June 2009, FFA New Horizons

Sam Cantwell successfully juggles three varsity sports and FFA

ways to settle a squabble

Create a profi le. Add friends. Start a group. Voice your opinions.

NEW HORIZONST H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N A T I O N A L F F A O R G A N I Z A T I O N | J u n e 2 0 0 9

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Believe it or not, it’s already time to start planning for the

82nd National FFA Convention. Check in at ffanewhorizons.org for the

latest news and announcements about the upcoming convention.

Brittany Dale, Broken Bow,

Okla.

Go online to submit your FFA experiences.

“I WOULD LIKE A

STORY WRITTEN ABOUT

MY FFA ADVISORS. THEY ARE

TRUE GIVERS AND GREAT

TEACHERS!”

Discussions“Anyone do the essay writing contest?”

Brigitte

Log in to FFA Nation to respond.

WEB POLL

Which animal

is the coolest?

Pigs

Sheep

Cattle

Goats

Chickens

Thanks to FFA Nation user caseitmanfor creating this poll.

Check out the newest additions to the FFA Nation homepage. You can now watch FFA videos, read the national officer blogs, and learn more about upcoming FFA events and activities.

26.8%

9.4%

46.5%

12.6%

4.7%

On the CoverSam Cantwell, Vadnais Heights, Minn. Photo By J. Kyle Keener

2 ScrapbookRead news, jokes and more.

4 FFA FacesLearn about members’ achievements.

6 National Officer Q & AMeet Vice President Hannah Crossen.

16 Healthy LifestylesFind tips for settling a squabble.

17 What’s HotDiscover some new agricultural technologies.

18 What’s OnMeet FFA members and musicians, The Springs.

20 Back TalkTexas alumnus Judd Ramsey tells his FFA story.

For the Love of LandscapingCultivate a future career in horticulture.

Perfect BalanceSam Cantwell successfully juggles three varsity sports and FFA.

8 cover story

12

The magazine of the National FFA OrganizationNEW HORIZONSFFA

®

Volume 55 Number 5

JULIE WOODARD Editorial Director KIM NEWSOM Managing Editor JOYCE CARUTHERS Copy Editor JESSY YANCEY Associate Editor ANDREA BLOOM, CHRIS HAYHURST, Contributing Writers JESSICA MOZO, RYAN VADEN KEITH HARRIS Creative Director BRIAN McCORD Senior Photographer JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, Staff Photographers ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER CHRISTINA CARDEN Associate Production Director MELISSA HOOVER, Production Project Managers KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT LAURA GALLAGHER, CANDICE SWEET, Senior Graphic Designers VIKKI WILLIAMS ERICA HINES, AMY NELSON Graphic Designers JESSICA CHILDS, MARCIA MILLAR, Ad Traffic PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY GARY SMITH Distribution Director ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ Web Project Managers FRANCO SCARAMUZZA Web Design Director CARL SCHULZ Web Designers JENNIFER GRAVES Web Production TWILA ALLEN Color Imaging Technician KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL FFA Communications RAY LANGEN Executive Vice President CARLA H. THURMAN Sr. V.P./Sales CASEY E. HESTER Sr. V.P./Operations MARK FORESTER V.P./Visual Content TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./Editorial Director NATASHA LORENS Production Director JEFFREY S. OTTO Photography Director BETH MURPHY 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 [email protected].

2008-09 National FFA Officers PAUL MOYA, NM President NESSIE EARLY, CA Secretary HANNAH CROSSEN, OH Eastern Region Vice President LAILA HAJJI, OK Central Region Vice President REGINA HOLLIDAY, GA Southern Region Vice President RILEY BRANCH, TX Western Region Vice President

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 [email protected]. 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.

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Copyright© 2009 by the National FFA Organizationand 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.

1FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

June 2009 Contents

Supply ServiceNebraska’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

[email protected].

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.

Just Joking

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

[email protected] or go to www.ffa.org,

click on Award Programs and then

Agri-Entrepreneurship.

2 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

FFA scrapbook Express yourself

FYIYOUR 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.

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 Tell Us.

Or, send to:

FFA New Horizons

P.O. Box 68960

Indianapolis, IN 46268

[email protected]

Making Her MarkMeet 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.

He’s a Fast TalkerDon’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.

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.


OH

AL

AK MO

KS

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 entre-

preneurship and equine science SAEs. She has also competed in

the poultry evaluation, livestock evaluation, agronomy and dairy

cattle CDEs.

Megan BooneChapter: Prairie View FFA

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.

Reese VannChapter: Lampasas FFA

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.

Steven McGinleyChapter: Maysville 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.

Cathryn ClarkChapter: Northridge 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.

Brianna GuestChapter: Geraldine 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).

Corinne OgleChapter: Homer FFA

– Andrea Bloom

Create Describe NominateGo 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.

TX


FFA Faces

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

Questions? E-mail [email protected].

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.

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 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.”

National FFA Eastern Region Vice President

CrossenHannah

ffanewhorizons.org

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

FYIHANNAH’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


FFA National Officer Q & A

Cover Story

Q

Q

As 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 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 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 small-

acreage 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.

Sophomore Sam Cantwell successfully juggles three varsity sports and FFA

BalancePerfectStory By Chris Hayhurst

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.



Cover Story

Q

Q

Q

QYou also play basketball, 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.

What other interests 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

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 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 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.


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

LandscFor the Love of

Cultivate a career in horticulture

ffanewhorizons.org

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


In most cases, you spend the

majority of the day outside. You

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

taste of the job during high school.

They land part-time work with a

local lawn- or tree-care crew, and

spend summers wielding shovels,

apingStory By Chris Hayhurst

ANTO

NY

BOSH

IER


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.

Career ResourcesFor 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.

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


Now What?Resolving conflicts isn’t rocket science

– but it sure can be hard to do

There’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

I’m Angry … 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.

1. 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?

2. 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.

3. 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?

4. 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


FFA healthy lifestyles Conflict Resolution

The Ethanol EdgeNicholas 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.

1886was the year of the

first ice cream cone,

served and eaten in

New York City.

Source: www.agday.org

On the Cutting EdgeWarren 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.

what’s hot in science White Could Be

the New YellowWhile 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.


Cool stuff to know FFA What's hot

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.

web music

From FFA to 33Miles

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.


FFA What's on media buzz

Get Your TV Online

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.

tvmusicbooks

Cowboy Book With a Cause

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 confi dence,

has another Willmon connection

– his mother, Billie Jenkin, is

the author. The book is

available on a three-CD set.

For more information, visit

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.


Texas alumnus Judd Ramsey found his career path through FFA.

For 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!

RamseyFormer Texas member shares his FFA experience, from pigs to pharmaceuticals

Judd 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.


FFA Back Talk Former members Reflect

Documents

June 2009, FFA New Horizons