June 2009, FFA New Horizons

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NEW HORIZONS THE MAGAZI NE OF THE N ATIONAL FFA ORGA NIZATION | June 2 009

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ways to settle a squabble

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Cbmbodf Sam Cantwell successfully juggles three varsity sports and FFA

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FFA

Volume 55 Number 5

NEW HORIZONS

ÂŽ

June 2009

The magazine of the National FFA Organization

JULIE WOODARD KIM NEWSOM JOYCE CARUTHERS JESSY YANCEY ANDREA BLOOM, CHRIS HAYHURST, JESSICA MOZO, RYAN VADEN KEITH HARRIS BRIAN McCORD JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER CHRISTINA CARDEN MELISSA HOOVER, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT LAURA GALLAGHER, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS ERICA HINES, AMY NELSON JESSICA CHILDS, MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY GARY SMITH ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ FRANCO SCARAMUZZA CARL SCHULZ JENNIFER GRAVES TWILA ALLEN KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL RAY LANGEN CARLA H. THURMAN CASEY E. HESTER MARK FORESTER TEREE CARUTHERS NATASHA LORENS JEFFREY S. OTTO BETH MURPHY

Contents

Editorial Director Managing Editor Copy Editor Associate Editor Contributing Writers Creative Director Senior Photographer Staff Photographers Associate Production Director Production Project Managers Senior Graphic Designers Graphic Designers Ad Traffic

Distribution Director Web Project Managers Web Design Director Web Designers Web Production Color Imaging Technician FFA Communications Executive Vice President Sr. V.P./Sales Sr. V.P./Operations V.P./Visual Content V.P./Editorial Director Production Director Photography Director Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY Custom/Travel Sales Support RACHEL MATHEIS Sales/Marketing Coordinator

For advertising information, contact Beth Murphy, (800) 333-8842, ext. 251, or e-mail bmurphy@jnlcom.com.

2008-09 National FFA Officers PAUL MOYA, NM NESSIE EARLY, CA HANNAH CROSSEN, OH LAILA HAJJI, OK REGINA HOLLIDAY, GA RILEY BRANCH, TX

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

8 cover story 12

National FFA Staff LARRY CASE National Advisor, Chief Executive Officer STEVE BROWN Executive Secretary BILL FLEET Acting Chief Operating Officer MARION FLETCHER National Treasurer JULIE ADAMS, MARK CAVELL, Division Directors 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 2009 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.

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Sam Cantwell successfully juggles three varsity sports and FFA.

For the Love of Landscaping Cultivate a future career in horticulture.

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Scrapbook

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FFA Faces

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National Officer Q & A

Read news, jokes and more.

Learn about members’ achievements.

Meet Vice President Hannah Crossen.

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Healthy Lifestyles

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What’s Hot

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What’s On

20

Back Talk

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On the Cover Sam Cantwell, Vadnais Heights, Minn.

Photo By J. Kyle Keener

Perfect Balance

Find tips for settling a squabble.

Discover some new agricultural technologies.

Meet FFA members and musicians, The Springs.

Texas alumnus Judd Ramsey tells his FFA story.

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FFA scrapbook

Express yourself

Just Joking

What do you call a farmer who likes to play on the computer?

A farmer on the Dell.

Samuel Ivanovich, Courtland, Va. What becomes shorter as it gets older?

A welding rod.

Taylor Boe, Rolla, N.D.

Calling All Future Business Leaders Are you looking to start a new business or jumpstart the one you already have?

FFA is looking to match young agri-entrepreneurs with FFA alumni members who can help them further the development of their businesses and compete more effectively in the FFA Agri-Entrepreneurship award program.

Members may be any age and will be matched with alumni members in their areas who have business experience and/or industry specific information.

For more information, e-mail dsellers@ffa.org or go to www.ffa.org, click on Award Programs and then Agri-Entrepreneurship.

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Supply Service Nebraska’s Central City FFA members are celebrating one full year of their latest service project. As member Kolin Schmidt reports, the chapter gathers farm supplies and sends them to farm families in Iraq.

Utilizing money they’ve raised through fundraisers and donations, the members shop for needed farm supplies and create care packages, filling them also with local newspapers, T-shirts, FFA memorabilia and even copies of FFA New Horizons magazine.

