’s too much to do for just one person.

“It’s a big responsibility,” he explains. “You have to feed your animals twice a day, and you have to make sure they don’t get sick.

Sometimes you have to bottle-feed the calves. You halter break them in July and August and spend a lot of

Brandon credits his grandfather, Earl Reeves, and father, Robbie Reeves, for teaching him about cattle.

10

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

time with them there. You’re really with them every step of the way.”

“It’s great to share everything – the whole experience – with my sister,” he adds. “It’s also really handy because when I’m not around, it’s nice to know that she’ll get everything done.”

Brandon thinks his livestock judging experience has helped him make good decisions for his business – especially when it comes to breeding stock.

“By going around and judging, you can see what works and what doesn’t,” Brandon says. “I’ve really learned to appreciate quality.”

ALL HARD WORK Needless to say, the work has paid off. In the last several years, as the business has thrived, Brandon has won a lengthy list of awards and accolades. He’s taken state honors in Virginia’s FFA agricultural sales and agricultural business management CDEs. In 2007, he was named the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Outstanding Young Agriculturalist and, as part of his 4-H team, won the National 4-H Livestock Judging Competition. Winning big at livestock judging events has twice qualified Brandon to compete internationally. He went to Scotland after the 2005 FFA nationals, and is going back in 2008 thanks to 4-H. Brandon is also an excellent student, Kaufman says, noting his membership in the National Honor Society.

“He’s a good test-taker, enrolled in AP classes and highly recruited by colleges,” she says. “He does well in almost everything he does. And

he’s a great role model.”

Kaufman says other students can learn much from Brandon and the way he’s handled himself over the years, from his days as a novice in 4-H to his amazing senior year.

“Brandon has shown there are lots of opportunities out there,” Kaufman says. “He’s demonstrated you can be successful at anything you put your mind to. It’s never been a cakewalk for him. Everything he’s done, he’s worked hard for.”

Brandon wouldn’t argue with that, but he’s quick to point out that he’s also been pretty lucky.

“I’ve been surrounded with really good people,” he explains.

“My coaches, my parents and grandparents have all helped me to get to where I’m at now. They’ve spent a lot of time with both my sister and me explaining what good cattle look like. They’ve really given me a good start and pushed me in the right direction. I’ve worked hard, but I couldn’t have done it without them.”

So what’s next? At this point, Brandon says, he’s not sure. He does know it will involve school – he’s traveled to several colleges and universities with his father – and that it will also involve cattle.

“I can’t say exactly where my career is going,” Brandon says. “I do know that whether it’s full time or part time, I’ll always keep cows and raise show cattle. It’s just something I love to do.”

ffanewhorizons.org Click on In This Issue for tips on starting a livestock SAE.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

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

AR Matt Nash Chapter: Marked Tree FFA

As a high school senior, Matt enjoys the career skills he gained through FFA. With his chapter, he built chicken coops and a greenhouse. Matt was selected as his school’s outstanding agricultural education student in 2006 and is the current chapter president. Matt works on his cousin’s cotton farm and plans to eventually start his own cotton operation.

PA

SD

Vance Brown

Emily Helms

Chapter: Little Lions FFA

Chapter: Wall FFA

This high school sophomore grew up on his family’s swine operation and has now developed his supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) by specializing in swine breeding. He participates in many community service activities and recently worked with local farmers to identify hazards on their farms to aid first responders in emergency situations.

A high school senior, Emily has been involved in several FFA activities to gain career skills. Through her poultry production SAE, Emily raises layers and sells the eggs locally. She has also participated in the agronomy and range judging CDEs. Emily plans to attend South Dakota State University to major in agronomy and range management.

FL

CA

Georgia Pevy

Kera Giampaolo

Chapter: Grand Ridge Middle School FFA

Chapter: Eureka FFA

As a seventh-grader, Georgia has already participated in many FFA events, including the forestry and parliamentary procedure career development events (CDE) and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies contest. She is the president of her chapter, shows market hogs at the local fair, and hopes to build upon her leadership skills as she continues her FFA career.

Kera, a high school senior, has developed an impressive SAE during her FFA career. She raises market lambs and steers and shows them at local and state fairs. She also enjoys trail riding and barrel racing. Kera shares her experience and expertise with younger kids and helps them prepare for livestock shows by teaching them to fit their own show calves.

WI

KS

Aaron Thesing

Shilyn Guthrie

Chapter: Holmen FFA

Chapter: Tonganoxie FFA

This college freshman used his FFA experiences to set goals for himself and his SAE. He served as a chapter officer for three years and earned his State FFA Degree. In 2006, he became the youngest cranberry marsh owner in Wisconsin. He is currently majoring in horticulture and plans to expand his cranberry business into a commercial enterprise.

