Future Farmers Of America

TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

ACES CONFERENCE (AGRICULTURE COOPERATION ESTABLISHES SUCCESS) - A CONFERENCE GEARED AROUND FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES. APPROXIMATELY 1500 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE, WHICH IS HELD OVER THREE WEEKENDS. THE STATE STAFF AND STATE OFFICERS PROVIDE WORKSHOPS TO PROMOTE TEAM WORK & LEADERSHIP SKILLS WHILE SHOWING THE STUDENTS WHAT FFA AND AGRICULTURE HAS TO OFFER. THE TEACHERS ALSO ATTEND A TEACHER WORKSHOP WHICH EARNS THEM ACT 48 TEACHER CREDITS THROUGH PENN STATE.

STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE RUNS OVER A SUNDAY MORNING UNTIL TUESDAY NOON. APPROXIMATELY 450 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE. LEAD BY THE STATE OFFICERS, THE STUDENTS GO THROUGH WORKSHOPS ON PROFESSIONALISM, PROPER DRESS, ETIQUETTE, AND HOW TO READ A LEGISLATIVE BILL. THEY ARE THEN PUT THROUGH A COMPLETE MOCK VERSION OF OUR LEGISLATURE. THE HOUSE, SENATE, CAUCUSES, MINORITY AND MAJORITY, AND COMMITTEES. THEY DEBATE 6 BILLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA. THIS IS TO TEACH HOW OUR GOVERNMENT PROCESS ACTUALLY WORKS. MONDAY EVENING COMMUNITY SERVICE IS PERFORMED. THE CONFERENCE CONCLUDES TUESDAY MORNING WITH A LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST WHERE WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 LEGISLATORS ATTEND. LEGISLATORS ARE SEATED WITH STUDENTS FROM THEIR DISTRICTS SO THEY CAN DISCUSS THE BILLS JUST USED IN OUR CONFERENCE AND TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER. THE STUDENTS WALK AWAY WITH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR GOVERNMENT PROCESS. TEACHERS ALSO ATTEND WORKSHOPS FOR ACT 48 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS THROUGH PENN STATE.

STATE OFFICER EXPENSE: 7 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE ELECTED BY THEIR PEERS TO SERVE A TERM OF ONE YEAR AS A STATE OFFICER. THEY DEFER COLLEGE FOR THAT YEAR AND DEVOTE 100% OF THEIR TIME TO PROMOTING THE FFA, AGRICULTURE EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE AS AN INDUSTRY IN PA. THEY SERVE AS PENNSYLVANIA'S FFA DELEGATES ON THE NATIONAL FFA LEVEL AS WELL. THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT PAID. THEY DONATE THEIR TIME FOR THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TO GIVE BACK WHAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE PROGRAM. THEY ARE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE YEAR: MILEAGE (REIMBURSED AT THE STANDARD IRS MILEAGE RATE), MEALS (WHILE TRAVELING FOR FFA), LODGING WHEN NECESSARY, SUPPLIES TO PERFORM DUTIES, ETC. THEY FACILITATE CONFERENCES, COMPLETE LOCAL CHAPTER VISITS (100 OR MORE A YEAR) AND ATTEND ANY AGRICULTURAL EVENT THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO PROMOTE THE INDUSTRY.

PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENTS, SUBSIDIES AND VARIOUS AWARDS ARE GRANTED TO INDIVIDUALS AND CHAPTERS COMPETING AT NATIONAL CONVENTION AND BIG E. FUNDS ARE PROVIDED FOR PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION, TRANSPORTATION, ROOMS, MEALS, ETC. FOR OTHER NATIONAL CONVENTIONS ATTENDED BY THE STATE OFFICERS. VARIOUS CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS SUCH AS COMPETITIONS, CONVENTION SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS AND SOCIAL NETWORKING/CONVENTIONS ARE FACILITATED BY PA FFA AND THE STATE OFFICERS. VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO QUALIFYING MEMBERS WHEN FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. THE STATE FFA CONVENTION HELD DURING FFA ACTIVITIES WEEK PROVIDES CAREER DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIONS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1500 MEMBERS. THE STATE ASSOCIATION ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE REGIONAL COORDINATORS. THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS ARRANGE REGIONAL CONTESTS AND ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS TO KEEP THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS INFORMED OF UPCOMING EVENTS, ETC. COORDINATORS ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR VISITS TO CURRENT PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMS TO FURTHER PROMOTE FFA. STIPENDS ARE PAID TO THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR EFFORTS.