Vol. 20, Issue 1 • Winter 2015

NEW VISIONSTM

The Of f icial Newsletter of the National FFA Alumni Association

Convention Re-Cap

Williston Alumni

Officer team puts on alumni blazer pg. 9

Showcasing a winning tradition pg. 4

FULL PAGE ADFULL PAGE AD

FFA New Visions 1

CONTENT

New Visions is prepared and published by the National FFA Alumni Association as an affi liate of the National FFA Organizationin cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education as a service to state and local agricultural education agencies.

2 Lett er from the President

3 Member Perspective

4 A Winning Tradition

6 Speak Up to Slow Down

8 News

9 National FFA Alumni Convention Re-Cap

10 Champions of Change

12 Achieve More through FFA.org

14 10 Visions of Innovation

17 Regional Development Conferences

20 Resources

Editor Katy MumawContributing Writers Jada Buchanan Joshua RuskGraphic Designer Dimitri MorsonNational FFA Alumni Director Tony SmallNational FFA Alumni Association President Dan Classen

Contact alumni@ffa.org with requests and questions.Visit www.FFA.org/alumni for National FFA Alumni Council information.

VisionThe vision of the National FFA Alumni Association is to be the premier cham-pions for agriculture, agricultural education and FFA.

MissionThe mission of the National FFA Alumni Association is to support and advocate for agricultural education and FFA through gifts of time, talent and fi nancial resources at the local, state and national levels.

Mailing AddressNational FFA Alumni AssociationP.O. Box 68960 6060 FFA DriveIndianapolis, IN 46268

2 FFA New Visions

As we ring in the New Year, it is an exciting time for FFA alumni. We continue to polish and tweak ex-isting programs to better adapt to changes needed to transition and modernize agricultural education and FFA. With this membership year, we rolled out a new tool for your toolbox, the affi liation program. This new program is designed to provide local affi liates with the opportunity to gift all of their mem-bers with annual memberships to the National FFA Alumni Association at one low price, keeping more dollars at the local level where they are needed. Simply put, for $100 a local affi liate can have as many annual members sign up as alumni as they recruit and all members will be nationally affi liated. If you have questions on how your affi liate can be a part of the affi liation program, contact the National FFA Alumni Association, 317-802-4204, or any National FFA Alumni Council member for details.

I would also like to request that each alumni affi liate keep a record of the volunteer hours and contributions their members provide to support the local program. This can be completed by having the local affi liate representative visit FFA.org, go to their local affi liate page on Manage My FFA, and report the information in the Alumni Affi liate Impact section. Each hour an alumni volunteer contributes is estimated to be worth $22.50 per hour. The information can be recorded by event or annually; it’s important that the data is captured and recorded. Don’t forget to count the hours people prepare food at home or get ready for big events.

The time, talent and resources can be helpful in showing communities the support alumni members provide to strengthen local programs. When all local affi liate hours are combined, imagine the impact the data can have. These numbers will continue to show individual and corporate donors the impact local contributions provide to sustain agricultural education and FFA for the future.

Remember you didn’t have to wear the blue jacket to wear the blue blazer. I didn’t!

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Dan Classen President, National FFA Alumni Association

DAN CLASSENPresident, National FFA Alumni Association

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

FFA New Visions 3

By Ryan Best, New Mexico“I believe that the life of service is the life that counts; that happiness endures to mankind when it comes from having helped lift the burdens of others.” The fourth paragraph of the New Farmers of America Creed is perhaps my favorite piece of FFA literature. In one simple line, we are given a direc-tive of service which, at its core, is promoting the well-being of others through active engagement and support. The word “engage” by defi nition implies involvement. I have come to appreciate the involvement val-ued by members of the National FFA Alumni Association as they seek to support teachers, improve programs, and ultimately help students learn, grow and achieve. Over the past two years, I have been fortunate to have a fi rst-hand account of the impassioned National FFA Alumni Council as they have sought to improve students’ agricultural education experience. The national alumni association is committed to seeing students succeed.

Prior to attending the National FFA Alumni Development Conference in Bozeman, Mont., in 2012, I had a narrow view of the support an alumni affi liate could offer an FFA chapter. I came to that alumni conference with the idea that the role of an FFA alumni affi liate was that of a fundraiser or, for lack of a better term, a booster club. I could not have been more wrong.

