Looking "Beyond the Horizon" to State Convention

 

March 3, 2021

Every year, the week of George Washington's birthday brings celebrations by FFA members across the country. For the Chinook Chapter of the FFA, this year's FFA Week kicked off their countdown to the Montana FFA State Convention where they hope that two of their members will be receiving State Degrees.

Chapter Advisor Karyn Billmayer reported that she sent off two applications for State degrees on February 12-one for Rebecca Stroh and the other for Austin Swanson. "Each of them applied for a proficiency as well. We sent those on the 19th. Austin's is beef entrepreneurship and Rebecca's is equine entrepreneurship."

The State Degree is the highest honor a state association can bestow upon its members. This degree is based on FFA Activities, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and Community Service.

Although the local Chapter is looking beyond the horizon for news from the upcoming State Convention, Billmayer isn't sure that her group will be travelling. "It doesn't sound like we will be going to Billings for the State convention this year, but I am hoping to get the students involved in the virtual activities and sessions," she explained.


The 91st Annual Montana FFA State Convention is scheduled for April 7-10. It will be a special hybrid event with some competitive events and general sessions held in-person and numerous activities and networking sessions held online and remotely.

Leading up to the Convention, the Montana FFA Foundation will be hosting several Countdown to Convention events. Following last spring's State Convention, their goal was to make FFA present with members wherever they were by sending students a little piece of Convention in individual gift boxes.


"This year, we will be continuing that excitement by sending FFA Chapters staples of the Montana FFA Convention. Supplies for service projects, trade show tokens, the State FFA Dance playlist, and other State Convention hallmarks will all be featured and distributed to chapters," a Foundation spokesperson said.

Accompanying these items will be the opportunity to stay "Connected by Corduroy," through events taking place. These include a Statewide Trivia Night on March 25, the Statewide Greenhand Degree Ceremony on March 30, and a Statewide Dance on April 6. The Statewide Days of Service will be from March 29-April 3.

"I am hoping to be more active with the FFA next year and praying for a more normal year," Billmayer said. "We have a great group of students who could be involved more than we have been. I know the value of doing community service projects with the students, and I would like to keep that going strong."


National FFA Week is an annual tradition for members of the blue and gold. It is a time to tell the story of FFA achievements and to advocate for agriculture. The celebration always falls in February because of the organization's important connection to George Washington.

Although Washington was never an FFA member and he didn't live long enough to attend the original FFA convention in 1928, he was known to be a diligent and exemplary farmer and agriculturist. Because of that, when Henry C. Groseclose wrote the original constitution for the Future Farmers of Virginia in 1926- the predecessor to today's FFA - he pointed to the leadership that both Washington and Thomas Jefferson exemplified through "scientific knowledge, intelligence and enthusiasm" as key tenets of the organization. Washington is also credited with saying, "Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man."

In further exploring the George Washington/FFA connection, Dr. Jim Connors of the University of Idaho explains in his guest blog post for the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) that Groseclose chose to use a bust of Washington as the symbol for the office of Treasurer. In an official FFA opening ceremony during the Vice President's roll call, the Treasurer reads: "I keep a record of receipts and disbursements just as Washington kept his farm accounts-carefully and accurately. I encourage thrift among the members and strive to build up our financial standing through savings and investments. George Washington was better able to serve his country because he was financially independent."

Washington's legacy with and connection to National FFA Week was cemented in 1947. That year, the National FFA Board of Directors voted to expand FFA Day - a tradition started in 1933 - to a week-long celebration that officially began in 1948. Paying tribute to Washington, the board made it known that National FFA Week would always fall during the week of the first president's birthday.

 
 

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