The Alabatna

FFA REPORTER OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALABAMA FFA ASSOCIATION

Vol. 13 WINT ER 1986 No.1

ALABAMA SHOWS IN "SHOW ME STATE"

It was finally happening. The Sgth National COllvention was about to kickoffin the "Show Me State" of Misso uri. Its theme. "Leaders for the

New Fields of !\gricult ure ". proved to be a fitting olle. With almost 22.000 atten­dingand one idea in mind. "promoting agriculture". the convention was a tre­mendous success. The wcek a head was full of excite­ment and hard work.

Afterarriving in Kansas City on Tuesday morning. wc a II bega n to co ncen-

Mike Dunkling trate Oil the duties we were to perform. For Jody Brewer. David Parmer. and Thomas Spcncer. the day \vas to be full of com­mittee meetings and delegate orientation. Jody served on the National Future Farmer Maga7ine Committee. while David served on the Memher­ship Development Committcc. Tom was choscn to serve on the National Information Service Committee. The Courtesty Corps members atten­ded an orientation meeting where the)' were assigned their duties for the week. The partici­pants in the team and individual contests also received fina I instructions for their pa rticular contest.

On Wednesday evening the auditorium was filled to capacity for the vespers program. Tbe vespers put everyone in the mood ofappreciation and serious thought· appreciation for the Ameri­can farmer. the backbone of our nation. and thoughts of where we would be without him.

On Thursday morning we witnessed aver) impressive opening ceremony. performed by the National Officers. We heard the retiring address of the National Secretary Michael Gayaldo. en­titled "Passing Thoughts". We also viewed the National Theme audio visual. "Think About It". Six chapters from Alabama received the National Safety Award. They were: Daleville. Dale County. Scottsboro. West Limestone. Crossville, and Douglas FFA Chapters. We then heard an inspir­ing address by motivational speakcr Zig Ziglar.

Thursday afternoon the National FT.'" Pre­pared Public Speaking Contest was held. We also heard from Nanci Mason with her retiringaddress. "Let Y ourse If Go ". As pecia I guest a ppeara nee was made by 19O5 Olympic Gold Medalist Ban Conner. In this session the Dale County. Scottsboro. Crossville. Ider. Douglas. Daleville. and G. W. Long FFA Chapters received National Chapter .""wards.

(('()//Iil7ue" 017 poxe 2)

by Mike Dunkling

State FF A Reporter

NATIONAL WINNER

Advisor Tomm y Odom and Kevin Turner

KE VIN T URNE R. of the Citronelle " Blue" F Ff\ Chapter. was selected as National F FA Home and; or Farmstead Improvement Profi­ciency ,""ward winner during the National FFA Convention.

Kevin lives with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Duane Turner. on a small beef farm where he has assisted in many improvements on the farm. ,""s a part of this project. he has constructed sheds. catch pens. corrals. head chutes, fences, and cross fences. He has learned skills such as arc and oxya­eetelyne welding, pouring concrete and basic elec­tricity He also learned tojudge. select and evalu­ate breeds of market cattle. In addition he has remodeled bathrooms. added house porches, in­stalled ceiling fans and a wood-burning stove in their home. He has many more plans for improve­ment on their farm and hopes to accomplish them all in the near future.

Assisti ng Kevin in d isplayi ng h is a wa rds is his advisor Tommy Odom. Kevin received a $SOO cash award from the Agricultural Division of the Upjohn Company. national sponsor.

NATION AL OFFI CER ELECTED

Robert Weaver

RO BERT WE."" VER. of the Falkville I-F."" Chapter. was elected the 1985-86 ,< ational FF:\ Southern Region Vice President during the Na­tional FF /\ Convention. Robert's FF."" advisorat Falkville is Billy Bryan. Robert. the I 982-g3 State President. is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elton Weaver of Falkville. In In4 Robert received the .""merican Farmer Degree.

In talking with Robert about his feelings on being elected to this high office. he states. "It's a great feeling. A door has been opened fOJ me giving me many opportunities. It's a new expf.­rience for me. My ultima te goa I has been reached." Robert says his future goal is to "be the very best National Officer that I can be-at least to m)' abilities." This is not his first a t tempt for Na tiona I Officer. He was a candidate in 1984: however. he never gave up on his goal of being a National Officer. Robert feels "persistence pays off."