I participated in conferences and sessions that showed me that FFA alumni serves a much greater purpose than simply raising money for local chapters. It is a support system that is dedicated to seeing students gain a well-rounded experience. They are there to offer advice for career development event teams and supervised agricultural experience programs. They are there to help teach concepts and give of their time and expertise. They are there to see our members continue to be the best of the best of American youth. When we limit our expectations of someone or something, we are in turn limiting our ability to embrace the potential they hold. By stepping back and seeing the national alumni association for the full potential it holds, I have gained a new appreciation for the role it plays in the success of the National FFA Organization and its members. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the council, and I am excit-ed to continue my involvement as a lifetime member where I can continue “the life that counts.”

MEMBER PERSPECTIVE

By Liz Treptow, TexasAs an FFA advisor in Weimar, Texas, I constantly share with our FFA members the importance of giving back to those who have given us so much. Consequently, our chapter members organize and participate in a number of community service activities during the year. This belief is also an import-ant reason why our FFA members join our alumni affi liate after graduation in order to give back to FFA by coaching teams, sharing their post-graduate experiences and serving as volunteers and mentors.

Attending a parochial school growing up, I was not afforded the opportunity to join FFA in high school. For me, attending the National FFA Convention & Expo is an awe-inspiring event. Even after 30-plus conventions, I still come away feeling recharged after swimming in that sea of blue corduroy.

“A highlight for any of our alumni members is to serve as a delegate at the National FFA Alumni Convention. This is an amazing opportunity to meet Larry Case!”. Most importantly it is an amazing opportunity to make a difference within the organization. National alumni convention delegates vote on issues and affect change. There are elections, a roll call and a real use of parliamentary procedure.

I feel blessed that three of our 2014 Weimar FFA American FFA Degree recipients were able to attend the alumni convention as alumni members and delegates. While they had been to a number of FFA conventions at the area, state and national levels, this was the fi rst time they had the opportunity to serve as national delegates and witness the implementation. It was amazing to see their excitement as they realized that they were playing a part in affecting change, that their vote really did count!

Do I have fun at the national alumni convention? Absolutely, especially when it falls on Halloween! Do I feel like I am making a differ-ence? Indubitably! Do I know that it is important to give back in some way to those who impacted my life? Without a doubt!

4 FFA New Visions

“The alumni is our support financially and physically, 100 percent of the time,” Natalie Couey, agriculture educator at Williston Middle School, said. “I’ve been involved in other programs, and I’ve never seen anything like it before. A request has never been denied; they are amazing!”

Recognized at the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo, the Willis-ton FFA Alumni Affiliate was named the 2014 Outstanding Alumni Affiliate.

“We don’t tell our members ‘no.’ Where there is a will, there is way,” Camille King-Thompson, the president of Williston FFA Affiliate, said. “The alumni affiliate has the money and resources to help them do just about anything they set their hearts on.”

Both the educators at Williston and the 102 alumni affiliate mem-bers know this award was a team effort and are proud of the nation-al recognition.

To King-Thompson and her sister Emily King, who is the vice presi-dent of the affiliate, winning is a big tradition. Their involvement in FFA began when King-Thompson’s children were in middle school.

“One of my children is dyslexic, and he found agricultural education and FFA to be a place where he could succeed,” King-Thompson said. “So it was only a natural fit for us to get involved.”

The sisters reminisce that though FFA has been a great experience for many members of their family, they themselves were not able to be in FFA when they were in high school. At the time if girls want-ed to contribute they were allowed to serve at the annual banquet. How times have changed.

“We love FFA and see the benefit for our kids, for all kids, from pro-duction to leadership. You can’t beat it,” King-Thompson said.

Williston alumni members accredit the award to hard work and in-novative ideas. Both sisters are educators themselves and spend co-pious time together. Great ideas come as they are chatting or doing just about anything.

“As ambassadors for FFA it comes up in discussion a lot and since we grew up in the community and teach in the community, we know our resources. This helps in recruiting and retaining mem-bers,” King said.

The advisors are open and supportive of their activities, King added. They have a great working relationship. It is important to remember that alumni members are support, not the educator’s boss.

Williston alumni hosted a cattle showmanship clinic where 40 FFA members learned showmanship tips and techniques.

A WINNING TRADITIONWilliston FFA Affiliate honored with 2014 Outstanding Alumni Affiliate.

By Katy Mumaw

Williston Alumni received the Outstanding Alumni Affiliate award at the 2014 National FFA Alumni Convention.

FFA New Visions 5

“It means a lot to see the leaders of our community supporting FFA,” Couey said. “Students see parents, teachers, political figures and all types of community members supporting them.”

