More on the 2012 Oregon State FFA Convention

The Oregon State FFA Convention is the annual meeting of the Oregon State FFA Association and brings together over 2000 members of the FFA from all over the state. With workshops by visiting state FFA officers, industry leaders, motivational speakers and many other highly successful and qualified individuals, this is the premier leadership event in Oregon! These workshops are all planned to help students reach their maximum leadership potential. The convention also hosts booths by the sponsors of the event, and interactive displays by many of them. The State competitions for the myriad Career Development Events or CDEs available through the FFA are also held at convention. The centerpiece of the convention, however, is the sessions held morning and evening. These are hosted and conducted by the State FFA Officer team and include speeches by teachers, politicians, visiting and former State Officers, advisors, former members and guest agriculturists. The sessions are also where awards for competitions are presented and State degrees are awarded. The highlight of each session is the State Officer’s retiring addresses. This is where the officers impart their final thoughts and wisdom to the members before they retire.

 This year’s convention, the 84^th such event, was held in Hermiston Oregon at the Hermiston High School. The theme was “Alive in Action” and we sure did live it up! With workshops ranging from “Get the Worm Faster” by Chad Hymas to “Communicating the FFA Brand” by Charlie Brown (that’s really his name!) from the Florida FFA, to “You CAN farm” by Custom Ag Solutions, there were numerous and varied opportunities for members to develop their leadership skills. Sponsors and colleges had their informational booths set up in the commons with many of them offering free samples of their products, FFA members went head-to-head in competitions such as Parliamentary Procedure, Agricultural Issues, Public Speaking and countless other contests, members made new friends and caught up with old acquaintances and delegates conducted the business of the Oregon FFA. There was a dance on Sunday night and a pre-session show each morning and evening. The guest speakers at each session shared their wisdom and experiences in everything from agriculture to life in general, advisors helped students develop their talents and members shared life experiences. In fact, there was so much going on that it was impossible for any on member to see and do everything. Everyone who went came back with a fresh perspective and a new fire to succeed. It was three days with 2000 of the most gifted, articulate, bright and outgoing young men and women you will ever meet.

Our outgoing State Officer team spent the past year of their lives serving and representing the FFA and its members, touching hearts and changing lives wherever they went. Their hard work, dedication, dignity, humor, charisma, compassion and faith have impacted over 5000 FFA members in the Oregon Association as well as numerous people from other state and even other countries. Our President Ryan Kelly, Vice President Adam Powell, Secretary Grace Wildhaber, Treasurer Jason Wetzler, Reporter Caleb Forcier and Sentinel Nicole Lane are shining examples of leaders to all of us in Oregon and they have impacted me personally. Ryan has shown me that you must never give up just because you have giants staring you down. Adam has taught me that character counts. Grace has helped me see that a smile for someone who is having a bad day will cheer you up too and that beauty is who you are not what you are. Jason has taught me that some questions do not have answers and that compassion is one of the greatest virtues of any leader. Caleb has shown me that a good attitude and an open personality are vital to anyone in life. And Nicole has shown me how to be cheerful and encouraging no matter what the situation. These six incredible young adults have shown me what it takes to be an effective leader and friend, even if you have just met someone. We, the Oregon FFA, are privileged in having had them as our leaders for a year. Their friendship and the example they have set will always be with me as I pursue my own dream of becoming a State Officer one day. I hope that I can live up to the high standard they have set.