In discussing what he anticipates for next year. Robert states he is looking forward to a great deal of travel. In looking ahead, he is most interested in meetingallthediJTerent people, making speeches, and doing public relations work for the FF,,,,,. He feels he has a great group of Na tiona I Officers with whom to work. Robert has completed his junior year at Auburn University in the College of Agri­culture. He is an Agricultural Engineering major. Upon completion of his year of service to the FFA. he will ret urn to A u burn University to com­p lete his st ud ies for his degree. Ro be rt has bee nan active member of the Auburn University Colle­giate FFA Chapter.

Congratulations Robert' We wish for you the very best in InS-86.

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NATIONAL FFA COHVEttTI' ansas City, Missouri

The Douglas FFA Chapler received national recognition in the Na tional Safety Award Pro­gram. Shown accepting the award for the chapter are representatives Tommy Robertson and advi­sor Larry Wilson.

NATIONAL ffA COHVEtlTlOI Kan5as~ Missouri

The West limesto ne FFA Chapter received na­tional recognition in th e National Safety Award Program. Shown accepting the award is F FA member Dana Ridgeway and advisor Darwin Siniard.

(c()/1/il1uedji-()/II IJUge I)

Thursdav night's session began with the intro­duction of the National Officer Candidatcs, in­cluding Robert Wcaver of the Falkvillc FF,,, Chapter. Thc National Band and Chorus enter'­ta i ned d u ri ng th is session. We were ve ry rleased to have Mary Pace and Brent Bridges. from Scotts­boro, participatc. We also recogni7cd and ap­pia uded the surrort of the sponsors to the Na­tional FFA Foundation. ,,,Cter the massing of Ilags. we vicwed the "Sta rs Over;\ merica Pagea nt"

With Friday morning's session came the retir­ingaddress of Mike Barrett. Central Region Vice President. The Honorarv ,"merican Farmer De­gree was bestowed on six very deserving individu­a Is from Ala bama - Rex Mavfield of Russellville High School: Herman Garrick from Clarke County High School: Donald Wilson from Clements High School: Larrv Wilson from Douglas High School: Jim Kendrick of the Vocational Curricu­lum Unit. State Department of Education. Mont­gomery, and Dr. Bob Drake of the Center for Vocational and ."dult Education.."uburn Uni­versity. We then heard from the NBC Today Show Weatherman Willard Scott.

During the fifth session. we were addressed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. John Hlock. Graham Boyd , Eastern Regional Vice President. delivered his retiringaddress, "Accept No l.imita­tions". Schools and advisors of the National Officers were reeogniled. ,,,Iso. the ,"merican Fa rmer Degree was a warded to 16 recipients from ,"Ia bama.

On Friday night. the Agricultura I Proficiency Awards Pageant was held. Alabama had one Na­tional winner in Home and: or Farmstead

Improvement, Kevin Turner of the Citronelle "Blue" FFA Chapter.

Throughout the week, lJuartets from the Troy Chapter and the West Jefferson Chapter rer­formed at various functions in Kansas City.

Saturday morning was the day that the various jUdging contest awards were announced. With this session came the retiringaddress of the West­ern Region Vice President Brad Bass. Our guest spea ker for the morni ng was Roc ky Bleier. former Pittsburgh Steeler running back. ,,,Iso. the Ameri­can Royal Queen was introduced.

It \vas hard to believe a week had gone bv. and the closing session was a t hand. We hea rd Na tiona I President Steve Meridith's retiring address. The tension built as the no minating committee rre­rared to announce the National Officers for the year of 19R6. Everyone Crom ,,,Iabama was proud when Robert Wcaver was announced as Southern Region Vice President. Following Iheir installa­t ion. the SSt h Na tiona I Convention was adjo urned.

Tha t eveni ng we were ente rta ined by Gra nd Ole Opry Stars- Little Jimmy Dickens. [)el Wood. H. C. Morgan, Cal Smith. and Ra77Y Bailey. Evervone a Iso used th is time to say good -bye to a II the new friends made during the convention.

Sunday morning brought with it the plane ride back to ,"Iabama. as well as more good-byes.The pia ne was quiet from ta keoff unti Iia nd i ng. We a II used this time to reflect on the week well spent in Kansas City.

Upon our arrival in Montgomerv. we said our final good-byes. We will never forget the time we srent together or the friends we made at the 58th National FFA Convention.

NATIONAL SAFETY AWARD WINNERS

The Scottsboro FFA Chapter received na tiona I recognition in the Na tiona I Sa fety ," ward Progra m. Shown representing the ' ponsors are (Ieftl Robert Lamphier, Dickev-John Corporation. and (second from right) John Hagaman, Dow Chemical. U.S.A Chapter representatives are Jonathan Lyles. John Knight and Talmadge Butler. advisor.