King adds, “We are very fortunate in Levy County to have leaders who value agricultural education. Many of these leaders are sup-portive and approachable members of the alumni.”

One such event was the agriculture showcase at the Williston Pea-nut Festival. With more than 3,500 visitors to the festival, the alumni affiliate had the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of ag-riculture by making butter and discussing livestock usage and how technology has increased productivity with hands-on games and activities. The alumni worked with FFA members to promote agri-cultural education and the industry of agriculture.

“We work right beside the members on projects. It is a great dynam-ic; they get to know us and get a new perspective from someone older and form great mentor relationships,” King-Thompson said.

Alumni may be more knowledgeable about a specific topic; allow the specialists to help and take control of team practices, events, etc. But it’s not all about “work” either. The affiliate hosted an alum-ni social during FFA Week to keep alumni energetic about giving back. Fifty-five alumni members attended.

The sisters and other alumni take advantage of growth opportuni-ties. “It is important to go to alumni state retreats and regional train-

ings; you get a lot of information from working with other folks,” King-Thompson said.

“One goal of ours and a great goal for other affiliates is to get new parents involved. Many times alumni members have been in the community and involved in agriculture since birth. Getting first-time FFA parents involved keeps the affiliate vibrant,” Couey said.

The affiliate has helped other affiliates in the area fill out their out-standing alumni applications and looks forward to the friendly ri-valries. “At Williston we love the competition and know the more we have the better we will become,” King said. “When you work hard it is nice to see it recognized and we set the example of Living to Serve.”--

Advice from the 2014 Outstanding Alumni Affiliate: You don’t have to have worn the blue jacket. Do you support agriculture? Then you belong. Do you support kids? Then you belong. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t get wrapped up in the business of alumni; socialize. Discover others’ strengths. Build relationships.

Sisters Camille King-Thompson and Emily King work with students and community members.

6 FFA New Visions

SPEAK UP TO SLOW DOWNA Wisconsin FFA program sets out to save lives.

Waupun FFA has developed the campaign Speak Up to Slow Down. They have delivered the campaign statewide, at the Wisconsin State FFA Convention and even presented at the National FFA Con-vention & Expo.

In 2012 there was a horrific car accident in a neighboring commu-nity. Nine teenage girls were involved. Three of them passed away, and the others sustained injuries. In this tragedy speed was the main factor.

The agriculture educator was approached by Greg Burmeister, a video producer from 401 Productions, with the idea to make a video that educated teens and adults alike, encouraging them to Speak Up to Slow Down.

Five months after the accident the victims’ families embraced the idea of doing the video to save lives. Since then the Waupun FFA has been presenting in schools and asking students to sign a 3 Angles Pledge. The pledge asks students to take responsibility and pledge:

• To speak up to slow down. • To understand that I am responsible for everyone in my vehicle. • To understand that my choices impact more than me. • To share this message with everyone I care about.

“When the video is shown, there is never a lack of engagement,” Tari Costello, agriculture educator at Waupun High School, said. “Every teen and adult realizes it could have been them.”

The chapter’s alumni affiliate helps spread the word and empowers the members to help others speak up to slow down.

Visit www.speakuptoslowdown.com to view the video.

Contact ffaalumni@ffa.org for more information.

FFA New Visions 7

8 FFA New Visions

NEWS

FFA Alumni Affiliation Tax Filing InformationThe 2014 National FFA Tax Year ended on Dec. 31, 2014, which means that unless your affiliate requested a different tax year when applying for your EIN number, you need to begin thinking about submitting your 990 tax form. The form is due every year by the 15th of the fifth month after the close of your tax year. If you follow the National FFA Alumni Association’s tax year, your form will be due by May 15, 2015. For more information visit FFA.org/alumni.

2015 National FFA Alumni Development Conference During these cold winter months just think to yourself how nice it will be at the 2015 FFA Alumni National Development Conference! Mark your calendars today so you are ready to go in July. For more information, a tentative schedule and registration can be found at FFA.org under the FFA Alumni Development tab. Dates of the conference: July 8-11 Location: Raleigh, N.C. at Doubletree by Hilton RaleighBrownstone-University Hotel Online registration will be available in April.

