Post on 16-Mar-2016
description
transcript
Knowledge For College
Katie Snider believes FFA is singing her song7tips for calming
job interview jitters
Your life-after-high-school questions, answered
More Than aMELODY
Create a profi le. Add friends. Start a group. Voice your opinions.
NEW HORIZONST H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N A T I O N A L F F A O R G A N I Z A T I O N | A u g u s t 2 0 0 9
L O G O N AT F FA N E W H O R I Z O N S . O R GFFAFFAu g uggg s ts ts tt 22222222 2222222222222 0
®
2 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Log on to see this month’s
GiveawaysFFA
The Buzz Online
State ScoopRead special inserts from other
associations in �State Scoop.
FFAFFANEW HORIZONSNEW HORIZONS
®
.ORG.ORG
Need a past
issue? Click on
� Virtual Magazine
for current and
archived editions.
Log in to comment on articles and blogs
Marissa Turnbull,
Crater FFA, Ore.
Go online to submit your FFA experiences.
“I THINK THAT FFA NEW HORIZONS IS
GREAT! AND THE WEBSITE GIVES EASY ACCESS TO ALL THE THINGS PEOPLE MISS IN
THE MAGAZINE.”
WEB POLL
What do you enjoy
most about FFA?
The awards
The official dress
The conventions
The people
Everything!
Thanks to FFANation user FFAchick23for creating this poll.
Tell the FFA Nation about your summer experiences! Upload photos of your FFA summer camps, livestock projects and family vacations.2.9%
5.47%
8.6%
11.4%
71.4%
What’s NewCheck out the latest information about � colleges and universities across
the country in College Row, our virtual campus tour.
Discussions“Hey guys. I would like to know about your state conventions, FFA banquets or any big event you go to.” � davidcffaLog in to FFA Nation to respond.
On the CoverKatie Snider, Gleason, Tenn.Photo By J. Kyle Keener
8 cover storyMore Than a MelodyKatie Snider believes FFA is singing her song.
Knowledge For CollegeYour life-after-high-school questions, answered.
12
4 ScrapbookRead news, jokes and more.
6 FFA FacesLearn about members’ achievements.
11 What’s HotApplaud FFA members doing good deeds.
16 National Officer Q & AMeet Vice President Regina Holliday.
17 Your MoneyAdd up the ways you can finance college.
18 How To …Ace a job or college interview.
20 Back TalkAdvocate for agriculture with Michele Payn-Knoper.
JULIE WOODARD Editorial Director KIM NEWSOM Managing Editor JOYCE CARUTHERS Copy Editor JESSY YANCEY Associate Editor ANDREA BLOOM, CHRIS HAYHURST, JESSICA MOZO, KAREN SCHWARTZMAN Contributing Writers KEITH HARRIS Creative Director BRIAN McCORD Senior Photographer JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, Staff Photographers ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER BRIAN SMITH Web Development Director CHRISTINA CARDEN Associate Production Director MELISSA HOOVER, Production Project Managers KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT LAURA GALLAGHER, CANDICE SWEET, Senior Graphic Designers VIKKI WILLIAMS ERICA HINES, AMY NELSON Graphic Designers MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, Ad Traffic RAVEN PETTY GARY SMITH Distribution Director YANCEY TURTURICE Information Technology Director FRANCO SCARAMUZZA Web Design Director ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ Web Project Managers CARL SCHULZ Web Design JENNIFER GRAVES Web Production TWILA ALLEN Color Imaging Technician KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL FFA Communications RAY LANGEN Executive Vice President CARLA H. THURMAN Sr. V.P./Sales CASEY E. HESTER Sr. V.P./Operations MARK FORESTER V.P./Visual Content TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./Editorial Director NATASHA LORENS Production Director JEFFREY S. OTTO Photography Director BETH MURPHY Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division RACHEL MATHEIS Sales/Marketing Coordinator
For advertising information, contact Beth Murphy, (800) 333-8842, ext. 251, or e-mail bmurphy@jnlcom.com.