To learn more about the project and how you can help, please e-mail patfan1222@yahoo.com.

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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.

Shaylan Ennis from Paola, Kan., is serving as the 2009 American Shetland Pony Club/American Miniature Horse Registry Queen. While serving as queen, she will travel to numerous shows throughout the United States to promote the registry and work with youth members.

Making Her Mark Meet Miss FFA, a special heifer owned and exhibited by Brooke Chappell of Webbers Fall, Okla.

Notice anything special? Like many of her cattle counterparts, Miss FFA has a marking on her face, but this particular one should look familiar to FFA members.

Brooke, an eighth-grade FFA member, thought the marking looked a lot like an FFA emblem, so she named her commercial heifer Miss FFA in honor of the organization.

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

He’s a Fast Talker Don’t get into a speed-talking race with Brody McGuire – he will likely beat you every time. Brody, an FFA member from Buckeye, Ariz., recently completed a program at the prestigious Mendenhall School of Auctioneering, where participants of the school voted him the “Best All Around.”

Brody is now a junior at the University of Arizona. He hopes to become a high school agriculture teacher, but also do auctioneering as a side career.

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FFA Faces

Stand Out in the Crowd Nominate yourself to be considered for FFA Faces by following the steps below.

Questions? E-mail ffanation@jnlcom.com.

Create

Describe

Nominate

Go to ffanation.ffa.org and sign up for an FFA Nation profile.

Upload a profile photo and fill out the fields to tell us about your FFA experiences.

Under the FFA Faces thread on the Discussions page, tell us why you should be featured.

AK

MO

Corinne Ogle

Steven McGinley

Chapter: Homer FFA

Chapter: Maysville FFA

A high school junior, Corinne serves as the Alaska FFA reporter.

She enjoys traveling the state and helping other FFA members develop their leadership skills. Corinne placed third in the state in prepared public speaking and has also participated in the environmental and natural resources, floriculture, and forestry career development events (CDEs).

This high school senior uses his FFA experiences to develop career skills. Steven has competed in the agronomy and farm business management CDEs on the state level, and he plans to compete in floriculture or agricultural mechanics this year. After graduation, he will attend Missouri Western State University to major in biology and hopes to one day own his own ranch.

AL

TX

Brianna Guest

Reese Vann

Chapter: Geraldine FFA

Chapter: Lampasas FFA

A high school sophomore, Brianna has competed in the FFA Creed CDE and is an active member of her chapter parliamentary procedure team, which placed second in the state CDE. She also served as chapter historian and sentinel. As part of her supervised agricultural experience program (SAE), Brianna works at her high school greenhouse each spring.

Reese, a high school senior, has developed a strong SAE in livestock production as a partner on his family’s beef ranch. He also competed in the livestock evaluation CDE, earned his State FFA Degree, and served as chapter president for two years. He will attend Texas A&M University to major in biomedical science and pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

OH

KS

Cathryn Clark

Megan Boone

Chapter: Northridge FFA

Chapter: Prairie View FFA

Cathryn, a high school junior, has developed a strong SAE in small animal production and care through her pet-sitting business and work at an animal hospital. Cathryn competed in the agricultural communications and job interview CDEs and placed fourth nationally in the food science category of the Agriscience Fair. She has served as chapter historian and vice president.

This high school junior says she is very glad her agriculture teachers encouraged her to become more active in the school’s FFA chapter. Megan has worked hard to develop her beef entrepreneurship and equine science SAEs. She has also competed in the poultry evaluation, livestock evaluation, agronomy and dairy cattle CDEs. – Andrea Bloom

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FFA National Officer

Q&A

Q

What advice do you have for members searching for an SAE that suits them?

A

Home improvement projects are a great place to start. I chose to remodel our basement and build a patio because it was a project that my whole family could do together. Find something that you really enjoy doing and match it with one of the many SAE options out there.

Q

What has been your favorite national officer experience thus far?

A

My favorite experience as a national officer so far has been getting to know all the individuals that work to support FFA members. The National FFA staff and sponsors truly believe in what FFA provides students, and they very much want for each of us to be successful.