2015 Regional FFA Alumni DevelopmentConference DatesIn 2014 two Regional FFA Alumni Development Conferences were presented. For 2015, there will tentatively be five conferences. These conferences will be spread evenly throughout the United States, giving all FFA alumni members an opportunity for this one-of-a-kind professional development. Visit FFA.org/alumni for dates, lo-cations, registrations and more. #FFAadc15

Big Data Needed to Move ForwardThe National FFA Alumni Council and FFA staff identified an in-

creased need for data collection to more effectively provide factual information. The outcomes of the data will increase advocacy at lo-cal, state and national levels. The data will provide a broader look at the volunteers and total dollars provided to sustain and grow local programs and students. For more information on how you can make data collection a success, visit FFA.org/alumni.

New Website Information National FFA launched a new website mid-February. The FFA brand reflected on the pages has been refreshed. Though it looks differ-ent, we hope that it will be easier to navigate, more personalized and offer a great experience for all stakeholders. Visit FFA.org and login using your Agricultural Career Network credentials. If you have never logged in to AgCN, create an account and begin your journey to achieve more, through FFA.

Social MediaHave you connected with other FFA alumni members on social me-dia yet? Connect today by joining in the conversations on Facebook and Twitter. Use the hashtags below to group your conversations with others who share the same interests. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ffaalumniTwitter: www.twitter.com/ffa_alumni Hashtags: #FFAalumni #goFFA BarefootBarefoot Athletics has more than 15 different new apparel options geared toward FFA alumni. You can get the new designs on several kinds of clothing: polo shirts, hooded sweatshirts, T-shirts and more. Check out all of the great options at www.barefootathletics.com.

ALUMNI NEWSStay connected with the FFA alumni.

FFA New Visions 9

The 2014 National FFA Alumni Convention was a huge success. This year it was hard to find an event that did not have an FFA alumni member present. FFA alumni members volunteered more this year than ever before with more than 100 volunteer shifts being filled. They helped in areas such as Career Success Tours, the information-al booths, hypnotist shows, the FFA Dance, the FFA Mega Store and the alumni booth on the National FFA Expo floor.

AwardsSeveral FFA alumni awards were presented on Thursday, Oct. 30. All results are listed on FFA.org/alumni. Here are the affiliates that took home top honors: Outstanding Achievement AwardVirginia “Vergie” Damp—Gillett, Wis.Jason Damron—Ostrander, OhioTammy Goddard—Denmark, Wis

Website AwardFirst Place Overall: Ohio FFA Alumni

Newsletter AwardFirst Place Overall: Denmark FFA Alumni, Wisconsin

Outstanding AffiliateFrist Place Overall: Williston FFA Alumni, FloridaTo see all results and other major awards visit FFA.org/alumni.

Yamaha Viking GiveawaySince the spring of 2014 FFA alumni members have been updating their AgCN profiles, making them eligible for a donated new Ya-maha Viking. Five lucky FFA alumni members were invited to the alumni auction during convention to draw a key to the Viking, but only one key started it. The lucky winner was Kaitlyn Benjamin of Massachusetts. Congratulations! History in the MakingDuring the closing session of the convention and expo, the National FFA Officer Team made history! It is always a tradition for the team to take off and hang their FFA jackets for the last time onstage. This team had a different plan. The team expressed earlier in the year how important moving on to the National FFA Alumni Association was to them. They wanted to set the stage for other students to do the same. What better way to set that example than during the last session. Once the team hung up their jackets, they then grabbed

their new official FFA alumni blazers and put them on while still on-stage, demonstrating to all FFA members that their FFA career is not over when they hang up their blue corduroy. We want to thank Bri-an, Steven, Mitch, Jackson, Wes and Jason for their year-long ser-vice and dedication to the National FFA Organization and for their commitment to promoting and demonstrating the importance and impact that FFA alumni can have on lifetime ambassadors.

Business SessionDuring the general membership business session several updates were given by the National FFA Alumni Council and national FFA staff. No votes were taken during this session. If you weren’t able to attend the business session and would like information on what was discussed, contact your council representative or a member of the national alumni staff.

National FFA Alumni CouncilThe council said goodbye to Ryan Best (Portales, N.M.), past nation-al officer representative; Anita Schneider (WaKeeny, Kan.), past na-tional alumni president; Andrea Stevenson (Christmas, Fla.), coun-cil member at-large; and Bonnie Kegler (Mansfield Center, Conn.), NAAE representative. These retiring council members will be great-ly missed; thank you for your service.

