Students Excel at New York State FFA Convention

From Morrisville State College:

FFA members work on a fence-building workshop during the FFA state convention at Morrisville State College

Future agricultural leaders honed their skills on the Morrisville State College campus during this year’s New York State FFA Convention May 11-13.

More than 1,000 of the best and brightest high school students fro across New York flocked to campus to gain hands-on experience in their future agricultural career fields during the event. 

Hailey Mason, in her fifth year with FFA, credits the organization with inspiring her to pursue a career as an agriculture teacher. After visiting campus, she now hopes to fulfill that career path at Morrisville someday.

“I love this place,” exclaimed Mason, 15, of the Greenville FFA Chapter located southeast of Albany. “It feels like everyone here is in to seeing the students succeed.” 

The convention featured a lineup of motivational and informational presentations, as well as competitions for participants that tested their knowledge of subjects such as agricultural communications, veterinary science, food science and agricultural issues.

The event also helped students gain a better understanding about personal growth and career success while teaching them job interview skills, public speaking skills and team building.

 

Campus and industry tours also offered educational experiences. In addition to experiencing Morrisville’s campus operations, including the college’s dairy incubator and aquaculture center, students had the chance to visit the nearby Fenner Renewable Energy Education (FREE) Center, a goat dairy, a mushroom farm and a worm farm. 

Munnsville resident Rebecca Ax, 14, who hopes to become a therapeutic riding instructor, loved the college's equine rehabilitation center.

Now in her fourth year in FFA and serving as the junior high reporter for the Stockbridge Valley chapter, she said the convention would help her gain "more knowledge of agriculture and learn things I can show to other people."

Presenters from all over the country spoke, including Morrisville alumna Ashley Willits, Eastern Region vice president for the National FFA organization.

 

Willits, a 2016 agricultural business grad, is the first female member from New York to be elected as a national FFA officer. In her role, she leads personal growth and leadership training conferences throughout the country and helps set policies that guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.
 

“It’s pretty powerful and has something for everyone,” said Christopher Roman, 15, of Verona, a member of the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (VVS) FFA Chapter. “It’s more than just agriculture; you gain leadership skills out of this, too.”

The event provided students with the opportunity to explore a career show, view an array of exhibits and attend leadership and career workshops. Among them was a fence-building workshop, presented by Jim Costello and John Leva of the college’s wood products technology program.

“It’s providing me with hands-on experience and exposing me to things I need to use in life,” Isabel Van Tassel said of the convention.

Van Tassel, 17, of the Cazenovia FFA Chapter, became interested in agriculture while raising a pig to show at a fair. “That sparked my interest in so many other things, like how to build a fence,” she said.

Students also investigated soils for agricultural productivity and learned how to effectively lobby legislatures, organizations and other groups in support of agriculture.

"I love this; it's beautiful here in Upstate (New York)," said Wanbesly Nacelus, of Queens, who is in his second year in the John Bowne FFA chapter. "Because I'm an FFA member, I'm part of something much bigger."

FFA members, who commanded the campus with their widely recognized blue corduroy jackets with gold lettering, also completed service projects during their stay. They built a willow hut, filled sand boxes and built vertical gardens at the on-campus Childcare Center and also painted around campus.

“This is giving me a lot of experience,” said VVS FFA member Cody Minckler, 16, of Verona. “I have made so many new friends through FFA.”

Most attendees earned their way to the convention competing at local, regional and sub-state levels. The top students from the state convention competitions will go on to represent New York at the national competition.

 

State FFA Convention May 11-13 in Morrisville

From New York State FFA

New York FFA will conduct its 92nd State Convention May 11-13 on the Morrisville State College campus.
 
State Officer Taylor McNamara said she “can't wait to come together again in May as one big FFA family to recognize members for all their hard work throughout the year and celebrate New York FFA.” 

This “one big FFA family” will consist of nearly 1,200 students and over 300 advisers and guests.
 
Set in the heart of Upstate New York, we are excited to return to Morrisville with new opportunities. FFA members will be participating in local community service-learning projects, including a playground build. 

