Missouri FFA News Releases

COLUMBIA, Mo., April 16, 2009 – Montgomery Co. R-II FFA placed fourth out of 317 chapters in the state, earning a Top Chapter Award at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention. Only 10 percent of state chapters receive the Top Chapter Award each year.

Chapter activity awards, sponsored by FCS Financial, are given to chapters achieving excellence in student, chapter and community development. Montgomery Co. R-II FFA Chapter advisors are Laura Cooley and Jonathan Hoer.

Student development encouraged the chapter to develop cooperative activities to enhance life skills. The Montgomery Co. R-II FFA student development activities included sending chapter members to the area leadership conference. At the conference they learned valuable skills such as communication, teamwork, taking initiative, and making the right personal choices. Members who had shown outstanding participation in FFA activities throughout the year were rewarded by a FFA float trip. The trip provided an opportunity to be involved in a physical and recreational activity uncommon to students in the area. It was also was a pleasant way for students to enjoy their natural resources.

Chapter development activities are designed to promote excellence within the chapter. During FFA Week, members filled bulletin boards with pictures of FFA activities, and information on how to get involved. The chapter hosted daily contests about the agricultural industry and FFA in which students and teachers participated. The chapter has undertaken an aggressive fundraising campaign to supplement their annual fruit sales to build their financial standing. They sold home-made ice cream at the local fair and worked in the kitchen during the Old Threshers Reunion.

Community development allows members to help improve their community’s economic, environmental and human resources. In conjunction with Deimeke Farms in Shamrock, members helped conduct a series of informational workshops teaching participants about the ideal growing conditions for walnut trees. Growers across the nation and state participated in the one-day activity.

The chapter teamed up with the high school science club and the National FFA to sponsor an Ink and Toner Cartridge Recycling Program. They visited businesses and put out fliers explaining the program. Members then met with the science club to collect, package, and mail the cartridges.

The top chapters are submitted to the National FFA Organization where they compete for the National FFA Chapter Award. The competition will be this fall at the National FFA convention in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Missouri FFA has 24,410 members representing 317 chapters. The national organization has over 507,000 members representing 7,439 local chapters in 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

The FFA Mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

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CAA-4-Montgomery Co.-RH