The alumni association welcomed Brian Walsh (Woodstock, Va.), past national officer representative; William Carlson (Hotchkiss, Colo.), Region II vice president; and Mark Milby (Eldersburg, Md.), Region VI vice president to the council. Larry Case, Ph.D. (Freder-icksburg, Va.) made the transition from council member at-large to president-elect. We look forward to the next three years as Dr. Case helps lead this association in mobilizing legions of volunteers to make lasting impacts on the local, state and national levels.

NATIONAL FFA ALUMNICONVENTION RE-CAP

Highlights of the 2014 convention.

10 FFA New Visions

This past summer the White House and U.S. Department of Agri-culture honored 15 local “Champions of Change.” These champions are leaders from across the country who are doing extraordinary things for the next generation of farming and ranching. Leading in their industries and communities, these individuals inspire others who want to find careers and a life on the land, providing food, fiber, fuel and flora around the world.

The program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals, businesses and organizations doing extraor-dinary things to empower and inspire members of their com-munities. The majority of those recognized as champions are former FFA members like Quint Pottinger of New Haven, Ky.

Pottinger is the owner of Affini-ty Farms, a mixed row-crop and herb farm in Kentucky. He is a lifetime alumni member who started his career in FFA as a freshman at LaRue County High School. In 2008-09 he was the Kentucky FFA state president.

Majoring in agricultural eco-nomics, he pursued his ed-ucation at the University of Kentucky. Upon graduation Pottinger connected with vari-ous agriculture groups in Ken-tucky, including the Kentucky Farm Bureau Young Farmers, Kentucky Corn Growers, and Kentucky Soybean Association. Pottinger currently sits on the Kentucky Soybean Association board, serving in a leadership education capacity and has just start-ed a year of service with the Corn Farmers Coalition.

He believes his attendance at New Century Famer, a national FFA conference, was the perfect path for him to get involved in the in-dustry and his community. “After attending New Century Farmer I became an ambassador of the Kentucky soybean board and con-nected to my own community in new ways.”

He received a call one day while digging a tile ditch that he had been nominated for the White House Champions of Change. Two months later he found himself in Washington, D.C., representing

the work ethic and passion of farmers across the country.

“Being a part of the Champions of Change was a humbling expe-rience and gave me a chance to put a positive face on the farmer.”

Pottinger and his wife, Leah, started to grow vegetables to take to a farmers market so they could get that one-on-one interaction with the consumer, network and share the story of agriculture. “Leah doesn’t come from an agricultural background so she brings a lot to the table,” he said. “She asks great questions, bringing to light what

the majority of the population may be wondering about farm-ing and agriculture.”

One way the Pottingers give back is through the FFA alumni. “We want to give opportunities to more members,” Potting-er said. “We have developed a program to work closely with local FFA chapters and provide students with a chance to earn hours for their SAE and to put toward proficiency applica-tions.”

The Pottingers use education as the driving force, working with the school’s agriculture teach-er to use what students have learned in the classroom and apply it on the farm in a real-life situation.

One student the Pottingers hired graduated from military basic training camp and invited them to attend the graduation.

“It was awesome to see him succeed, applying the skills he learned through FFA and working on our farm and now using them in the military,” Pottinger said. This is just one success story of how this Champion of Change is inspiring the next generation.

To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program and nominate a champion, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

For more information on opportunities to support new and begin-ning farmers, visit www.usda.gov/newfarmers.

CHAMPIONS OF CHANGEFFA alumni recognized at the White House.

By Katy Mumaw

FFA New Visions 11

• Ryan and Tiffany Batalden, Lamberton, Minn.

• Bill Bridgeforth, National Black Growers Council, Tanner, Ala.

• Jake Carter, American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, McDonough, Ga.

• Kristin Fritz Kubiszak, MBG Marketing “The Blue berry People,” Paw Paw, Mich.

• Lee Haynes, Nature’s Best Egg Company, Inc., Cullman, Ala.

• Melinda Litvinas and Jacob Hunt, University of Delaware Creamery and Windy Brow Farms, Newark, Delaware and Newton, N.J.

• Lindsey Lusher Shute, National Young Farmers Coalition, Clermont, N.Y.

• Adam McClung, Executive Vice President, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Vilonia, Ark.

• Fabiola Nizigiyimana, Worcester, Mass.

• Quint Pottinger, owner of Affinity Farms, New Haven, Ky.

• Jesus Rodriguez, Chelan, Wash.

• Vena A-dae Romero, Cochiti Youth Experience, Cochiti Pueblo, N.M.

• Pierre Sleiman, founder and CEO of Go Green Agri- culture, Encinitas, Calif.