2008-09 National FFA Officers PAUL MOYA, NM President NESSIE EARLY, CA Secretary HANNAH CROSSEN, OH Eastern Region Vice President LAILA HAJJI, OK Central Region Vice President REGINA HOLLIDAY, GA Southern Region Vice President RILEY BRANCH, TX Western Region Vice President
National FFA Staff LARRY CASE National Advisor, Chief Executive Officer STEVE BROWN Executive Secretary BILL FLEET Acting Chief Operating Officer MARION FLETCHER National Treasurer JULIE ADAMS, MARK CAVELL, Division Directors DALE CRABTREE, TOM KAPOSTASY, JANET MALONEY, DENNIS SARGENT, KENT SCHESCKE, VICKI SETTLE, LEE ANNE SHILLER, TONY SMALL, BILL STAGG, WILL WAIDELICH
National FFA Board of Directors – Members LARRY CASE Chair, USDE, VA STEVE BROWN Secretary, USDE, VA MARION FLETCHER Treasurer, State Supervisor, AR JAMES BARBEE State Superviser, NV ROBERT B. CALVIN Agriculture Teacher/USDE, MO WILBUR CHANCELLOR State Supervisor, MS BRUCE LAZARUS FFA Executive Secretary/USDE, AR JOEL LARSEN State Supervisor, MN KURT LUCAS State FFA Advisor, KY JOHN RAKESTRAW Business Representative/USDE, CO
Subscription Information:FFA New Horizons (ISSN 1069-806X) is published Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct. and Dec. by the National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN46268-0960. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art or any other unsolicited materials. For subscription information contact: FFA New Horizons Subscription Services, (317) 802-4235 or e-mail newhorizons@ffa.org. Periodical postage rate is paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and additional mail offices.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to FFA New Horizons, P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960.
C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A
Copyright© 2009 by the National FFA Organizationand Journal Communications Inc.
The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Please recycle this magazine
NEW HORIZONSNEW HORIZONSFFAFFAThe magazine of the National FFA Organization
®
Volume 55 Number 6
3FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
august 2009 Contents
Fascinated by FrogsEver heard of the Chiricahua Leopard
and Ramsey Canyon Leopard frogs? Both
are endangered frog species, and six
high-school students from the Arizona
Agribusiness and Equine Center in
Phoenix know all about them.
In partnership with the Phoenix Zoo,
these FFA members developed a DNA marker
system to study the genetics of these
frogs. The group recently presented its
findings at the International Conference
of Plant and Animal Genome Research
in San Diego, Calif.
Congratulations to Gabrielle Delmer,
Amanda Fish, Jessica Gaines, Taylor
Lasley, Taylor Ortiz, Colin Pressler and
their instructor, Dr. Michael Brown!
Why did the kid goat think his parents were made of money? Because he heard them being called “buck” and “doe.”
Samuel IvanovichSpotsylvania, Va.
Why was the piglet in trouble?Because he had a snout-y attitude.
Seth GoodRolla, N.D.
Happy CampersOne of the best FFA experiences
for many members is a trip
to their state summer FFA
camp. Playing sports,
participating in
leadership training,
engaging in friendly
competitions, and
making new friends
definitely makes for
a great summer.
We want to know
how many of you
attended camp
this summer. Log
on to FFA Nation
(ffanation.ffa.org)
and share your
photos, talk about it
on the Discussions
forum and maybe
even reconnect with
summer FFA camp
friends!
Just Joking
ffanewhorizons.orgffanewhorizons.org
Send us your best jokes through our Online Feedback Form.
4 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA scrapbook Express yourself
FYIYOUR TURN
Keep us informed!
This is your chance to
be a part of FFA New
Horizons. Send us a
short article about
your latest chapter
activities, awards
you’ve received or
even your involvement
outside FFA.
Be sure to include
a high-quality color
photo and your
contact information.
Want an easy way to
send your story? Visit
ffanewhorizons.org
and click on � Tell Us.