Shilyn first joined FFA to take part in the livestock evaluation CDE. As a high school senior, Shilyn has participated in many CDEs and exhibits cattle and sheep at local and state shows. She served as chapter treasurer and earned her Greenhand, Chapter and State FFA degrees. Shilyn plans to become a registered nurse and work in pediatrics.

– Andrea Bloom

12

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA healthy lifestyles

Being inclusive and other people? Diversity implies

We’re All

understanding and valuing our

Unique

differences in order that all our lives may be enriched.

The H.O. Sargent Award, a core program of the National FFA Organization, encourages members to initiate activities promoting diversity in agricultural education

H.O. Sargent Award

Former FFA recipient teaches tolerance, understanding

and FFA. Some activities that qualify for the H.O. Sargent program include: 9h[Wj_d] effehjkd_j_[i \eh Z_iWXb[Z

T

he student body at Vanguard High School in Ocala, Fla., is a pretty diverse group of kids.

Not only will you find racial and economic diversity at Vanguard – you’ll also find a mix of rural and urban students whose life experiences and everyday activities differ based on where they live.

Longtime FFA member and recent high school graduate Wesley Hunter didn’t want anyone at his school to be left out of agricultural education just because he or she didn’t live on a farm.

So he helped students from both urban and rural areas get hands-on agricultural experience, regardless of where they lived, by developing nontraditional FFA supervised agricultural experience programs (SAEs).

During his senior year, Wes mentored about 30 students a semester in aquaculture, horticulture and small animal projects.

“We had chickens, geckos, rabbits, fish, even a cockatiel in the classroom,” he says. “I helped the less experienced students do research and find resources, and I helped mentor them in all the details of bringing an animal to show at the fair.”

In his community, Wes helped get people from different Christian

14

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

denominations together to raise scholarship money for local youth. And he participated in a horsemanship group that included riders of all ages, from little kids to senior citizens, teaching and learning from one another. For his efforts, Wes was named the 2007 FFA H.O. Sargent Diversity Award winner.

You’ve probably heard the word “diversity” a million times, but how many of us realize the concept goes beyond just recognizing or tolerating the differences between ourselves

students to show livestock.

9ec_d] kf m_j^ W c[cX[hi^_f recruitment program that might appeal to a wide variety of students.

Eh]Wd_p_d] Z_l[hi_jo#WmWh[d[ii campaigns, such as NFA Week.

CeZ[b_d] _dYbki_l[d[ii je ej^[hi$ Fhecej_d] W]h_YkbjkhWb YWh[[hi je different groups.

To learn more about the H.O. Sargent Award or to apply, visit ffa.org and click on Award Fhe]hWci kdZ[h =[d[hWb B_dai$ – Carol Cowan

WEsley Hunter received $500 and a plaque as the 2007 H.O. Sargent Winner.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA your money

SAE Records

Take

Note

Tips for keeping good

A

SAE records

good grade is just one of the benefits FFA members stand to gain from their supervised agricultural experience programs (SAEs).

Another is the opportunity to explore a career and practice the real-world activities that go with it – including (sigh) record keeping.

It’s no secret that documenting SAEs with pages of records isn’t most members’ favorite part of the process. But, believe it or not, that’s part of the SAE learning concept.

Advisor Nyle Russell from Payson High School in Payson, Utah, created an electronic Utah state FFA record book and attaches a lot of importance to record keeping.

He says, “The better records we can keep, the better off we’ll be in all aspects of our lives.”

ELECTRONIC RECORD BOOKS Students have it far easier since electronic record books came on the scene, Russell says.

They are probably the key factor in successful SAE documentation.

For instance, instead of writing the same information over and over on different forms, once information is entered electronically, it can be transferred from page to page,

16

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

formatted for different award applications, safely stored, and easily accessed.

But for many students, the process breaks down long before they enter their data into a computer.

The critical step of collecting project data is often the hardest one.

DATA COLLECTION TOOLS Hedj Nelson, hog farmer and owner/operator of Columbia View Orchard in Kettle Falls, Wash., uses a few simple tools – notebooks, receipt files and calendars – to collect the information that keeps his operation’s records on track.

“I have a notebook for chemical spraying, because you have to keep track of the day, the time, the weather conditions, what chemical you sprayed. I keep my notebook with me, and I always write things down right away,” he says. “If you don’t, you’ll forget. You always think, ‘I’ll write it down tomorrow,’ but you never do. And the longer you wait, the less you remember.”

Entrepreneurship SAEs call for analysis of a business’s financial success. Nelson’s expense records, and the cash register receipts he totals at the end of each business day, show his profits and losses.