• Beth Tharp, Coatesville, Ind.

• Desiree Wineland, Cambridge, Neb.

Quint and Leah Pottinger represent agriculturalists at the local, state and national levels.

The majority of those recognized as Champions of Change are former FFA members:

12 FFA New Visions

By Katy Mumaw

1 NEW LOOK

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PERSONALIZED DASHBOARD

SINGLE SIGN-ON

DESIGNED FOR ANY DEVICE

MY JOURNEY

MANAGE MY FFA

INVESTIGATE CAREERS

The new FFA.org has a sleek, clean look and aims to shorten the time spent searching for specific information.

This dynamic tool follows you wherever you are on the site. A simple click at the top of the screen will pull down a dashboard, allowing you to sign in and then view information that is relevant to your role in FFA. The site gives you easy access to applications, registrations and timely information as the school year and FFA year progress.

Sign in one place to have access to your award applications, register for the convention and expo, shop for FFA gear and anything else you need from national FFA. One username, one password…endless opportunities.

Have you tried to view a site on your phone or tablet to find yourself scrolling left and right, zooming in and out—and taking “years” to read the page because of all the back and forth? View the new FFA.org on any device with ease. No matter the size of your screen, the site will flex for your viewing pleasure.

Just as teachers and alumni want to see students succeed and ac-tualize premier leadership, personal growth and career success, so does the national FFA. A new element to FFA.org, My Journey will help you Explore, Build and Connect to agricultural career opportu-nities and discover resources.

Find applications, rosters and registrations as well as how to change your password in this area of the new FFA.org. Get yourself orga-nized and keep your FFA life on track.

Take quizzes to point you in the right direction based on your per-sonality and interests. Explore careers, learn about the education it takes to be successful and possible job duties. Build a resume through the online Resume Generator, document your strengths and experiences and show the world you are the “sharpest tool in the shed.”

ACHIEVE MORE THROUGH FFA.ORG

8 ways the new FFA.org will help you become a better alumni affiliate.

The one-stop-shop, the go-to-thing…it doesn’t matter how you say it, but the new FFA.org is where it’s at. Launched in February, FFA.org is delivering the FFA mission online in a new way. It is also the hot spot for news, information and resources to help you achieve more through FFA alumni.

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Development work of My Journey has been funded in part by the following Cornerstone sponosors

as a special project of the National FFA Foundation: Cargil, Elanco, RFD-TV, TransCanada, Tyson and AgCareers.com.

SOCIAL SHARINGFind something interesting? Something you want to share with yourfriends or community on FFA.org? A new sharing feature is embed-ded in the page. Check it out, click/tap to share. Do your part in bei in being an advocate for FFA and agriculture education.

FFA New Visions 13

Psst...It’s here!YOUR NEW FFA ONLINE EXPERIENCE.

At FFA, we’re proud to say that when you talk, we listen. So thanks to you, we’ve been able to make some exciting new changes to FFA.org that will help improve your experience, all based on your feedback.

SINGLE SIGN-ONOne user account for all

FFA services.

PERSONAL DASHBOARD

(MY FFA) Easily reach the tools relevant

to your FFA role.

DESIGNED FOR ANY DEVICE

Built for desktop, tablet and mobile.

ENHANCED SEARCH

Find what you are looking for easily.

PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE

You will be recognized every time you return.

Hello!

EASY TO USE NAVIGATION

Streamlined page menu structure.

FRESH LOOK AND FEEL

Giving a new and clean look to FFA.org.

MY JOURNEYYour path to premier leadership,

personal growth and career success.

Achieve more. FFA.org.

FFA.org ®

14 FFA New Visions

FFA alumni are encouraged to focus their work into fi ve categories: business opera-tions for FFA alumni, FFA alumni member development, advocacy for agricultur-al education, agricultural education/FFA program development and student devel-opment. Activities in each of these areas help local members create a balance in the services, programs and events conducted throughout the year. Below are two exam-ples for each of the fi ve key areas. In each issue of New Visions we will highlight vi-sions of innovation; share your successes with us so that we can share with the rest of the association.

Business Operations for FFA Alumni

1. Put together certain committees for events, programs, activities, etc. that your FFA alumni affi liate facilitates. This will en-sure that not just one person is doing all the work. After a year, mix up the commit-tee members, giving all members multiple perspectives.

2. Invite an FFA member to every FFA alum-ni membership meeting. Give that student the opportunity to talk to the membership about why they are a member of FFA and what FFA does for them. This is a good time for FFA alumni members to remember why they are part of this association.

