National FFA Convention

FFA provides community impact

By: Carley Snider
Agriscience Education
Junior

During my time as an FFA member and now as a Buckeye, one of the biggest values that has been instilled in me is service. At the 88th National FFA Convention, I volunteered in the National FFA Living to Serve Team’s “FFA Hunger Games” booth in the trade show to encourage current high school FFA members to embrace an opportunity to serve.

This booth informed students and teachers about the initiatives the National FFA has for FFA chapters that take efforts to fight hunger in local communities. These programs are the “FFA: Food For All Grant Program” and the “FFA Hunger Heroes Challenge.” These programs give chapters the opportunity to earn up to $2,500 to take action.

During the three days of the national convention trade show, I manned stations within the booth that rewarded students for partaking in an activity where they learned more about these initiatives. Designed like a “Hunger Games” arena, we had activities such as a Nerf archery range, a scavenger hunt, and an obstacle course.

I loved getting to know the Living to Serve team and the other volunteers throughout the week and discussing why we are each passionate about students taking action to end hunger in their local communities. I am excited to hear about what the next set of FFA chapters across the country that participate in these programs will do to impact their communities!

Last Does Not mean Over

By: Frances Nicol
Agriscience Education
Sohpmore

Over 3,000 FFA members across the nation received their American Degree this year, I among them.This represents just .5% of FFA members! I cannot begin to describe the feeling of accomplishment that I felt as I walked across the stage with degree in hand. That day included hundreds of “lasts”: last time I wear the blue jacket, last time I attend convention as a member, and the final honor an FFA member can receive. However, last does not mean over. In fact, the American Degree is just the beginning. I can take a step forward to my career and the rest of my life. As a future Agriscience Educator, I will get to see many students follow the same path that I did and the best part is that I get to be a part of their success.

As I walked out of the convention hall and took off my jacket for the last time, I was overcome with memories that I will treasure and never forget. No matter where I go next, I know that FFA will always be a part of me and I am thankful for all the opportunities given to me through this fantastic organization. Even though I am no longer a member, I hope to always uphold the mission of the FFA member: “to practice brotherhood, honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities, and develop those qualities of leadership which an FFA member should possess”.Frances Nicol, FFA Degree

 

The Day I Received My American FFA Degree

By: Blake Fox

On October 31st I woke up at 5:30 AM, but was too anxious to eat breakfast. At 7:05 I zipped up my favorite blue corduroy for the final time in six years. By 7:30 AM I was seated beside more than 3,000 other blue jackets. At roughly 10:45 AM I walked across the stage at the 88th annual National FFA Convention and Expo in Louisville Kentucky, proudly holding my American FFA Degree close to my chest. I shook the hand of the now former National FFA President Andy Paul. He congratulated me as we paused for a quick picture. I didn’t see any of the faces of the over 60,000 members and guests in attendance, I just heard the cheers in the distance from my friends, my family and my chapter as my name was called. I was handed my gold key and was off the stage in less than a minute. Ten minutes later I was laughing and hugging some of my best friends, trying our best not to be too sentimental. We shook hands and thanked those who congratulated us, smiled and posed for what seemed like thousands of pictures. At 11:30 AM I unzipped the jacket that changed my entire life for the very last time, knowing I won’t ever be putting it on again. My career as a member of the FFA was over in the course of a ceremony that lasted less than six hours. The day was bittersweet to say the least, and the feeling of standing on that stage that morning is simply indescribable. The day may have went by in the blink of an eye, but is easily one of my proudest moments. October 31st 2015, the day I received my American FFA Degree is a day I’ll never forget.

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The Importance of FFA

By: Jared Shellhouse
Agricultural Communication
Junior

During my time in FFA, all of my friends seemed to get excited for their time spent at National FFA Convention. Every time they would return home, they seemed inspired, re-energized and motivated to make a change within their homes and communities. For me, it was always a little bit different because I would stay home to make sure I could run in our cross-country meets.

Therefore, this year marked only my second time attending National Convention. Both times were in Louisville, and both times were because I had a specific reason to go. Also, both times left me re-energized and hopeful for the future of agriculture and the leadership within FFA.

This year I went back to National Convention to receive my American FFA Degree. That means it also meant this convention was the last event I could attend as an FFA member. Don’t get me wrong, I was beyond thrilled to receive my degree, because I had put a lot of effort into it over the years. However, it was a little weird knowing that National Convention often shows members the opportunities that they can seize throughout their future FFA careers, but it was showing me how far I had already come.

I left National Convention realizing that the agriculture industry has a place for me. My friends were at convention with me, I witnessed the future of agriculture, and I was able to see how far this organization has pushed me throughout my life. I am inspired, re-energized and motivated to make a change within the agriculture industry.

