Social Media Workshop

The social media workshop has kicked off during the National FFA Alumni Convention. Kimi and Joy are highlighting all avenues of social media available for FFA Alumni. If you are using social media to promote your FFA Alumni then let us know by posting a comment.

FFA Alumni Convention Workshops

The National FFA Alumni will hold several workshops during the convention for alumni members. The workshops are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22 from 10:00 until 2:30 p.m. The first workshop on social media kicks off at 10:00 a.m. and is led by Kimberly Henderson and Joy Carter of the National FFA Alumni Council. Diane Amera, president-elect of the National FFA Alumni, will lead the second workshop on driving membership for the alumni. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., the third workshop for Thursday, led by Phyllis McDonald will provide information on membership, awards and applications.

Following the alumni business session on Friday, Oct. 23, Dale Beaty and Ronnie Ansley, past presidents of the National FFA Alumni Council, will lead a workshop for those interested in one day serving on the National FFA Alumni Council.

FFA students are encouraged to attend the “Go Blue” workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 in ICC Wabash Room 3. This workshop will be led by past National FFA Officers Jamie Cecil and Brady Revels.

View 2009 National FFA Alumni Convention Photo Album

Benefit Auction Raises Scholarship Funds for FFA

Interested in a fun and exciting activity during National FFA Convention, while at the same time raising funds for student scholarships? Plan on attending the 2009 National FFA Alumni live and silent benefit auctions for a chance to bid on great items and show your support of FFA members. 2009 National FFA Alumni Convention, October 21-24, 2009; Indianapolis, Indiana. This years theme is “MISSION: POSSIBLE” for the benefit auction. The auctions have everything available that you would want from farm tools to vacation packages to collectible items. Special thanks to Tractor Supply Company vendors and FFA alumni affiliates and FFA chapters from across the U.S. for donating items to the auction.

No need to fear if you are not coming to convention. You can still participate in the Live Benefit Auction online from home! Visit www.unitedcountry.com/ffaauction/ at 6pm. (EDT) on Friday, Oct. 23 to bid against those at convention!

Blue and Gold Jackets swarm Indy

A sea of blue and gold jackets will begin to swarm Indianapolis, Indiana this week for the 82nd National FFA Convention. Alumni members will also be in Indy to help support the FFA. The theme for the 2009 National FFA Alumni Convention encourages members to “Say It, Do It, Live It!” for agricultural education. The FFA Alumni has a full schedule of events planned including workshops on social media and membership; hypnotist shows; benefit auctions, and the awards and business session. The keynote speaker for the alumni sessions is Bob Ash, owner of Life Lessons. He has provided training and education to more than 1,200 organizations and businesses, numbering more than 320,000 people. All convention attendees are encouraged to visit the FFA Alumni Fun in Ag Ed Room for games, information and much more. The room will be open Wednesday through Friday and located in the Indiana Convention Center 500 Reception Room.  Details on times and meetings for the 2009 convention are available online at www.ffa.org/alumni.

Help Grow Your Soup – Vote for the Next Five Barns!

Campbell Soup Company launched the Help Grow Your Soup campaign last year by establishing a partnership with FFA to give back to the farming community. The partnership helps to revive barns across America. Five barns were revied in 2009 in Illinois, Kansas, Tennessee, Oregon and New York. All the barns received a facelift with the Campbell’s famous red paint, white trim, new fixtures and other features. They are now shining examples of how FFA and FFA Alumni members continue to “live to serve.” Each of the orginial five barns can be seen on the HelpGrowYourSoup.com web site. Now this fall, FFA supporters and consumers can become involved with the partnership by voting for their favorite barn in the next phase of the partnership. Ten barns are in need of preservation and individuals can learn more about each barn and vote for their favorite barn online at HelpGrowYourSoup.com. For each vote on the site, Campbells will donate $1 to FFA, up to $250,000, on the consumer’s behalf for agricultural education. The five barns that receive the most votes will be awarded participation in this year’s Help Grow Your Soup Barn Reviving Program. Once the five winning barns are announced, FFA members, FFA Alumni and local community leaders will work together to revive the selected barns.

Support Needed for the National FFA Commemorative Coin Act

The National FFA Commemorative Act (U.S. Senate Bill #1553 and the U.S. House of Representatives Bill #3464) will seek a U.S. minted commemorative coin honoring the 85th anniversary of the National FFA Organization in 2012. The FFA is working with key leaders in Congress to promote and gain co-sponsors of the bill. FFA Alumni members are encouraged to contact their congressional leaders urging them to co-sponsor the bill. One avenue for alumni members to use for contacting their congressional leaders is via the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Legislative Action Center web site. The National FFA Alumni is a key sponsor of the Legislative Action Center web site. When visiting the web site, click on “Issues and Legislation” and then select the National FFA Commemorative Coin Act. So, be sure to check out the web site for additional details and contact your congressman today.

2009 SLC Wrap Up

2009 SLC Participants

The 2009 State Leaders Conference has concluded! The conference was a great opportunity for participants to meet and interact with Alumni members from 28 states. Affiliate activities and ideas flowed throughout the week as participants shared with one another the challenges and triumphs in each of their states. Participants were engaged in a variety of workshops related to advocacy, affiliate development, corporate partnership, and membership development.  They also found time to enjoy breath taking views of the Colorado landscape during local tours.  Highlights included tours of the High Wire Bison and Elk Ranch, Grand Mesa Alpaca Farms, Orchard Valley Farms and Market, and a Switzerland of America Jeep tour.  Special thank you to our conference sponsors, Tractor Supply Co. and Farm Credit; and to the following for sponsoring and/or hosting meals during the conference: Cedaredge, Hotchkiss, Fruita, Plateau Valley, Olathe, and Montrose FFA and FFA Alumni’s. 

Resources from State Leaders Conference

      2009 SLC Agenda
      2009 LPS map
      2009 Photo Recap Powerpoint
      2009 Swap Shop
      2009 Oregon Presentation
      2009 TSC Presentation
      2009 LPS Presentation
      2009 SLC Photo Album

DVD Available from SLC

A new addition to the 2009 SLC was a live video webcasting of the workshops by Barn Media .  These recordings are available for purchase through the Barn website.  A portion of the funds from these sales will support the Colorado FFA.

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">DVD Order Form

View the 2009 SLC Photo Album

Ronnie’s Poem

Ronnie Ansley, National FFA Alumni past president and FFA Alumni member from North Carolina, always shares a poem about the week at State Leaders Conference. This year was no different! Ronnie captures the true essence of SLC and what FFA Alumni members are doing throughout the U.S. by helping support FFA and agricultural education.

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">Ronnie’s Poem

Hats for WLC Scholarships

During the 2009 SLC in Colorado, FFA Alumni members helped raise money for WLC scholarships by decorating various hats and selling those at the auction on the last night. The auction and other donations helped raise $8,250 for WLC Scholarships. Scholarships were presented to the local FFA Chapters in Colorado that assisted hosting this year’s SLC. Additional scholarships were presented by a drawing where all states attending had an opportunity to win. The recipients winning the WLC scholarships were: 

Olathe, CO FFA & FFA Alumni

Cedaredge, CO FFA & FFA Alumni

Hotchkiss, CO FFA & FFA Alumni

Fruita, CO FFA & FFA Alumni

Montrose, CO FFA & FFA Alumni

Arkansas FFA Alumni

Colorado FFA Alumni

Illinois FFA Alumni

Iowa FFA Alumni

Kansas FFA Alumni

Michigan FFA Alumni

Minnesota FFA Alumni

South Carolina FFA Alumni

Wisconsin FFA Alumni