1. ♦ National Delta Tau Alpha newsletter ♦ February 2005 ♦ Meet your National President Hello there fellow DTA members! I am your National President Ashley Cranney. I am a senior Ag Ed student at Sam Houston State University. Eat’em up KATS! I have been honored by serving this distinguished organization for the past year. And since I have known that I am to write a biography of myself I have dreaded it. For those how know me can vouch that I love to talk and to have a good time! So just what would I tell you about this girl from a small town outside of Houston, Texas… I am the oldest of four children and I will be a first generation college graduate. Even though I have always sort of lived in the city (suburbs), my family has always been involved in Agriculture. My grandparents have a nursery and have a small landscaping business; and my parents both showed livestock through FFA. Growing up in Splendora, Texas was boring!!! I had to find something to do! So I either spent my time helping my grandparents by watering plants or riding my pretty pink bicycle around our neighborhood. When I was old enough to show I started showing pigs. I showed under Jr. FFA and FFA until I graduated. So many of my lives lessons I learned from an experience in FFA interacting with agriculture. As I entered college I knew that I was put on this earth to enrich the children of tomorrow with the knowledge about the most important subject, agriculture. I have been completing my Student Teaching assignment this Spring semester and I have learned more in a short time than I expected. And I can’t wait till GRADUATION on May 14, 2005! DTA has been the only organization that I have actively participated in while at SHSU. I have learned many things from the people that I have met because of this organization. I am also truly grateful for the guidance of my advisor Dr. Dwayne Pavelock, I hope that some day I will be able to “Pay it forward.” Thanks for everything, everyone! Carpe Diem! –Ashley Cranney

2. We plan to attend National Convention and arranged to have pictures sent to for their Slide Show. We co-sponsored a dance-a-thon, donated items to the Heifer International Organization, and collecting items for local shelters. We are planning Ag-Olympics and Ag-Quiz Bowl that will be held in mid to late April. We set the date for our 4-H Field day where we will educate the students about farming and agriculture. We have set a date for our Community Field Day, we invite local politicians and citizens to learn about the importance of our farm. We are planning the last minute details of the convention. T-Shirts are being redesigned, and lighting for the Ag-Olympics will need to be rented. We are collecting door prizes and donations up to the last minute and any company donating more than $100 is given an invitation to the banquet. Our community service project was a success by helping a couple clean at a new home site. We are currently having a fundraiser, selling pizza cards. Lastly, our Outstanding Teacher Award Committee is planning for the award. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas A. Edison If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. Anne Bradstreet

3. Check out the New website!!! @ www.fhsu.edu/agriculture/natdta www.fhsu.edu/agriculture/natdta To submit Form 40’s after every meeting (ASAP) so that you can be included in Chapter Chatters. Communicate with your Regional Vice President in preparation for the National Convention!!! Don’t Forget I am truly honored to have served as your National President for 2004-2005. I want to send a special THANK YOU to the National Council for all their hard work!! Good Luck fellow DTA members, were ever your roads may take you. - Ashley Cranney Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on. Samuel Butler 'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. Abraham Lincoln