The Antarctic Chapter

Overcoming a Frozen Chapter

By: Chase Roberts and Destiny Barthel

Opportunities Through the FFA

I believe one of the best ways to revive your chapter is to remind each member of the opportunities that are possible and available to them through the FFA.

BUILD THE FIRE IN YOUR CHAPTER AND KEEP IT BURNING.

Why Join FFA?Why Join FFA?

• What do you want to do in life?What do you want to do in life? CollegeCollege Technical SchoolTechnical School Work ForceWork Force

• Whatever your answer FFA has Whatever your answer FFA has opportunities for you!opportunities for you!

Career Development Events (CDE’sCareer Development Events (CDE’s))

• Opportunity for members to show their Opportunity for members to show their knowledge. knowledge.

• Most state winning CDE’s compete in the Most state winning CDE’s compete in the National Competition but some do not.National Competition but some do not.

• Pick a CDE and stick with it!!Pick a CDE and stick with it!!• Alabama FFA offers 19 CDE competitions.Alabama FFA offers 19 CDE competitions.• Quiz bowl is offered to 7Quiz bowl is offered to 7thth and 8 and 8thth grade members. grade members.• Creed speaking is offered to 7Creed speaking is offered to 7thth ,8 ,8thth, and 9, and 9thth

graders. graders.

Alabama Offered CDE’sAlabama Offered CDE’s• Agricultural Construction and Maintenance CDE• Agricultural Mechanics CDE• Compact Tractor Driving CDE (Central District Only) • Creed Speaking CDE • Extemporaneous Speaking CDE • Floriculture CDE• Forestry CDE • Horse Evaluation CDE • Land Evaluation CDE• Livestock CDE • Meats Evaluation CDE • Nursery-Landscape CDE • Parliamentary Procedure CDE• Poultry CDE Poultry CDE

Prepared Public Speaking Prepared Public Speaking CDE CDE

Quartet Contest Quartet Contest • Quiz Bowl Quiz Bowl • Safe Tractor Driving CDE Safe Tractor Driving CDE • String Band CDEString Band CDE

State FFA DegreeState FFA Degree• •How old do you have to be to get your state degree?• •What does it take to get your state degree?• • -Chapter Degree• -2 years Ag/ FFA• -Earned $1000/ 300 hours• -Leadership Ability• -5 activities above chapter level•Apply!!!

•Apply!!!!

District/State Star FarmerDistrict/State Star Farmer

• Offered to people applying for state degree.Offered to people applying for state degree.

• If you have an outstanding SAE… please If you have an outstanding SAE… please apply for District and State Star Farmer.apply for District and State Star Farmer.

• Allows “SAE Based” members to get Allows “SAE Based” members to get involved in the FFA Awards program and involved in the FFA Awards program and be recognized for their hard work. be recognized for their hard work.

SAE GrantsSAE Grants

• I have an SAE but I can’t afford to expand it!!

• These grants are easy to apply for and are $1000.00 each!

• Apply for one… applications open around mid-September and close around mid-November.

• You will get a letter around Christmas letting you know whether or not you won.

SAE Grant Award AreasSAE Grant Award Areas

• Agribuisness- 7 Grants• Animal Science- 31 Grants• Environmental/ Natural Resources- 7 Grants• Food Products/ Processing- 7 Grants• Plant Systems- 31 Grants• Power, Structural, and technical- 7 Grants• 90 grants= $90’000.00

Proficiency AwardsProficiency Awards

• I can now afford a GREAT SAE through an SAE grant… now what?

• Proficiency Award are SAE based awards.• Not solely judged on SAE.• FFA Participation also plays a large role.

Proficiency Award AreasProficiency Award Areas• Agricultural Communications Agricultural Communications • Agricultural Education Agricultural Education • Agricultural Mechanics Energy Systems Agricultural Mechanics Energy Systems • Agricultural Mechanics Fabrication and Design Agricultural Mechanics Fabrication and Design • Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Entrepreneurship/Placement Entrepreneurship/Placement • Agricultural Processing Agricultural Processing • Agricultural Sales – Agricultural Sales – Entrepreneurship/Placement Entrepreneurship/Placement • Agricultural Services Agricultural Services • Agriscience Research - Animals Systems Agriscience Research - Animals Systems • Agriscience Research - Integrated Systems Agriscience Research - Integrated Systems • Agriscience Research - Plant Systems Agriscience Research - Plant Systems • Beef Production – Beef Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement Entrepreneurship/Placement • Dairy Production – Dairy Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement Entrepreneurship/Placement • Diversified Agriculture Production Diversified Agriculture Production • Diversified Crop – Diversified Crop – Entrepreneurship/Placement Entrepreneurship/Placement • Diversified Horticulture Diversified Horticulture • Diversified Livestock Production Diversified Livestock Production • Emerging Agricultural Technology Emerging Agricultural Technology • Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management • Equine Science – Equine Science – Entrepreneurship/Placement Entrepreneurship/Placement

• Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production Vegetable ProductionFiber and/or Oil Crop Production Vegetable Production• Food Science and Technology Veterinary Science Food Science and Technology Veterinary Science • Forage Production Wildlife Management Forage Production Wildlife Management • Forest Management Forest Management • Fruit Production Fruit Production • Goat Production Goat Production • Grain Production – Grain Production – Entrepreneurship/ Placement Entrepreneurship/ Placement • Home and/or Community Development Home and/or Community Development • Landscape Management Landscape Management • Nursery Operations Nursery Operations • Outdoor Recreation Outdoor Recreation • Poultry Production Poultry Production • Sheep Production Sheep Production • Small Animal Production and Care Small Animal Production and Care • Specialty Animal Production Specialty Animal Production • Specialty Crop Production Specialty Crop Production • Swine Production – Swine Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement Entrepreneurship/Placement • Turf Grass Management Turf Grass Management

Future Farmer/Agribuisnessman Future Farmer/Agribuisnessman of the yearof the year

• Any dues paying FFA member below the Any dues paying FFA member below the age of 22 can apply for this award.age of 22 can apply for this award.

• Usually requires an OUTSTANDING Usually requires an OUTSTANDING SAE!!SAE!!

• Requires a PowerPoint no longer than 5 Requires a PowerPoint no longer than 5 minutes and less than 20 pictures. minutes and less than 20 pictures.

Washington Leadership Conference (WLC)Washington Leadership Conference (WLC)

• WLC is an amazing opportunity that truly WLC is an amazing opportunity that truly sets you apart from the competition.sets you apart from the competition.

• Pick one of six week long sessions. Pick one of six week long sessions.

• Mr. Gary Aycock, Albertville FFA Advisor, Mr. Gary Aycock, Albertville FFA Advisor, takes a annul trip every year. takes a annul trip every year.

• Can be expensive but talk to you county Can be expensive but talk to you county Cattleman's Association, Cattlewomen's Cattleman's Association, Cattlewomen's Association, Farmers Federation, and Association, Farmers Federation, and ALFA Young Farmers.ALFA Young Farmers.

National FFA ConventionNational FFA Convention

• 55,000 people attend every year.55,000 people attend every year.

• The career show is an excellent opportunity The career show is an excellent opportunity to learn about colleges, scholarships and to learn about colleges, scholarships and other agriculturally related events. other agriculturally related events.

• Many members attend and don’t know the Many members attend and don’t know the opportunities that are offered there.opportunities that are offered there.

• What are these unknown opportunities? What are these unknown opportunities?

National FFA Courtesy CorpNational FFA Courtesy Corp

• Registration opens in August.

• When you register, it gives you the option to pick which location and which session you want to be in charge of.

• Register early and you can pick an important session… proficiency award session, the CDE session, Ect.

National Leadership Dinner/WLC ReunionNational Leadership Dinner/WLC Reunion

• If you attended WLC… this an opportunity If you attended WLC… this an opportunity for you to visit with the friends you made for you to visit with the friends you made and talk with the facilitators.and talk with the facilitators.

• If you didn’t attend WLC… still go! It If you didn’t attend WLC… still go! It looks good on applications.looks good on applications.

• And it gives you a reason to break away And it gives you a reason to break away from your chapter.from your chapter.

Joint Leadership Development Conference (JLDC)Joint Leadership Development Conference (JLDC)

• Not just a FFA conference but for all Career Not just a FFA conference but for all Career and Technical Organizations.and Technical Organizations.

• This includes FBLA, DECA, HOSA, This includes FBLA, DECA, HOSA, FCCLA, Ect. FCCLA, Ect.

• Excellent opportunity to ask District and Excellent opportunity to ask District and State FFA Officers questions.State FFA Officers questions.

ALFA Youth Leadership ConferenceALFA Youth Leadership Conference

• Again not an FFA conference, (although Again not an FFA conference, (although many are FFA members) but for youth many are FFA members) but for youth interested in agriculture.interested in agriculture.

• Held in Columbiana, Alabama at the Held in Columbiana, Alabama at the Alabama 4-H Center. Alabama 4-H Center.

• Your county ALFA Young Farmers will Your county ALFA Young Farmers will generally pay for attendancegenerally pay for attendance

• If not payed for, the cost is around If not payed for, the cost is around $150.00. $150.00.

A Successful FFA Chapter

As each member begins to realize his or her opportunities through the FFA they are more likely to become involved.

As a chapters members become more and more involved there are a few essentials that they must complete in order to perform successfully and accomplish great things in their chapter and association.

Essentials of a Successful Chapter

FFA Knowledge- all should know history, functions, and opportunities in order to fully reap the benefits of the organization.

Diversity of Membership- agriculture students and FFA members should be representatives of the whole student body and can receive a much broader group of community support.

All Members Share Responsibilities- the more people that are active and cooperative the more successful a chapter will be.

Capable Officers- students elected must have the talent and dedication necessary to lead the chapter.

Challenging POA- a chapter should set goals to fully utilize its members talents.

Workable Constitution and Bylaws- should provide structure to organize a chapter but allow flexibility.

Proper Equipment and Records- chapter should have equipment necessary for members to keep proper records and work efficiently.

Well Planned, Regularly Had, Chapter Meetings- monthly meetings with planned agendas are necessary for proper transaction of business and chapter unity.

Adequate Financing- Fundraising projects are essential in FFA to fund growth and activities.

School and Community Support- the chapter must strive to meet the needs of the community and work with the school system in which it operates.

The End