Or, send to:
FFA New Horizons
P.O. Box 68960
Indianapolis, IN 46268
newhorizons@ffa.org
in 1969, women were granted full membership into the National FFA Organization, then called the Future Farmers of America. This year, we celebrate 40 years since that historic event and how far we’ve come. Today, 41 percent of FFA members across the countRy are female.
A Monumental EffortHave you ever seen a replica of the FFA
emblem that stands more than 6 feet tall
and weighs 3,700 pounds? The FFA members
at Los Fresnos High School in Texas have;
they have spent the last two years garnering
support for its placement at their school.
The monument, known as the Ton of Pride,
is etched in a bronze patina lithachrome
monument finish and is one of only five in
Texas and the only one south of San Antonio.
A special ceremony was held to unveil and
dedicate the monument.
Riding FFA StyleIn honor of FFA and inspired by
the “American Chopper” TV show, the
Kewaunee FFA chapter of Wisconsin now
has its own set of wheels. Kewaunee’s
FFA chopper is a product of alumni and
community donations, a dedicated advisor,
and two years of hard work from more
than 20 students. FFA symbols and colors
are incorporated into every element of the
bike’s design, and even the seat is covered
with an FFA jacket. The chopper has been
shown at the Wisconsin
FFA convention and
the National FFA
Alumni auction
during the
2008
National
FFA
Convention.
5FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Win a Chevrolet T-shirtChevrolet, the sponsor of FFA Faces, will award a T-shirt to featured members.
Nominate yourself by following the steps below. Questions? E-mail ffanation@jnlcom.com.
NE
KY
OK IA
OH
Through her SAE in specialty animal production, this college
freshman owns, breeds and shows 20 dairy goats. For her efforts,
Sarah placed third in the state for her proficiency and was named
FFA Star Chapter Farmer. She served as chapter president and the
district FFA reporter. Sarah plans to attend college and major in
agricultural education or political science.
Sarah PiperChapter: Big Walnut FFA
Mitch, a college freshman, first joined FFA to develop his showman
skills and began exhibiting hogs at the county fair. He also worked
part time on local veal calf and dairy farms. He earned his
Greenhand FFA Degree and was named his chapter’s outstanding
sophomore. In addition to FFA, Mitch was a member of his school’s
football, basketball and baseball teams.
Mitch McCafferyChapter: Johnson Creek FFA
This high school junior competed in the FFA Creed speaking and
horse evaluation CDEs. With her strong leadership skills, Feron
served as chapter secretary and was named her chapter’s Star
Greenhand. She manages her herd of show cattle through her beef
production entrepreneurship SAE and plans to pursue a career
as a veterinarian.
Feron LeonardChapter: Lamoni FFA
This high school senior was a state proficiency winner for her SAE
in vegetable production. She owns a two-acre patch of sweet corn
and sells her crop locally. She also competed in the agricultural
sales and food science CDEs, earned her Chapter FFA Degree and
served as chapter secretary. She plans to attend the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln to major in business.
Chaney BlackChapter: West Boyd FFA
A high school junior, Courtney has developed solid entrepreneurial
supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs in vegetable
production and diversified livestock production by raising
tomatoes, market lambs, goats, pigs and Shorthorn cattle. She
was named the top swine exhibitor at the state fair for two years
and also served as chapter treasurer.
Courtney TarvinChapter: Bracken County FFA
Justin, a high school senior, exhibits pigs and horses at local fairs.
He also placed first in his county in the livestock evaluation
career development event (CDE). Justin has served as chapter
historian and treasurer, plays baseball and is a volunteer fireman.
He plans to attend Oklahoma State University and wants to start
his own heating and refrigeration business.
Justin ShaverChapter: Sox FFA
– Andrea Bloom
KY
OK IA
Mitch, a college freshman, first joined FFA to develop his showman
skills and began exhibiting hogs at the county fair. He also worked
part time on local veal calf and dairy farms. He earned his
Mitch McCafferyafferyChapter: Johnson Creek FFAreek FFA
This high school junior competed in the FFA Creed speaking and
horse evaluation CDEs. With her strong leadership skills, Feron
served as chapter secretary and was named her chapter’s Star
Greenhand. She manages her herd of show cattle through her beef
production entrepreneurship SAE and plans to pursue a career
as a veterinarian.
