Overcoming a Frozen Chapter 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? What do you want to do in life? College Technical School Work Force Whatever your answer FFA has opportunities for you!

Career Development Events (CDE’s) Opportunity for members to show their knowledge. Most state winning CDE’s compete in the National Competition but some do not. Pick a CDE and stick with it!! Alabama FFA offers 19 CDE competitions. Quiz bowl is offered to 7th and 8th grade members. Creed speaking is offered to 7th ,8th, and 9th graders.

Alabama 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 Prepared Public Speaking CDE Quartet Contest Quiz Bowl Safe Tractor Driving CDE String Band CDE

State 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 Farmer Offered to people applying for state degree. If you have an outstanding SAE… please apply for District and State Star Farmer. Allows “SAE Based” members to get involved in the FFA Awards program and be recognized for their hard work.

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

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

Future Farmer/Agribuisnessman of the year Any dues paying FFA member below the age of 22 can apply for this award. Usually requires an OUTSTANDING SAE!! Requires a PowerPoint no longer than 5 minutes and less than 20 pictures.

Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) WLC is an amazing opportunity that truly sets you apart from the competition. Pick one of six week long sessions. Mr. Gary Aycock, Albertville FFA Advisor, takes a annul trip every year. Can be expensive but talk to you county Cattleman's Association, Cattlewomen's Association, Farmers Federation, and ALFA Young Farmers.

National FFA Convention 55,000 people attend every year. The career show is an excellent opportunity to learn about colleges, scholarships and other agriculturally related events. Many members attend and don’t know the opportunities that are offered there. What are these unknown opportunities?

National 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 Reunion If you attended WLC… this an opportunity for you to visit with the friends you made and talk with the facilitators. If you didn’t attend WLC… still go! It looks good on applications. And it gives you a reason to break away from your chapter.

This includes FBLA, DECA, HOSA, FCCLA, Ect. Joint Leadership Development Conference (JLDC) Not just a FFA conference but for all Career and Technical Organizations. This includes FBLA, DECA, HOSA, FCCLA, Ect. Excellent opportunity to ask District and State FFA Officers questions.

ALFA Youth Leadership Conference Again not an FFA conference, (although many are FFA members) but for youth interested in agriculture. Held in Columbiana, Alabama at the Alabama 4-H Center. Your county ALFA Young Farmers will generally pay for attendance If not payed for, the cost is around $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.

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