Q

FYI HANNAH’S FAVORITES

If you look through this Ohio FFA member’s purse, you’ll find 10 different tubes of lip balm and cool fortunes she’s gotten in fortune cookies. Read on to learn more about Hannah: Food: Italian CDE: Parliamentary Procedure Fruit: Apple Color: Blue Hobby: Scrapbooking School subject: Agriculture Smell: Fresh cut hay

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Hannah

Crossen FFA National Eastern Region Vice President

In her little bit of spare time while serving this year as a national FFA officer, Hannah Crossen will likely travel home to Jeromesville, Ohio, to spend time with her parents and brother Reid. And she might be met with a household to-do list, since Hannah has been known to fix up around the house. As part of her supervised agricultural experience (SAE), Hannah remodeled the basement and built a patio, along with her other projects of showing pigs and lambs and working at a poultry plant.

What tips do you have for FFA members dealing with conflict?

A

When I became a chapter officer, my teammates and I had some definite differences in our personalities. This made working together especially difficult, but we worked through it. By giving each team member specific responsibilities and meeting as a group at least once a week, we accomplished our goals.

Q

Do you have a favorite quote or saying you strive to live by?

A

My favorite quote is by John Wesley and says, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

ffanewhorizons.org Click on In This Issue for more from our interview with Hannah.

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Cover Story

Perfect

Balance Story By Chris Hayhurst

Sophomore Sam Cantwell successfully juggles three varsity sports and FFA

A

s a 10th-grade student at the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture (AFSA) in Vadnais Heights, Minn., Sam Cantwell is a lot like many of his classmates – into sports, active in FFA and a good student. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear that Sam is unique. Born with a condition called profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, Sam is deaf. And while he wears hearing aids in both ears, he is unable to hear most of the sounds that the rest of us take for granted.

Sam has never let his physical limitations keep him from enjoying his high school career. In fact, his achievements – in the classroom, on the field, and in FFA – would be remarkable for anyone, let alone a

deaf person. FFA New Horizons recently had a conversation with Sam, via e-mail.

Tell us about your Q FFA involvement.

I participated in the creed speaking career development event (CDE) last year and will be in the farm business management CDE this year.

Last year, I was the recipient of our chapter’s Star Greenhand award. For my supervised agricultural experience program (SAE), I was the “project engineer” for laying a sidewalk at our school. I made the measurements and figured out the cost and led my class through the installation. I joined the AFSA FFA chapter because the school and the classes are small, so you get

more individual attention and there are a lot of leadership opportunities.

Also, the student/teacher relationships are very positive – you feel comfortable talking to them and they’re supportive of what you want to do as long as you show an interest or desire.

Your grandparents have a Q farm, and we learned that you work there during the summer. Where is it?

In South Dakota, north of Aberdeen.

They are actually retired now, so the work is more maintaining the smallacreage farm. I still run the tractors to do odd jobs and help my grandpa keep the farm in good shape. Last year I helped him put up some fence, and we put a new steel roof on his barn.

FFA member sam cantwell from Rosewell, Minn., admits his attention to academics, his FFA and extracurricular involvement, and three varsity sports – baseball, basketball and soccer – often seem like a juggling act.

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Cover Story

You also play basketball, Q baseball and soccer. What’s it like taking part in all these activities? How do you balance it all?

First off, I owe my success to all the support I get from my school, teachers and fellow students; they provide what I need to be successful.

For FFA events, the teachers provide me the opportunity, support and the sign language interpreters to ensure that I’m able to get the same information as a hearing person.

As for sports, the coaches and my teammates make the effort to get my attention when giving out instructions. I do miss some things, such as cheers and advice from the sidelines, but that can’t always be prevented. I also read lips, so if I’m close enough I can get information this way. I try to face and deal with challenges as they come up, so it is a different approach every time.

called IAS (I Am Special). I teach 4-year-olds about religion while their parents are attending mass. And I’m an assistant coach for a fifth- and sixth-grade basketball team.

Do you have any advice Q for others who might face similar challenges?

All I really have to say is that if you’re worried what others might think of you, don’t be. Do what you want to do and just have fun with it. I’ve always liked the saying, “It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game.”

