alafarmnews

Blue Jackets/Gold Standards:
2007 National FFA Week
February 17-24, 2007

The Alabama FFA Association and the National FFA Organization will celebrate National FFA Week, February 17-24, 2007. The theme this year, "Blue Jackets/Gold Standards" embodies all the best about FFA members, from the most recognizable symbol of the organization, the blue corduroy jacket, to the best ideals and traditions of national life, gold standards.

Nearly half a million members around the nation, including over 14,000 in Alabama, will participate in FFA Week activities at the local and state level. The focus of National FFA Week is to tell America about the great opportunities available in agriscience education for all youth.

With its beginnings in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization today reaches out to all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Alabama FFA Association was chartered in 1929.

FFA is committed to developing character and leadership skills and preparing members for a lifetime of civic leadership and personal and career success. FFA members have opportunities to attend national leadership conferences, develop a supervised learning project, learn life skills and serve their communities with service projects.

Through classroom instruction and hands-on learning, agriscience education and

2006-2007 State FFA Officers: (f-r) Salora Wright, State President; Travis McGowin, State Vice President; Brandon Smith, State Secretary; Jerika Buttram, State Treasurer; Justin Posey, State Reporter; and Caleb Colquitt, State Sentinel.

The State and District FFA Officers attending the 2006 District Officers Leadership Conference in Columbiana.

One of every five Americans is employed in the critical food, fiber and natural resources industries of agriculture; and former FFA members and supporters serve in these essential careers. Today, more than 300 career opportunities are available to students through agriscience education. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

For more information about the Alabama FFA Association, visit their website at http://www.alabamaffa.org or the National FFA Organization’s website at http://www.ffa.org.

• The shortage of qualified agriscience teachers is the greatest challenge facing FFA and agriscience education.

• Agriculture is the nation’s largest employer, with more than 24 million people working in some area of the industry. FFA prepares members for more than 300 careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture.

Jacob Davis is the Executive Secretary of the Alabama FFA Association.