Feron LeonardnardChapter: Lamoni FFAFA
olid entrepreneurial
grams in vegetable
uction by raising
orses at local fairs.
vestock evaluation
served as chapter
volunteer fireman.
and wants to start
n business.
Create Describe NominateGo to ffanation.ffa.org and sign
up for an FFA Nation profile.Upload a profile photo and fill out the fields to tell us about
your FFA experiences.
Under the FFA Faces thread on the Discussions page, tell us why you should be featured.
WI
6 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA Faces
Cover Story
We’ve long known that FFA members are about more than just “cows, sows and plows.” You are selfless, motivated, and most of all, unique.
Over the next six issues, we’ll be highlighting FFA members who embody what today’s FFA is all about. You’ll meet athletes, volunteers, an artist and more.
But first, meet Katie, a talented singer-songwriter from Gleason, Tenn.
Katie is FFA. Are you?
Katie Snider believes FFA is singing her song
MelodyMore Than a
Story by Chris Hayhurst
For those in the audience, the National
FFA Talent Revue held each year during
the national FFA convention is a chance
to get up, clap your hands and dance. For
those members who perform – like Katie Snider,
who earned a spot onstage in 2007 – it’s a
chance of a lifetime. And it’s no slam dunk.
Katie, a recent high school graduate
from the Gleason FFA Chapter in Tennessee,
recalls the moment clearly.
“I was so nervous,” she recalls. “It was
the entire convention, the whole shebang. I’d
never played in front of that many people. I
just kind of looked out at the crowd, and all I
could see was this ocean of national blue and
corn gold.”
Fortunately for Katie, a gifted pianist
and composer, she knew what she was doing.
Blinded by the lights but buoyed by the cheers
from the crowd, she took her portable keyboard
and began to play.
The song? “Great Balls of Fire” – the rock
’n’ roll hit made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis in
the 1950s. And the verdict? By all accounts,
she rocked the house.
“It was so much fun,” Katie says. “I’ll never
forget it.”
It could be said that Katie’s performance
was destiny.
Thirty years earlier, her dad, Mike, who is
now a well-known professional banjo player,
also performed at the national FFA convention.
Back then he was an officer in Gleason FFA,
another honor he shares with his daughter,
who also served as a chapter officer.
Later, as he raised his family in the same
town he grew up in, he made sure his kids
were always surrounded by music.
“Growing up in a household where there’s
music going on all the time, I was just naturally
drawn to it,” Katie says. “I was curious about
it, so I wanted to learn to play as well. I guess,
Tennessee FFA member Katie Snider performs during the 2007 National FFA convention.
8 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
9FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Cover Story
maybe, I just wanted to be like my dad.
He was really an inspiration for me.”
Katie had friends who were taking
piano lessons, so she did the same.
“I loved it right from the start,”
she says. “I loved taking piano, and
I loved playing and practicing.”
Today, Katie says, after 10 years of
lessons, music has become her passion.
“I listen to all types of music, and
I’ll play anything,” says Katie, who
has performed everywhere from the
Tennessee FFA convention to a senior
citizens’ Christmas luncheon at school.
During her freshman year, Katie
even took part in a program that used
music to build self-esteem in young
children. There was no piano at the
school, so she improvised.
“I brought in a little roll-up key-
board I got for Christmas one year,
and I used it with the first graders,”
she explains. “It was so interesting
to see how they responded. I had them
all get up in a line, and they all got
to play on it.”
Even the shyest kids in the class
came up to the front and gave the
keyboard a try, Katie recalls.
“Their faces would light up, and
you could tell it meant a whole lot to
them. It was beautiful,” she says.
Music, as Katie explains, is her
outlet in life.