FFA Alumni Member Development

3. Conferences. The new Regional Devel-opment Conferences are a great way to learn all the information you will need to be a successful and engaged FFA alumni member. Check out page 17 for more infor-mation on these conferences.

4. From the Washington County FFA Alumni in Washington, Kan.: Students who achieve their State FFA Degree are eligible

for the “Plus 50” program. Students then pay $50 and the alumni pays the rest of their lifetime dues. Currently they have 223 Life Members.

FFA Alumni Member Development

5. The Klamath Basin FFA Alumni in Klam-ath Falls, Ore. partnered with the Henley FFA Chapter to purchase a heavy-duty, pop-up tent and various marketing mate-rials that include professionally made table coverings, tent-side panels with graphics and various FFA graphic fl ags. These mar-keting materials will be used to help with marketing their programs at various events such as their county fair, school events in which many deal with agricultural literacy and other FFA chapter fundraisers.

6. Wear FFA and FFA alumni gear–simple as that. When you are going to a public event, especially school activities, wear your fa-vorite “I Support Ag” shirt. This is a great conversation starter for that parent sitting behind you at the Friday night high school basketball game. This then gives you the opportunity to talk to them about how important agricultural education is to the students at the school.

Agricultural Education/FFA Program Development

7. Set up an FFA alumni scholarship. The scholarship could be provided by your FFA alumni affi liate to a graduating senior FFA member in the chapter that your affi liate supports. This scholarship could help with furthering their education as well as get-ting them involved in FFA alumni right af-ter high school. To raise the money for the scholarship your affi liate could fundraise or even add a small fee onto your local dues fees to cover the entire scholarship.

8. Set up agricultural professionals to come in and speak to the FFA chapter that your affi liate supports. Since more than likely your affi liate is made up of many commu-nity members, students could learn from their educational or professional experi-ences. Setting up these guest speakers will help your advisor out greatly.

Student Development 9. The Denmark FFA Alumni in Denmark, Wis., partners with their local FFA and Kids Against Hunger to package meals for local food pantries while teaching how food is packaged and signifi cantly impacts fam-ilies in need. A focus of this program is building a strong bond between communi-ty members and students while supporting their community needs. Alumni members want to make a real connection for the stu-dents to see that many people they know may be going hungry. They want to show students that hunger is not something that only happens in other countries or large cities but happens to students within their halls, their neighborhoods and in their own community.

10. Create a workshop for parliamenta-ry procedure. Have FFA alumni members participate so there are more examples to work with than just the FFA chapter’s ad-visor.

10 VISIONS OF INNOVATIONIdeas to bolster your alumni affi liate partnerships.

By Jada Buchanan

FFA New Visions 15FFA New Visions 15

16 FFA New Visions

FFA New Visions 17

Are you looking for opportunities to not only grow personally and professionally but also help grow your local and state alumni affi l-iates and take some of the workload off of your local agriculture educators? The National FFA Alumni Association is bringing profes-sional, personal and FFA alumni development to the masses!

Knowing that not everyone can attend our annual national events, we’re hitting the road to host Regional Development Conferences. These events are meant to engage individual members, local FFA alumni leaders, state FFA alumni leaders, agriculture educators and others involved with agricultural education.

The conferences are the perfect opportunity for you to attend a one-day workshop that allows for networking and socializing with fellow FFA alumni. You will also be able to share ideas and collect feedback to address obstacles, learning and training in areas of ad-vocacy, leadership, affi liate business operations and more. Packed with information, resources and professional/personal growth op-portunities, these conferences will help alumni members better un-derstand the impact they make on agricultural education and FFA.

“RDC presented the information we need-ed to hear and led the discussion to help us fi nd the solutions.” Ron Lynch, Region IV vice president, Illinois FFA District II representative and Cissna Park FFA Alumni member.

Today agricultural education is facing an alarming shortage of qual-ifi ed agricultural education instructors. Coupled with a retention problem, many communities are watching their local programs shrink or fold.

Now is our time as alumni members to step up and help take the workload off of the shoulders of our most important asset, the local agriculture educator/FFA advisor, so they can do what they do best–teach our students and produce an amazing crop of agriculturalists.