Just try your hardest, give that 110 percent, and do the best you can do.

What are your plans and Q goals for the future?

I plan on going to a four-year college, but I have not decided on a career path. There’s a broad range of things in agriculture that may interest me, such as landscape/turf management. I also am interested in possibly becoming a sportswriter, maybe for a magazine or a newspaper.

Are you a star athlete like Sam? Visit the Photo Gallery to upload images of you in action.

What other interests Q do you have?

I play football, but not competitively – just goofing around with friends. I like spending a lot of time with my friends and family because they’re special to me. One of my favorite hobbies is reading about, watching or doing anything related to the Minnesota Vikings. I also like to draw whenever and whatever I can – cartoons or real-life figures.

I also teach a Bible school class

Sam Cantwell, kneeling, enjoys spending time with his brothers, who share his love of sports.

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For the Love of

Landsc Cultivate a career in horticulture

ffanewhorizons.org Click on In This Issue for more agricultural careers to consider.

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I

n most cases, you spend the

Story By Chris Hayhurst

majority of the day outside. You

aping

use your hands, but you also use

your mind. You have to be creative, but it also helps to be practical.

You’ve got to like hard work.

Sound like a job you’d like? Then consider a career in landscaping, where you’re almost always on the move, every day is different, and fresh air is the rule.

Landscaping – or the “green industry,” as insiders like to call it – is all about designing, building and maintaining outdoor spaces.

“Just look at any home, hospital, school, or any kind of structure, and what makes it pretty, in most cases, is the landscaping around it,” says Anna Walraven, director of industry development at the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), an international association for landscaping pros. “Landscaping is a way to make the land and the green areas that you live in beautiful.”

Careers in landscaping run the gamut, Walraven says.

“It’s not just pushing around a mower or something like that, although it can be,” she explains.

“It’s architecture of green space. It’s irrigation design. It’s arboriculture.

It’s any number of different venues.

There are even desk jobs for those people who want them. It all depends on what your interests are, how much you want to educate yourself, and how much you want to put yourself out there. The opportunities are endless.”

Many landscapers get their first ANTONY BOSHIER

taste of the job during high school.

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They land part-time work with a local lawn- or tree-care crew, and spend summers wielding shovels,

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Career Resources For all kinds of landscaping career information, simply go online!

First, check out www.thelandlovers.org, a site sponsored by the American Society for Horticulture Science, the American Nursery & Landscape Association, the Professional Landcare Network, and John Deere, among others.

You’ll learn all about landscaping career opportunities, as well as the education requirements for each.

You can also learn more about landscaping by participating in the National FFA Nursery/Landscape career development event, which covers all aspects of the industry. Ask your advisor for details.

Finally, a great place to start, Walraven says, is with your local landscaper.

“Just get out there and talk to the people in your community,” she says. “Find out how they got started.

They’re almost always willing to help.”

And you never know. They might even offer you a job.

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Many horticulturists prefer the hands-on labor aspect of the job.

shaping plant beds, trimming weeds, and pruning branches and hedges.

Consider these landscaping careers: Landscape architects analyze, plan, design and manage landscapes. Among the most educated in the landscaping profession, they’re often employed by engineering or architecture firms, and play an important role in providing the overall vision for a new landscape’s creation.

And while landscape architects certainly spend plenty of time outside scouting new sites, they also tend to log many hours in the office as they work on budgets, attend meetings and create designs on computer. The median salary for a landscape architect, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, was more than $55,000 in 2006, the most recent year for which data is available.

Landscape designers are similar to landscape architects. The main difference is that designers typically work on landscapes that are much smaller in scale. While landscape

architects might tackle the technical details of a huge resort in Las Vegas (and let someone else come in and do the installation work), landscape designers, who have no specific educational requirements, would typically stick to simpler projects like upscale gardens and yards.

Still, landscape designers often study their trade in college, and can even earn a graduate degree in the subject.

There are many other careers in landscaping as well, ranging from jobs in greenhouses raising the plants and shrubs used in landscape creation to turf management, irrigation design and installation, sales, construction, or mower and vehicle maintenance. You can be self-employed, or you can work for someone else as a laborer, an office manager, or truck driver. Behind the scenes at almost every large landscaping company there are numerous jobs – outdoors or in – that make that business tick.