“If I’m upset or sad, or if I just
want to play a song, it kind of transports
Katie learned to play the guitar four years ago, and it quickly became a passion for her. She now writes her own songs and continues to hone her talent.
Are you a musical FFA member? Join FFA Nation to connect with other members like you on the Discussions page. You can also upload photos of your favorite musical performances to the Photo Gallery.
me into whatever state of mind I want
to be in,” she says. “It gives me tran-
quility. I think it’s really neat how
something so simple can do that.”
Simply put, Katie is really good
on the piano. She’s so good, in fact,
that not long ago she won an
International Piano Guild Superior
Composer Award.
But the piano isn’t the only thing
Katie excels at. She also plays guitar
and sings, and Katie enjoys composing
her own music and lyrics.
She’s won state and national public
speaking awards, and she’s competed
in everything from livestock judging
to parliamentary procedure. Katie’s
classmates elected her Miss Gleason
High School and homecoming queen.
This summer, Katie began college
at the University of Tennessee at
Martin on a music scholarship.
Katie says she’s excited about
college, though she’s not yet sure
what major she will choose. It may be
music, it may be creative writing
(which she also loves), or it may be
something else altogether.
“I’m just going to take life as it
comes, one step at a time. I do know
that music will definitely have a
part in whatever it is I do,” she says.
“I want music to always be a big part
of my life. I’m not sure how I’ll use it
or where it will lead me, but it will
always be there in one way or another.”
10 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Twist of FateIn 2007, Dakota Hoben and some
friends from the Louisa-Muscatine
High School in Iowa were enjoying a
hot summer day when a tornado blew
through their community, causing
damage everywhere. A particular home
caught their attention, since they knew
its resident was in her 90s and likely
inside. She was, and the boys pulled her
to safety and provided basic first aid
until help arrived.
While many people call Dakota and
his friends heroes, they remain humble.
“I feel I could count on every FFA
member from across this country to
respond in a similar fashion, with
a similar attitude,” Dakota says.
A Pet ProjectAs part of their National FFA Week celebration, East Lincoln
FFA members from Denver, N.C., sponsored a pet supply drive.
The students collected more than 200 items from their high
school classmates, including chew toys, bowls, cat litter, pet
food and more. They donated the items to the Humane Society
of Lincoln County and The Animal League of Gaston County.
According to FFA advisor Shane Norris, the members
recognized that these groups needed their help more than
ever during the economic downturn, when the number of
abandoned pets skyrockets.
“When families are displaced and move to
alternative housing, they usually have
no room or are not allowed to have
pets,” Norris explains.
11FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Cool stuff to know FFA What's hot
12 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
college affords FFA members a unique opportunity to interact with other students, in addition to providing a quality education.
Q
Q
Nervous, scared, intimidated, anxious.
That’s how many of you say you feel
about life after high school. The good
news is, you’re not alone.
Many middle- and high-school students
find themselves with more questions than
answers when it comes to college. After all,
it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll
ever make and, for many of you, the first you’ll
make as an “adult.”
So, for this year’s annual college feature,
we turned to you.
We asked our FFA Facebook friends and
FFA Nation users to submit questions about
college. And for the answers, we called upon
college experts – admissions directors,
professors, current college students and
even your National FFA Collegiate Ambassadors.
Read on for a great variety of college
information, from information on housing
to how you can continue your FFA involvement.
How hard is the transfer from studying in high school to studying in college?
“Most students tell me they don’t have to
study in high school to do well, so there is
definitely a transition when entering college.
In college, students are expected to spend three
hours studying outside of class for each credit
hour. So as an example, a three-hour class would
equal to at least nine hours of study time.”
Christy Watkins
Recruitment Coordinator,
Murray State University, Murray, Ky.
“College is all about time management.
You are away from home, with no one to tell
you when to study, how much to study or when
to go to bed. It is up to you to make sure that
you get everything done. I suggest making
a weekly checklist for all the assignments
due, things you need to read and things you
need to study. Get a planner if it will help.”