National FFA alumni encourages local alumni members to bring their local agricultural education instructors with them to these conferences in order to build the relationship necessary to make a successful local Team Ag. Ed. The day’s schedule is built around the fi ve quality indicators of the National FFA Alumni Quality Program Guide:

Members and their agricultural education instructors will work with state and national leaders to identify the roles of alumni and how to organize their affi liate to be the most supportive and productive. “RDC presented the information we needed to hear and led the dis-cussion to help us fi nd the solutions,” said Ron Lynch, Region IV vice president, Illinois FFA District II representative and Cissna Park FFA Alumni member.

Existing and new resources are provided along with training on the best method of using them and the impact they can make. The im-portance of being an “Ag”vocate in your daily lives and how to do that in this digital age are discussed along with the opportunity to work directly with other alumni members that have or are facing the same joys and discomforts as you.

Check www.FFA.org/alumni/events to fi nd the closest conference to you and join in the fun.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTCONFERENCES

Be part of the action at an RDC near you.

By Joshua Rusk, Partner Development Specialist, Alumni

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BUSINESS OPERATION FOR ALUMNI

FFA ALUMNI MEMBER DEVELOPMENT

ADVOCACY FOR AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION/FFA PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

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FFA New Visions 19

20 FFA New Visions

Alumni Affi liate Resources

Important Dates - Application and registration due dates.

National FFA Alumni Manual - National FFA Constitution and By-laws as well as everything you need to know about the alumni.

Starting a Local FFA Alumni Affi liate Handbook - Everything you need to get a new affi liate up and running.

Growing Quality: National FFA Alumni Quality Program Guide - Tool used to conduct an evaluation of the local FFA alumni member program and develop clear goals and objectives for program im-provement.

Alumni Affi liate Constitution and Bylaws - Sample outline that af-fi liates can use as a template.

New Visions - Electronic archive of all past issues.

Alumni Development Conference - Session materials and resourc-es (presentations and materials from past conferences.

Volunteer Resources

Volunteer Training - training modules that an affi liate can use to train their members.

National FFA Alumni Organizational Chart - organizational chart and structure handout to use with new members.

Volunteer Resource Inventory - Printable inventory sheet that alumni members can use to identify personal time, talents and re-sources available to their local agriculture educator.

Volunteer Resource Inventory (Excel) - Editable electronic invento-ry sheet that alumni members can modify and use to identify per-sonal time, talents and resources available to their local agriculture educator.

What Are Our Roles - Chart identifying the roles and daily respon-sibilities of the instructor/advisor and the alumni and how to the two can work together.

Chapter Request Form - Printable form that the local agricultural education program can use to make requests for the year to the alumni so that they can provide their time, talent, and resources and plan their yearly program of activities.

Chapter Request Form (Excel) - Editable electronic form that the lo-cal agricultural education program can use to make requests for the year to the alumni so that they can provide their time, talent, and resources and plan their yearly program of activities.

Affi liate Impact Excel Form - Printable form that alumni affi liates can use as a time sheet to record volunteer hours and funds raised at individual events and then input into FFA.org, Manage My FFA.

Affi liate Impact Excel Form (Excel) - Editable electronic form that alumni affi liates can use as a time sheet to record volunteer hours and funds raised at individual events and then input into FFA.org, Manage My FFA.

Ag Ed Org Chart - Organizational chart showing hierarchy of the organization in business terms and structure.

FFA ALUMNI RESOURCESIdeas to bolster your alumni affi liate partnerships.

RESOURCES

Visit FFA.org night or day to fi nd all types of resources for the planning and organizing of your alumni affi liate. Under the National FFA Alumni Association tab, you will be able to access all the items that are listed below.

FFA New Visions 21

6060 FFA DriveP.O. Box 68960Indianapolis, IN46268-960

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDRANDOM LAKE, WI

PERMIT NO. 393

Dates to RememberApril 2015Online registration opens for National FFA Alumni DevelopmentConference

May 15, 2015 Membership due (to qualify for awards and scholarships)

July 1, 2015 All awards applications due

July 8-11, 2015National Alumni Development Conference, Raleigh, N.C.

Aug. 1, 2015National FFA Alumni Council applications due

Aug. 15, 2015 National FFA Alumni Membership CLOSES

National FFA Alumni

National FFA alumni staff will be available the first and third Monday of each month from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST to answer any and all of your FFA alumni associationquestions.

Call 317-802-4204 with your questions on membership, rosters, chartering, reactivat-ing, conferences, tax exempt status, awards applications, etc. and someone will be happy to assist you.

We look forward to hearing from you, FFA alumni!

New Hours of Operation

Visit FFA.org/alumnifor more information