"I'm most excited about our service project. It is for a great cause, our No Member Fights Alone campaign," said State Officer Katie Killenbeck. "Members will be able to join us in a nighttime glow run/walk to show their support and raise awareness for the fight against childhood cancer. It's going to be Legendary.” 

Service projects will support cancer research for all citizens.
 
Students and adults from across the state will participate in career and leadership development contests and engage with agricultural colleges, business and industry representatives. 

“I recommend that every FFA member goes to State Convention, not only will it be legendary, there is something for everyone. From workshops, CDE's, talent and so much more,” said State Officer Seth Browe.

Speakers will include Ashley Willits, currently serving as a National FFA Officer, and the keynote speakers will be the Peterson Brothers, well-known Kansas farmers who became YouTube sensations with their song parodies.  They also are known for a series of educational videos and give talks across the country about farming.

For entertainment, we have an evening concert with country musician Jerrod Niemann, and an evening Fun Run followed by fireworks.
 
With more than 4,300 members, New York FFA’s annual convention recognizes accomplishments from all members during the 2016-17 school year. FFA programs support agricultural education in New York by incorporating leadership conferences, scholarship programs, career development and investment of time in its young leaders, which helps to develop confidence, skills and passion as students move on to college and careers in agriculture. 

“Convention is a special time of year for FFA members to come together and celebrate all the work we have put in throughout the year," said State President Camille Ledoux. "It is a gathering of great people, great minds and the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication.”

NY FFA Member Named National Vice President

From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine

By ASHLEY WILLITS
New York FFA
 
Throughout my FFA career, I have worn many different FFA jackets, including those representing the Copenhagen and Lowville FFA Chapter’s as well as the New York State FFA Association.
 
Most recently I have been honored by receiving the last FFA jacket I will ever wear. This jacket doesn’t represent a single chapter or association but instead, all 649,355 FFA members across the nation.
 
As the 2016-2017 National FFA Eastern Region Vice President, I will spend the next year traveling more than 100,000 national and international miles to interact with business and industry leaders, FFA members, agriculture teachers and other agricultural supporters.
 
My team and I will lead personal growth and leadership training conferences for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.
 
For the past nine years as an FFA member, I’ve seen first-hand how agricultural education and the FFA gives students confidence in themselves and allows them to develop skills to be successful in their future careers. I was able to experience growth through the blue jacket and wanted to be able to use the skills I had learned to help others grow and serve an industry that I had developed a passion for.
 
My training for National Office was not limited to the hours I spent training with mentors and coaches perfecting interview techniques and learning more about agriculture. My training was also real world experiences, including conversations with agriculturists, coaching FFA members and advocating for agriculture and agricultural education.
 
At National Convention, myself and 41 other candidates endured a rigorous interview process. The first phase of the process included a personal round introduction interview, one-on-one interviews with each member of the nominating committee, a multiple choice test, a writing sample and an extemporaneous speech.
 
The second phase of the interview process included three conversations with leaders in agriculture, FFA and American Education, a facilitation round where each candidate had to present a workshop to a group of students and then a final personal interview.
 
The moments leading up to the election of the 2016-2017 National Officer Team were extremely exciting. I remember closing my eyes right before they announced the Eastern Region Vice President and when I heard the word “new” the next thing I can remember is my fellow candidates pushing me towards the stage.
 
At that point, I was filled with pure excitement and shock. I don’t think I’ve ever ran so fast in my life as I ran up to the stage to meet my teammates that had already been announced. The best part was hearing my teammate’s names called and being able to share the excitement with each of them!
 
I am so excited for this year of service! I’m proud to be a part of the agriculture industry and the FFA. I can’t wait to experience the adventures that this year has in store for me!
 
Ashley Willits, of Copenhagen, N.Y., was elected Eastern Region Vice President for National FFA during the national convention held in Indianapolis Oct. 19-22. Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as national officers. Delegates elect a president, secretary, and vice presidents representing the central, southern, eastern and western regions of the country.

Lowville Graduate Named National FFA Officer

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news04/lowville-academy-graduate-selected-as-national-ffa-officer-20161025 to see the story about Ashley Willits.