Erin Crumbley
Freshman, New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, N.M.
How is my roommate chosen? “With most on-campus housing, you have
the opportunity to choose your own roommate.
If you decide not to, you are usually randomly
assigned to a student who has similar interests
as you. A word of advice: Be bold and let your
roommate be randomly assigned. You can gain
lifelong friendships and meet more people
that way.”
Mike Ockerhausen
Junior, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
Your life-after-high-school
questions, ANSWERED
Story by Kim NewsomPhotography by Jeffery S. Otto
CollegeKnowledge For
FYIOUR CONTRIBUTORS
Thanks to these
FFA members who
contributed college
questions for this article:
• Ame Steele,
Northwestern
Regional FFA, Conn.
• Shyann Krumrey,
Buffalo Lake-Hector
FFA, Minn.
• Jon Wilber, Scott
County FFA, Ky.
• Leah Schill,
Crothersville FFA, Ind.
• Ross Newton, Hoosier
Hills FFA, Ind.
• Kolin Schmidt, Central
City FFA, Iowa
• Benjamin Trampe, SEM
FFA, Neb.
13FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Q
Q
Why is college so expensive?
“The better question is, “How can
I make my college education worth the
investment?” And, college is an invest-
ment – one that will pay off throughout
your lifetime, since your salary will
be greatly higher than someone with
only a high-school diploma.”
Ina Agnew
Vice President, Enrollment
Management, Oklahoma State
University Institute of
Technology, Okmulgee, Okla.
What should I do to remain sane the first few months and not miss everybody?
“Make connections! Talk
to your professors and fellow
students. Don’t isolate yourself;
instead, get involved. You’ll make
friends quickly, and the myriad
of activities and schoolwork
should prevent boredom!”
Jason Emmert
Assistant Dean, College of
Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences, University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
How do I decide which major to choose?
“What you choose to pursue
in college will likely change over
your collegiate career. The strong
majority of college students will
change majors at least once, and
the strong majority of those of us
in the workforce are employed in
an area not directly tied to our
college major. Find a major that
fits you; don’t make yourself fit
the major!”
Kathryn Martensen
Assistant Dean, College of
Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
What do colleges look for in an applicant?
“Colleges are looking for students
who are driven and want to be involved.
Grades are important, but they
aren’t usually the only deciding
factor. FFA members have a head
start because of the reputation of
the National FFA Organization.”
Natalie Ryan
Junior, California
State University – Fresno
14 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Q
QIs there any way to continue FFA during college?
“Collegiate membership! Once
on campus, get connected with your
collegiate FFA chapter so you can stay
involved in the many opportunities
FFA has to offer. If your campus
doesn’t currently have a collegiate
FFA chapter, simply contact National
FFA at collegiate@ffa.org to get
information on how to charter a new
chapter. Once connected with your
collegiate chapter, you’ll be amazed
at all the opportunities that await you!”
Marty Tatman
Education Specialist,
National FFA Organization
What is the best advice that you would give to a high school student about college in general?
“Keep your mind open. You
will be surprised who you will meet,
what you will discover and the fun
you will have when you are open to
trying new things you would have
never done in high school.”
Erin Sheffer
College graduate, Towson
University, Towson, Md.
Visit the Discussions page to join the conversation about life after high school.
15FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Regina Holliday loves animal agriculture. A
native of Dublin, Ga., she began showing beef
cattle at an early age, and her career goal is
eventually become a veterinarian. But for
now, Regina is enjoying her year as the
National FFA Southern Region Vice President.
QWhat is your favorite part about being
a college student?
AI love life at the University of Georgia!
The best part about being a college
student is getting to meet new people.
Trust me – in a lecture hall of more than 400
students, you meet somebody new every day!
FYIREGINA’S FAVORITES
Any day of the week,
this Georgia native’s
purse is carrying
around a pack of
crayons. Sound
strange? Learn more
about Regina’s quirks
and favorites:
Sport to play: Tennis
Color: Pink
Food: Chicken and
dumplings
FFA memory: Annual
fruit sale
Animal: Cows
Hobby: Singing
Anima
Ho
HollidayRegina
QWhy should FFA members consider
joining Collegiate FFA after they finish
high school?
