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Feature Article from The Whitewater Press - Holiday / Winter 2010 www.thewhitewaterpress.com By Jason Stanton Whitewater FFA Reporter
What is FFA?
The FFA operates on local, state and national levels. Student members belong to chapters organized at the local school level. Agricultural education instructors serve as chapter advisors. Chapters are organized under state associations headed by an advisor and executive secretary, often employees of the state department of education. States conduct programs and host annual conventions.
Founded in 1928, the former “Future Farmers of America” brought together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education.
The Wisconsin FFA Association was founded in 1929.
The Whitewater FFA has been hard at work the past year. FFA members competed in many activities including Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth County Fairs. A few members also competed at state level and the national level. The members have worked hard on their projects through last winter and this past summer.
The meat animals were sold at any one of the county fair meat animal sales. Now is the time of the year when FFA members go at it again in getting the animals they will be devoting their life to for the next 12 months. Members not only take care of animals but also spend time working on their business, speaking and leadership skills. We had teams participate in Job interview, Creed Speaking, and also a Parliamentary Procedure team at the district level. Whitewater will get the chance to hold this event at our school on February 8, 2011.
Our members have been involved with many activities in the community which has been beneficial to all. Some of the activities we are doing are delivering The Whitewater Press to all the homes in town, teaching younger kids about farm animals, and adboting a family for Christmas. These are only a few of the things we do in our community. We also do a lot with our Alumni who are an amazing asset to us. These people who sponsor some of our students, so they can participate in opportunities such as; Washington Leadership Conference, National Convention, and others.
Our Washington Leadership Conference involves a student traveling to Washington DC. We represent FFA by wearing our entire official dress uniform, which includes; black dress pants for males, black pencil skirt that is long enough to be close to your knees for females, white button up dress shirt, and the official corduroy jacket with the FFA emblem. When students attend Conference, they do community services such as clean rivers, pick cabbage and build fences, all in surrounding states outside of the DC area. One of the activities they experienced was a dinner where attendees learned what it is like to live day to day with little food, maybe only a bowl of rice to eat. People come from all over the United States to meet with others, to make a difference and pass what is learned along when they return home to their chapters.
In order for us to maintain this organization, we do a lot within our school and student body. Our advisor, Mr. Majors, has taught all of our students you have the chance to make a difference and it’s a choice that is only yours.
Upcoming events for the Whitewater FFA include:
Deliver The Whitewater Press: November 14
Fruit Sale: Sheets due November 30
If you need fruit, please call 262-472-8177
District Speaking Contests: Whitewater – Feb 8
National FFA Week Celebration: February 19-26 2011
FFA Alumni Toy Show Set-Up: Whitewater High School--Feb 26
FFA Bowling: Hawk Bowl-- Feb 26
FFA Alumni Farm Toy Show: Whitewater High School - Feb. 27th, 9:00a–3:00 p
Donkey Basketball: Whitewater High School, Tuesday March 8, 7:00 pm
District Career Development Events: Janesville – March 19
FFA Alumni Spaghetti Supper: Whitewater MPR-- April 5
Annual FFA Banquet: April 20
State Career Development Event: Madison – April 29
State FFA Convention: Madison – June 14-16
Chapter Officer Planning Camp: TBA
Jefferson County Fair: July 6-10
Rock County Fair: July 26-31
Walworth County Fair: August 31-September 5
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