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Q&A with Original FFA Band Member Neil Overly
https://www.ffa.org/alumni-focus/qa-with-original-ffa-band-member-neil-overly/
Concert bands have been a fixture at the National FFA Convention since 1947, when the first official band was selected from FFA member tryouts. But that wasn’t the first band to play at the convention. An FFA band from Fredericktown, Ohio, performed in Kansas City at the fifth convention in 1933. Remarkably, two members of that band are still living – Linden Scheff (pictured above, left) and Neil Overly – and they attended a recent ceremony that recognized Fredericktown as the home of the FFA jacket. Overly, a retired farmer, turned 100 on Nov. 8. Here, he discusses his FFA experience and the years since. New Horizons: What is the background of that 1933 FFA convention band? Neil Overly: I grew up on the family farm and was a pretty good trumpet player, too. When I was 14 and a freshman in high school, the school FFA leader asked me to join FFA and go with them to Kansas City to play in a band he was taking. We rode the Buckeye Stages bus line and stayed overnight in Indianapolis. […]
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5 Must-Dos for Your Chapter Banquet
https://www.ffa.org/chapter-focus/5-must-dos-for-your-chapter-banquet/
Every chapter banquet is unique. Here, members share their priorities for planning and executing a memorable end-of-the-year event. 1. List your non-negotiables. “This is the time to make a list of the things you cannot do without,” says Joelle Grubbs of the West Central Valley FFA Chapter in Iowa. “Things you’ll definitely want to include are going through all the awards and honors received by the chapter or members, the retiring address and year-in-review moments. Making a list will allow you to keep your banquet organized and under control. It also keeps you from leaving anyone or anything out!” 2. Make some memories. “Chapter banquets are usually the last event that senior FFA members get to attend, and we want to make sure that it is memorable,” says Brodee McCormick of the Athens FFA Chapter in Illinois. “We like to thank the seniors one last time with a retiring jacket ceremony. We recognize how much work they have done and how big of an impact they left on the chapter and its members.” 3. Add a service […]
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Washington Leadership Conference
https://www.ffa.org/conference/washington-leadership-conference-wlc/
WLC provides a premier leadership experience for FFA members in the nation's capital.
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Conferences
https://www.ffa.org/conferences/
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State Officer Leadership Continuum
https://www.ffa.org/participate/conference/state-officer-leadership-continuum/
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New Century Farmer
https://www.ffa.org/participate/conference/new-century-farmer/
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ILSSO
https://www.ffa.org/participate/conference/ilsso/
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Persistence Earns Tractor Restoration Champ Jay Leno Appearance
https://www.ffa.org/student-focus/persistence-earns-tractor-restoration-champion-jay-leno-appearance/
As the 2017 Grand Champion in the Delo Tractor Restoration Competition, Corey Verstraeten can certainly attest to the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” After being named as a finalist in three previous competitions, Verstraeten finally won the top prize during his senior year in high school with a restored Oliver 1755. Perhaps even more exciting, though, was the invitation Verstraeten received to appear on the television show, Jay Leno’s Garage, in August. It proves the value of perseverance and the importance of never giving up. 1972 Oliver 1755 A 2018 graduate of Southwest High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was an active FFA member, Verstraeten chose a 1972 Oliver 1755 tractor with front-wheel assist as his senior-year restoration project. His tractor was ultimately selected as Grand Champion from among the 12 finalists in the competition sponsored by Chevron Products Company, a division of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Third Time’s a Charm Prior to winning the championship, Verstraeten was a finalist in 2016 with a 1971 Oliver 1855. He was also […]
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Yes, That’s an Ag Job!
https://www.ffa.org/the-feed/yes-thats-an-ag-job/
FFA and Grow Ag Leaders open doors for students to discover careers in a variety of fields within agriculture — and beyond.
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The Future of Agriculture-Critical Challenges
https://www.ffa.org/educator_resources/the-future-of-agriculture-critical-challenges/
The Blue 365 lesson series is intended to bring innovative technology, science, research and entrepreneurship to the classroom. These lessons are designed to highlight the innovations and technologies transforming agriculture. This lesson focuses on the broader challenges in agriculture to set context for future lessons regarding specific technologies and innovations designed to meet these challenges.
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