ACollegiate FFA is a great way to
continue involvement in such a great
organization. You may go to a school
outside of your state, but with Collegiate FFA,
you can still work with individuals who have
the same beliefs in agriculture. Plus, it helps
you learn how we as agriculturalists can
help educate people on things that affect
our everyday lives.
QAs a beef cattle producer and FFA
member, what do you tell people when
asked about our nation’s food supply?
AWe have one of the safest – if not the
safest – food supply in the world. Quite
often, people don’t fully understand
the issues in agriculture, so it’s important
to educate people about our industry. That
education starts as FFA members in our local
communities and can even extend to our
collegiate careers and beyond.
QA lot of other FFA members, like you,
also want to become veterinarians.
What are you doing to prepare yourself
for your future career?
AI have realized the important of
maintaining good grades, so studying
is a must for me. The average GPA to get
into vet school is greater than a 3.5, so I have
to hit the books! I also think it is important to
build relationships with faculty and staff at
your college or university. My advisor at UGA
has been instrumental in helping me take
the required courses and developing a plan
of action so that I can go to vet school.
ffanewhorizons.orgffanewhorizons.org
Click on In This Issue for more from our interview with Regina.
National FFA Southern Region Vice President
16 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA National Officer Q & A
Much?I
f college is in your near future,
you’re probably thinking about
choosing a major, moving into
your dorm room and maybe even
joining a sorority or fraternity. But
hold your horses – the first step in
planning for college is to
understand the costs involved. After
all, your education is one of the biggest
financial investments you’ll make in
your life.
It’s no secret college costs a pretty
penny. You’ll be wise not to rely solely
on your parents to navigate the ins
and outs of tuition, grants and loans.
Even if you’re just considering
college, you should also fill out the
FAFSA application, which stands for
Free Application for Federal Student
Aid. You can complete it online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The first step in preparing for college is to understand the money involved
College Costs HowCollege Finance, DefinedSome common terms you’ll hear as you
research college finance options:
Tuition: The amount of money you’ll have
to pay to attend a college
Pell Grant: A federal grant that provides
funds to undergraduate students with
financial need
Stafford Loan: A federal student loan
program that allows students to borrow
money for education directly from banks
and lenders
Subsidized Loans: Federal loans that
are based on financial need; students
typically are not charged interest until
they begin repayment after graduation
Unsubsidized Loans: Federal loans
that are not based on financial need;
students are charged interest right
from the start
Interest Rate: The cost of borrowing
money as expressed as a percentage
rate of the sum you are borrowing
Promissory Note: A legally binding
contract a borrower signs to obtain a loan
Out-of-State Tuition: The extra money
you’ll have to pay if you attend a public
college somewhere other than in your
home state
Scholarships/Grants: Free money for
college that you do not have to repay
Loans: Money you borrow for college
that you will eventually have to
pay back to the lender
“The FAFSA is the government’s
way of determining how much you
and your parents can afford to pay
for college. It’s probably the most
important financial aid form a
college-bound student can complete,”
says Mark Rothbaum, president of
CollegeToolkit.com. “You’ll need to
complete this form to get access to
most of the money available from
the federal government, including
Pell Grants and Stafford Loans. And
many state and private aid programs
use the FAFSA to determine your
eligibility for their scholarship,
grant and loan programs.”
You’ll also want to create a budget
for college, and there are dozens of
calculators and worksheets available
online to help. CollegeToolkit.com,
for example, offers a College Expense
Worksheet to create a budget, a
Financial Aid Award Evaluator to
compare financial aid
awards, and a College
Savings Calculator.
It’s never too early for high school
students to start planning for college
expenses. Though most students don’t
think about it until junior or senior
year, freshmen and sophomores can
benefit from examining scholarship
applications, joining clubs and
paying attention to their grades.