“As far as taxes, you want to keep records of all your expenses for write-offs,” Nelson adds. “Again, I keep a notebook with me, and I just write it down every time I buy something.”

“At the end of the year, I just hand the accountant all my itemized records, and all he has to do is fill in the numbers,” he explains.

Likewise, as with many SAE components, some responsibilities on the Nelson farm have to be done on a schedule.

“I probably keep more records for the pigs than I do for the orchard,” Nelson says. He uses a calendar to keep track of shots, breeding cycles and so on.

YOUR CRITICAL ACTION “The crucial step for [students] is to write [data] down immediately,” Russell urges. “If they wait three months and then go to update their record book, they’ve forgotten things.”

So, take a few minutes to put things to paper as they happen.

It will make a huge difference in whether your SAE record keeping is painless or a royal pain.

– Carol Cowan

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

Cool stuff to know

FFA What's hot

In the Vault

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARI TEFRE /GLOBAL CROP DIVERSIT Y TRUST

Freezing seeds seems to be the new way to protect the future of agriculture. Scientists from around the world are working together to build the Svaldbard International Seed Vault, located in a mountain near the North Pole. Their goal is to protect agriculture from the threat of nuclear attack and diseases from global warming. The vault opens winter 2008. For more information and photos, visit ffanewhorizons.org.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

Soy Anything!

Soybeans are everywhere. The agricultural commodity is used for candles, paints, beauty products and even fuel, in addition to its traditional use as food. And now, it’s in automobile interiors. Recently, Ford Motor Co. announced that seats for the new 2008 Ford Mustangs contain a soy-based flexible foam.

This breakthrough follows seven years of research and collaboration between Ford Motor Co. and the United Soybean Board, which manages the soybean checkoff program.

Now, they are looking to add the soybased seating to more Ford vehicles and increase the percentage of soy versus the standard petroleum-based polyol. To learn more about soybeans, visit www.unitedsoybean.org.

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

17

FFA National Officer

Q&A

A

Explaining agricultural education and FFA to people who had never heard of it was difficult, especially when I didn’t know a whole lot myself! Working together with other students, community supporters and school administration made the chartering possible – we are so fortunate!

Q

Do you have any tips that could help any chapter increase membership – whether it’s a fairly new chapter or one that’s been around for many years?

A

Growing membership is about showing students that FFA is fun and valuable.

Whether it’s chapter trips, scholarships, career development events, career possibilities, or leadership and communication skills gained, FFA has something to offer everyone. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. Something new and exciting is always great!

FYI

Q

Why do you think the H.O. Sargent Award is such an important part of the FFA awards program?

MORGAN’S FAVORITES This Colorado native enjoys snow skiing,and his friends say he’s unique because he lives in his own musical. More of Morgan’s favorites include: Smell: Fresh rain CDE: Parliamentary procedure

Morgan

Parker FFA National Central Region Vice President

Vacation spot: Europe Color: Kansas State purple Hobby: Singing and playing piano FFA Memory: National Chorus Fruit: Banana

Hailing from Limon, Colo., Morgan Parker has had a very unique FFA experience. As a high school sophomore, he became a charter member of the Limon FFA Chapter. In his chapter’s inaugural year, he served as an officer and planned the annual banquet.

And now, a few short years later, he’s your national central region vice president.

Q 18

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

What was the most challenging part of starting a brand-new FFA chapter?

A

The H.O. Sargent Award program recognizes that FFA members are unique and rewards those who create opportunities for all the members and promote diversity within their communities.

Learning from and working with people who are different from us helps us all grow and strengthen our organization!

Q

What are some of your favorite summer activities?

A

Summer is meant for county fairs, lake trips, iced coffee, and hanging out with friends and family!

ffanewhorizons.org Click on In This Issue to learn more about Morgan and his teammates.

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA What's on

web

media buzz

blogs Tales From the Road

Plants From Space In the coming years, plant growth will be an important part of space exploration – especially in NASA’s plans to return to the moon.

But with a new NASA program, you can learn about plants in space right here in your own back yard. NASA’s plant growth chamber project allows you to design your own lunar module, then conduct research on cinnamon basil seeds that have actually own in space! Visit www.nasa.gov and search “lunar plant growth chamber.â€?

20

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

Want to know where the 2007-08 National FFA OfďŹ cers have been? Visit their blogs at www.ffa.org, where each ofďŹ cer shares stories from the road, posts photos of their favorite experiences and often gives a quick motivational thought.

You can even ďŹ nd out how to contact the National FFA OfďŹ cers to ask them questions about their exciting experiences this year.

% " #

" ! $ " $ !

#!" "!

%!" "

" & "

" # % %

# !

!

FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG