The FFA Alumni Affiliate

Alumni Mission The mission of the National FFA Alumni Association is to secure the promise of FFA and agricultural education by creating an environment where people and communities can develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

What is the FFA? Founded in 1928, the Future Farmers of America brought together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education. In Kansas City's Baltimore Hotel, 33 young farm boys charted a course for the future. They could not have foreseen how the organization would grow and thrive. Since 1928, millions of agriculture students - no one knows exactly how many - have donned the official FFA jacket and championed the FFA creed. FFA has opened its doors and its arms to minorities and women, ensuring that all students could reap the benefits of agricultural education. In the beginning there were 33. Seventy-five years later there are 457,000. Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Now, the organization is expanding the nation's view of "traditional" agriculture and finding new ways to infuse agriculture into the classroom.

Why have an affiliate? Agriculture teachers rely on FFA alumni members to help ease the outside commitments of teaching, bring more support to agricultural education programs and give teachers more freedom to do what they do best - teach students! FFA relies on alumni members for student recruiting, scholarship money, aiding in camps, conferences, national FFA convention and other personal development programs. The high level of commitment the FFA Alumni offer the FFA and the communities in which they live helps make FFA students' lives better.

Alumni Affiliates provide… Volunteers Volunteers Resources Resources Scholarship opportunities Scholarship opportunities …to FFA members in local chapters

Alumni Affiliates assist in FFA members experiencing greater personal growth! 91% vs. 66% 90% of FFA members participate in sports, school and community activities vs. 77% of typical students 90% of FFA members participate in sports, school and community activities vs. 77% of typical students 91% vs. 66% relate personal effort to personal success 91% vs. 66% relate personal effort to personal success 93% believe it’s “important to do their best” vs. 73% of typical students 93% believe it’s “important to do their best” vs. 73% of typical students Involved in experiential learning Involved in experiential learning 70% of FFA members who participate in FFA programs receive recognition and awards for their contributions 70% of FFA members who participate in FFA programs receive recognition and awards for their contributions

How to form an Affiliate… Work with advisor and identify a few dedicated parents to serve as “executive committee pro tem” Work with advisor and identify a few dedicated parents to serve as “executive committee pro tem” Fill out affiliate application Fill out affiliate application Organize brief Program of Activities (a.k.a. POA) with no more than 3-4 initial thoughts/activities Organize brief Program of Activities (a.k.a. POA) with no more than 3-4 initial thoughts/activities Prepare a preliminary constitution Prepare a preliminary constitution Discuss ideas with advisor(s) and work through any concerns (advisor buy-in is essential) Discuss ideas with advisor(s) and work through any concerns (advisor buy-in is essential) Send letters home with all students informing their parents about the first official meeting Send letters home with all students informing their parents about the first official meeting Hold a quick first meeting Hold a quick first meeting Have snacks/beverages and an opportunity for parents to get to know each other (possibly an icebreaker) Have snacks/beverages and an opportunity for parents to get to know each other (possibly an icebreaker) Lay out POA (activities should align with chapter POA) Lay out POA (activities should align with chapter POA) Make sure to have someone designated to take minutes Make sure to have someone designated to take minutes Vote to accept constitution and bylaws Vote to accept constitution and bylaws Hold some form of elections/sign up for offices/utilize all who wish to be in a leadership capacity Hold some form of elections/sign up for offices/utilize all who wish to be in a leadership capacity It will be necessary to officially establish who is authorized to access the checking account (check with your local school for specific regulations that may apply) It will be necessary to officially establish who is authorized to access the checking account (check with your local school for specific regulations that may apply)

What are your dues used for? Your investment as a FFA Alumni member helps strengthen today’s FFA. Your Membership will provide these special FFA services for FFA members: 1.Scholarships to select FFA members attending the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC), higher education and work experiences abroad. 2.A strong voice for agricultural education and FFA in governmental affairs. 3.Leadership workshops at the National FFA Convention, and other FFA activities. 4.A strong FFA Alumni through organizational efforts at local, state and national levels. 5.Support for FFA Award programs and activities at all levels.

Developing the Alumni Affiliate… Meeting principal Meeting principal Stick to the meeting schedule Stick to the meeting schedule Delegate to members of the council Delegate to members of the council “People support that which they help create” Utilize talents Utilize talents Committee chairs Committee chairs Have regular meetings with advisor Have regular meetings with advisor Supporting the teacher is “Job One” Supporting the teacher is “Job One” When appropriate, take items off of his/her plate When appropriate, take items off of his/her plate Listen carefully to for the real needs of the chapter Listen carefully to for the real needs of the chapter Work toward recruiting long term members into affiliate Work toward recruiting long term members into affiliate

Opportunities and Recognition For the students… For the students… Coaching CDE teams Coaching CDE teams SAE assistance SAE assistance Committees to select student award recipients Committees to select student award recipients Chaperones on trips Chaperones on trips Scholarships Scholarships Chapter grant program Chapter grant program SAE sponsorship SAE sponsorship FFA jackets for the new members FFA jackets for the new members For the adults… For the adults… Administrator of the Year Administrator of the Year Legion of Merit Legion of Merit Blue Jacket Blue Jacket Local “Outstanding Alumnus” Local “Outstanding Alumnus”

Glossary of acronyms FFA - The letters FFA stand for Future Farmers of America; however, the official name of the organization was changed in 1988 to the National FFA Organization. Over the past 75 years, the FFA and agricultural education have grown to encompass all aspects of agriculture, from production farming, agribusiness and forestry to biotechnology, marketing and food processing. CDE - Career development Events (CDE) demonstrate the meaningful connections between classroom instruction and real-life scenarios. CDEs build on what is learned in agricultural classes and the FFA and are designed to help prepare students for careers in agriculture. SAE - Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), are designed to provide students with the opportunity for hands-on experience and skills in agricultural career areas that interest them. An SAE program is the actual, hands-on application of concepts and principles learned in the agricultural education classroom. Students are supervised by agricultural education teachers in cooperation with parents, employers and other adults who assist them in the development and achievement of their educational and career goals. PALS - Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS) is a mentoring program that matches high school agriculture students with elementary youngsters who have special needs. Developed by the National FFA Organization, the program helps those involved to build trust in others and develop positive self-esteem, both of which are critically lacking in many of today's challenged young people.

WLC - Each year, more than 2,300 young people and teachers from across the country spend a week in Washington, D.C., developing their character and relationship-building skills, learning about the hottest new agricultural careers, making friends, setting a vision, visiting their congressional representatives and touring our nation's capital as part of the FFA Washington Leadership Conference (WLC). CTE - Career Technical Education (CTE) provides students and adults (1) the technical skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in occupations and careers, (2) the cross-functional or workplace basics necessary for success in any occupation or career (such as problem solving, teamwork, and the ability to find and use information), and (3) the context in which traditional academic skills and a variety of more general education goals can be enhanced. POA - Program of Activities (POA) serves two main purposes. First, it defines chapter goals and outlines steps needed to meet those goals. Second, it is a written guide that provides administrators, advisory committees, alumni and others with a calendar of events the chapter will follow in the year ahead. SLC - State FFA Leadership Conference (SLC) is held annually in Tucson on the University of Arizona campus. This event highlights the accomplishments of students, teachers and local FFA partners throughout the year. It is also where the current state officers retire and a new team is elected.

Career Development Events by conference Mid-Winter Arizona State University East Campus Creed Speaking CDE Information Contest CDE Novice Public Speaking CDE Novice Extemporaneous CDE Food Science CDE Agricultural Sales CDE Floriculture CDE Parliamentary Procedure Invitational State Leadership The University of Arizona Marketing Plan CDE Parliamentary Procedure CDE Prepared Public Speaking CDE Extemporaneous Public Speaking CDE Agriscience Fair CDE Agriculture Communications CDE Internet CDE Newsletter CDE Reporter CDE Conduct of Meetings CDE Spring The University of Arizona Ag Issues CDE Ag Mechanics CDE Agronomy CDE Entomology CDE Horse Evaluation CDE Landscape Evaluation CDE Meats Evaluation CDE Nursery CDE (Tentative) Range Management CDE Ag Business CDE Aquaculture CDE Dairy Management CDE Field Crop Management CDE Forestry CDE Job Interview CDE Livestock Judging CDE Soils CDE

Proficiency Awards 1. Agricultural Communications 2. Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication 3. Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance 4. Agricultural Mechanics Energy Systems 5. Agricultural Processing 6. Agricultural Sales 7. Agricultural Sales 8. Agricultural Services 9. Aquaculture 10. Beef Production 11. Beef Production 12. Dairy Production 13. Dairy Production 14. Diversified Agricultural Production 15. Diversified Crop Production 16. Diversified Crop Production 17. Diversified Horticulture 18. Diversified Horticulture 19. Diversified Livestock Production 20. Diversified Livestock Production 21. Emerging Agricultural Technology 22. Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management 23. Equine Science 24. Equine Science 25. Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production 26. Floriculture 27. Food Science and Technology 28. Forage Production 29. Forest Management and Products 30. Fruit Production 31. Grain Production 32. Grain Production 33. Home and/or Community Development 34. Landscape Management 35. Nursery Operations 36. Outdoor Recreation 37. Poultry Production 38. Sheep Production 39. Small Animal Production and Care 40. Small Animal Production and Care 41. Specialty Animal Production 42. Specialty Crop Production 43. Swine Production 44. Swine Production 45. Turf Grass Management 46. Turf Grass Management 47. Vegetable Production 48. Wildlife Management 49. Wildlife Management The program rewards FFA members at the local, state and national levels for exceptional accomplishments and excellence in a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program.