– Jessica Mozo
17FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
College Finance FFA your money
Financial A
coc m
Savings Cal
It’s nev
students to
expenses. Th
think about
yyear, freshm
benefit from
application
paying atte
Just hearing the word “interview”
is enough to make some students
break out in a cold sweat. After
all, whether you’re trying to get into
college, get chosen for an internship,
or land your first job, an interview
places you in the hot seat and is
the deciding factor for some very
important opportunities in life.
“Interviewers spend a good
amount of time justifying their first
impressions,” says Mark Truman, a
college consultant and owner of Omniac
Education, a New Mexico firm that
specializes in helping students
transition from high school to
college. “If you look confident,
capable and intelligent when you
first enter the room, the interviewer
will ask you questions that will give
you a chance to display your skills.
If you look poorly dressed, run late
and answer incoherently, the
interviewer will ask questions that
attempt to figure out how off you are.”
Truman offers these additional
words of advice:
1. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.
Try on clothes, arrange
for a ride and scope out the
interview site in advance.
2. LOOK PROFESSIONAL.
Teens sometimes struggle
to look professional because they
7 tips to calm your nerves and help you present yourself professionally
JittersJob Interview don’t have a closet full of suits. Talk
to your parents about purchasing
an affordable suit or put some time
into ironing and matching clothes
you already have.
3. PRACTICE QUESTIONS.
Google “common
interview questions” and print out
a list, then have your parents or a
friend ask you sample questions.
4. PLAN FOR CURVEBALLS.
Also be prepared
for curveball questions. Lots of
interviewers like to ask unusual
questions to see how well candidates
think on their feet.
“There’s only one wrong answer –
‘I don’t know,’” Truman says. “If they
ask you your favorite movie and you
say Mortal Kombat, that’s totally fine.
It’s honest and might even get a laugh
out of the interviewer.”
5. KNOW ABOUT THEM.
Show you are interested
in the job, internship or scholarship
by knowing a few important facts about
the company. Researching the website
is a must.
6. ARRIVE EARLY.
If you’re rushing around,
you’ll look unprepared – even if you
spent hours preparing.
7. BE YOURSELF.
As cliché as it sounds,
focus on being yourself.
“Interviewers don’t expect you
to be perfect, “Truman says. “They are
interested in honest discussions.”
– Jessica Mozo
18 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA How-to Ace a job interview
Michele Payn-Knoper is an FFA alumna from Michigan.
If you ask Michele Payn-Knoper what she
does, her simple answer is, “run around
the world talking a lot.”
As a professional speaker, author and
consultant, she works to give a voice to the
people who feed the world. Payn-Knoper is
no newcomer to agriculture; she grew up
on a dairy cattle operation and served as
the Michigan FFA Secretary.
Learn more about her unique career.
Payn-KnoperAgriculture advocate and FFA alumna tells the story of those who feed our world
Michele
QWhat does your company, Cause
Matters Corp., do?
AI work with people in production
agriculture and agribusiness to speak
out more effectively in order to build a
connection between the farm gate and
consumer plate. Recently I began offering
keynotes and workshops for FFA conventions
and leadership conferences with a friend who
was in a neighboring FFA chapter. You never
know when your fellow FFA members will come
back into your life!
QIn what ways did FFA help prepare
you for this type of career?
AFFA transformed me from being painfully
shy to falling in love with speaking on
the stage of the Michigan FFA convention.
The leadership skills taught at all levels of FFA
continue to serve as the foundation for my life.
QWhy do you think it’s important for
FFA members to help advocate for
U.S. agriculture?
A Regardless of whether your interests
are in landscaping, food science,
forestry, raising livestock or planting
crops – understand you have a story to tell
about agriculture.
FFA members across the nation need to
be speaking up to help get the word out that
American agriculture does the right thing
for the right reasons. The reality is that if
you don’t, consumer misunderstanding
will drive the future of our business.
Add your thoughts about agricultural advocacy to our Discussions thread.
20 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA Back Talk Former members Reflect