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FFA healthy lifestyles

Conflict Resolution

I’m Angry …

Now What? rocket science

Resolving conflicts isn’t – but it sure can be hard to do

T

here’s no avoiding it – now and then we all face conflicts.

Whether within your FFA chapter, among your friends or in your own mind, conflict is a natural part of life. And the sooner you learn how to handle it, the better off you’ll be.

“Everyone has conflicts, no matter how smart or cool they are,” says Annie Stanfield-Hagert, a psychotherapist and social worker based in Philadelphia. “Smart people accept this, learn what they can about themselves, and then control how they act.”

Common conflicts with teens include external things such as physical and verbal fights among

friends or arguments between teens and their parents. Inner conflicts are also common among teens – maybe you’re struggling to fit in, you don’t feel attractive enough, or you’re stressed about schoolwork or making college plans.

The best way to deal with conflicts when they rear their ugly heads? Keep your emotions in check.

Maybe you didn’t get the FFA chapter office you wanted or the lead in the school play you auditioned for.

Both scenarios could trigger jealousy or hurt pride. But once you recognize that those feelings exist, the conflict becomes easier to deal with.

“Figure out what to do with the

feeling. Think it through, and then decide what action is in your best interest,” Hagert says. “Learn to collaborate, negotiate or compromise.

It’s good for people to learn to identify their feelings and then decide on behavior. You’ll get better and better at doing it.”

Dr. Bridget Melson, a teen psychotherapist based in Pleasanton, Calif., suggests that you consider these tips when faced with conflict.

CALM DOWN. Ask yourself this: Do you want to be respected by your peers or known as the guy or girl with the unpredictable hot temper?

1.

IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. Determine why it’s such a problem. Is it about disliking an individual, or do you feel an injustice has been done? Identifying the issue is an important step.

2.

TALK IT OUT. Express yourself appropriately, and let others do the same.

Place yourself in the other person’s shoes. Can you see their perspective?

3.

MEET IN THE MIDDLE. Sometimes it’s best to look for common ground. This is how we learn empathy – the ability to share and understand another’s point of view. Find a solution that’s accepted by all.

Compromising is great training for life.

– Jessica Mozo

4.

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Cool stuff to know

what’s hot in science

FFA What's hot

On the Cutting Edge

Warren County High School FFA members in Warrenton, Ga., know how to take a good trait and multiply it. That’s exactly what they are doing with their biotechnology project of cloning plants.

To clone plants, the members take cuttings from an established plant, place them in a medium and force them to root with the help of rooting hormones. Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and support from Dr. Curtis Borne with Fort Valley State University, helped launch the program.

White Could Be the New Yellow While yellow is the prominent color of corn, the future might include more white varieties – if two FFA members have any say in the matter.

Seth Edwards and Andy Daraini from Lebanon FFA in Indiana began examining corncobs in February 2008 to help identify genetic traits that will increase white corn yields and disease resistance. Their job was to score the phenotype, which means they looked for specific color differences in the cobs and charted them.

Their research was then used by AgReliant Genetics in a larger study. The project won first place in its category in the Indiana FFA agriscience fair.

The Ethanol Edge Nicholas Worley – a member of the Lowndes FFA Chapter in Valdosta, Ga. – had a simple idea that transformed into a full-fledged research project.

Nicholas had a thought that the biomass from Georgia’s forest might produce ethanol. So he went to work, using scientific methods to discover that ethanol could in fact be produced from both clean wood chips and unmerchantable forest biomass. Nicholas was named the 2008 National FFA Agriscience Student of the Year and received a $1,500 scholarship.

Visit www.ffa.org to learn more about the FFA agriscience program.

25%

percent of the world’s total supply of fresh peaches is provided by U.S. farmers.

1886

was the year of the first ice cream cone, served and eaten in New York City.

Source: www.agday.org

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FFA What's on

web

media buzz

music

From FFA to 33Miles

There’s Cash in Your Future Want to learn more about agricultural markets? Sign up your FFA chapter for the Farmetrics Prediction Market.