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Earning my American Degree

By: Kat Sharp
Agricultural Communication
Sophomore

I was lucky enough to get to attend my sixth and final National FFA Convention as an FFA member a few days ago, where I got to walk across the big stage wearing my FFA jacket for the last time. I was flipping through my General Record book last year when I was filling out the application for my American Degree and saw the pages where, as a high school freshman, I wrote down my goals for the future. I realized that, though so many of my plans had changed, I had accomplished almost every one of my goals that I had set for FFA. The American Degree is the highest degree that an FFA member can achieve. To know that I was able to accomplish something that only 0.5% of FFA members are able to accomplish was truly amazing. It is so nice to get credit for all of the hard work and dedication that I put into my FFA career.

I had a wonderful time at convention and was so lucky to get to go again this year in particular. I loved watching so many other Ohio FFA members earn such high achievements. This was definitely Ohio FFA’s year to shine! I especially loved attending the final session of the 88th National FFA Convention and hearing President Andy Paul give his retiring address about the importance of holding on to something. FFA has given me so much over the years. It will always be that one special thing that I hold onto and never fully let go of. FFA has helped shape me into the person I am today. I hope I can someday give back as much to the organization that has given so much to me. I am currently a member of my FFA chapter’s alumni in the attempt to give back as much as I can to the chapter that has helped me accomplish so much.

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25 ACEL students receive National FFA Degree

At the 2015 National FFA Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky, 25 students from the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership received their American FFA Degree.

The American FFA Degree is awarded to members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). Approximately 3,500 American FFA Degrees are handed out each year at the National FFA Convention. That number represents less than half of one percent of all FFA members, making it one of the organizations highest honors. In addition to their degree, each recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key.

Those students from our Department who received this honor include:

Agricultural Communication
Darrison Cook
Blake Fox
Rachel Garrison
Daniel Grayless
Brianna Gwirtz
Katerina Sharp
Jarred Shellhouse
Mary Siekman
Mandy Taylor
Ryan Vonderhaar

Agriscience Education
Christine Balint
Brad Collins
Kate Deacon
Tyler Gentry
Logan Heiby
Frances Nicol
Geoffrey Norris
Cole Riddle
Tricia Schoen
Haley Sherman
Robert Thiel
Bailey Wagner
Stephanie Wuebben

Community Leadership
Scott McDermott
Rachel Stoneburner

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Why Agricultural Communication?

By: Kaylee Reed
Amanda, OH
Agricultural Communications
Freshman

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Person: “What is your major?”

Me: “Agricultural Communication”

Person: “What is that?” or “What do you plan on doing with that degree?”

This is a common conversation starter that I have experienced when venturing onto central campus to take my general education courses, where many people don’t understand the agricultural industry and/or still believe that agriculture just means farmers.  Realistically though, those of us who do know what agriculture is and how it works, knows that agriculture doesn’t just mean farmers. It also means educators, communicators, and leaders.

Deciding on a major is not an easy task for many people, but for me, it was the easiest decision. I competed in my FFA chapter’s Agricultural Communications CDE for the past three years and on October 28, I will compete at the national level. For those who don’t know what this CDE consists of there are three people on a team who create a media plan, take an APA manual exam, give a presentation, and do a practicum. When I first started this CDE, I was a shy, quiet girl who didn’t like public speaking, but as time went on, I came to love public speaking. This is how my love for agricultural communication started.

I became an agricultural communicator so that in the future people aren’t asking what is agricultural communication. I became an agricultural communicator to help those who know nothing about agriculture understand misconceptions about agriculture. I became an agricultural communicator to help consumers understand farmers and vice versa.

In order for consumers to get a positive image about the agricultural industry, the world needs agricultural communicators. We are the bridges that connect people from different lifestyles. We help people see the world and give thousands of farmers a voice. We are the ones; the ones who shed light on agriculture. As agricultural communicators, we have the ability to change the world and get the public to appreciate farmers more. We have a mission to tell agriculture’s story.

I am proud to say that I am an agricultural communicator so that I can explain why agriculture is vital for everyone.

We’re Headed to National FFA Convention

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership will be at the National FFA Convention this week in Louisville, Kentucky!

While at the convention, we will be partnered with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences to share opportunities with high school FFA members.

If you will be at the convention and are interested in learning more about the majors of agricultural communication, agriscience education, or community leadership, visit the Ohio State booth in Aisle 1500! You can learn about the 19 other majors in our college there as well, so be sure to stop by!

Last year, the National FFA Organization featured Ohio State in a video they did. Our students and staff were filmed during set up and throughout the convention. Check it out below!