This online tool is bringing the world of agricultural prediction markets to the classroom.

After your school is signed up, you and your fellow members will submit predictions for yield, acres planted and acres harvested for crops such as corn and wheat.

Your predictions are measured against that of other FFA chapters around the country, and the winning schools get great prizes.

Learn more at www.farmetrics.com.

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While in high school, Jason Barton served as secretary of the Gilbert FFA Chapter in Louisiana and was a member of the horticulture career development event team.

These days, Barton deals more with music than plants as the lead singer for Christian band 33Miles. He and his bandmates Chris Lockwood and Collin Stoddard have recently released their second album, “One Life,” and they were nominated as the Dove New Artist of the Year.

Learn more about the band at www.33milesonline.com.

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books

music

tv

Cowboy Book With a Cause

Get Your TV Online

Country music artist and former FFA member Trent Willmon is using his talents in a new way – as a narrator for a children’s book.

Willmon lends his voice to the reading of The Knock-Kneed Cowboy: A Tale of Being “Just Right”…Just As We Are. The book, which focuses on self-acceptance and confidence, has another Willmon connection – his mother, Billie Jenkin, is the author. The book is available on a three-CD set.

For more information, visit

If you haven’t been watching the “FFA Today” television show, now is your chance to catch up! The show, aired every Wednesday at 6 p.m.

EST on RFD-TV, is also posted online at www.ffa.org each week. You can also watch archived episodes by visiting ffatoday.ffa.org.

Watching “FFA Today” is a great way to beat summer boredom! And, it’s an even better way to recruit friends and classmates to learn more about FFA opportunities.

www.empoweringforchange. com/kkc.

Teens on a Mission The Springs, a country band made up of six Alabama FFA members, has a Nashville record deal and a single, “Mommy’s Little Man,” climbing the charts.

They hope to turn other teens on to country music through their CD, “Teens on a Mission,” released last July.

Four of the six members of The Springs have won accolades in Alabama FFA talent and band competitions.

Listen to their music and learn more about the band at www.myspace.com/ thespringsmusic and http://thesprings.us.

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FFA Back Talk

Former members Reflect

Judd

Ramsey Texas

Former member shares his FFA experience, from pigs to pharmaceuticals

Texas alumnus Judd Ramsey found his career path through FFA.

F

or as long as I live, I’ll never forget hearing the same words every morning at 6 a.m.

“Judd, it’s time to get up!” my mom would always shout.

I never could get excited about getting up at 6 in the morning to feed pigs. Nevertheless, I would stumble out of bed and go outside to feed.

It was a constant ritual that my dad and I had to do twice daily.

Although sometimes I felt like the pig raising interfered with my personal life, Saturday was my reward. Each Saturday, my dad and I would get up early to leave for a pig show. It was a thrilling experience – anything could happen that day!

20

FFA

NEW HORIZONS

You could win big. Or you could lose just as easily. The little things – feeding, brushing, watering and taking care of your pig – were evident in the show ring.

Showing pigs showed me that with hard work, you can accomplish your goals.

I applied that principle to my schoolwork and everything else in my life, and because of it, I was able to attend college for nearly no cost. That’s one way FFA has impacted my life; it has allowed me to gain life skills that have prepared me for the future.

I will admit, though, that I’ve struggled with deciding on my future career. My high school agriculture teacher once asked if I’d considered being a pharmacist. I’d never even considered this career path, but it made sense. Through raising and showing pigs, I had learned about vaccinations and medicines, and I enjoyed that aspect of the swine business.

The thought began to fascinate me, and before long, I seriously considered it as a career option. Shortly thereafter, I applied for a pharmacy technician job, and after working there for a while, realized it’s the job for me. I’m now a student at Texas A&M University – Commerce and working toward a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Upon graduation, I plan to attend Texas Tech University pharmacy school.

I’m very thankful for my FFA experience.

It has allowed me to raise show animals and gain valuable life skills. Without these, I would not have been able to succeed in my current job, college work and in my quest for my future career.

It’s crazy to think of pigs and pills in the same thought, but the whole concept of that phrase has changed my life.

ffanewhorizons.org Click on In This Issue for more interviews with former FFA members.

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