The Daleville FFA Chapter received national recognition in the National Safety Award Program. Shown accepting the award for the chapter is Michael S/okoly and advisor Alan Waters.

EDI TOR 'S NOTE : We regret that pictures of American Farmers, Honorary America n Farmers, Chapter and BOAC winners were unavailable at press time.

ALABAMA ~S JUD GING TEAMS "SHOW " WELL

The G. W. Long FFA (,hapler represe nted Alabama in the Agricultural Mecha nic s Contest. Represe nti 111' Ihe s[lons" r. The Firesto ne Ti re & Rub ber Com[lany. is (left) T e rr y .!. Renninger. Tea m members are (I -r) Ton y Han­cock. Richard Pinyan. and Mark Ethered ge. Advi,or to the tea m is Bob Moo rehea d.

NATIOIiAl. ffA OAI1'IY (0 TlSl TEA"!

The Hayden F'FA Dairy Judging Team was Alabama's represen tat ive in this compet it io n. Rc p resenting the sp onsor. Associated Mil k Producers. Inc .. of San A ntonio. T exas. is ( left) Jack Parks . T ea m memb ers are (I-r) Glen Gra ves. Brian Re id. Leigh Booth and advi so r Johnny Mills.

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The Wetumpka F FA Chapter re presen ted Alaba ma in the Fl oriculture Con­test. The t<:am is sh own with sponso r re presenta ti ve . Kim Havens. of the National FFA F ou ndation . Inc . Tea m members 'are (I-r) Cind y Goodman. Donna Hughes. alternate. Tammy Peavy. Dusty Lee and Chapter Advisor Joe L. Brown.

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T he Troy FFA Chapter represented Alabama in th e first Na tional FFA Fo res try Contest. Representing the sponso r. Hom elite Division ol'Textron. In c .• C harloll e. Nort h Carolina is (left) Steve Moo re . Members o lthe team are (I-r) Ton y Wh it ma n. Mike Rhod es. and J Ha rve ll. Advisor to the team is L. M. Carter.

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The Beauregard FFA Chapter com[leted in the Livestock Jud ging Contest. Re presenting t he spo nsor. Purina Mill s. Inc .. is Don Mouer y (left). Team members are (I-r) Todd Pate. Tommy Spence. Mich ael Ba nkst on. a nd Jason McConnell. Shown with the team is advisor Dan Porterfield. and John Colquitt. student intern . Aubu rn University.

ION

The Va lley H ead FFA Chapler had th e team representing Alabama in the Nursery! Landscape Contest. Sponsor re prese ntati ves pictured (I-r)are Rick Brennes. K ubota Tractor Corp.:Kerry. McCoy . American Association of Nurserymen , Inc .. and Cheryl Gauss, True Value Hardware Stores­Professi ona l Care Program . Team members are Va n Ballies. Steve Cha mbers. Chris Jackso n. Ric ky Barkley. a nd adviso r L. A . Smith.

SOUTHERN REGIONAL PROFICIENC Y WI NN ERS

AGRIC LTllRAl. ELECTlUFICATION - Kyle Hcarn is pictured with Kenneth L. McFate. Nati ona l Food and Ene rgy Council, Inc" and Doug Howison, Klein Tools, Inc., s po nso rs o f the National FFA Agricultural Electrificati on Proficiency Award program. Kyle isa member of the Beaure­gard "A" Chapter, and his advisor is Dan Po rt e rfield.

FOR EST MANAGEMENT - Jeff Boutwe ll is pictured with Kim Ha vens. of th e National F FA Fou ndati o n for W eyer ha euser Company Foundation, spo nsor of the National FFA Fore st Manageme nt Proficiency Award Pro­gra m. J eff is a member of t he Da lev ille FFA Chapte r. a nd hi s ad viso r is A la n Wate rs .

AGRICULTU RAL SALES AND / OR SERVICE - Mart y Wootten is pictured with Thomas W . Stadt mueller and Ro bert J. H ill, of DeulI-Allis Corporation, sponsor of the Nat iona l F FA Il..gricu ltu ra l Salcs and / or Se r­vice Pro fi c iency Awa rd program . Marty is a member of the Ider F FA Chapter, and hi s adviso r is Jaspe r Wa g ner.

HORSF. PROFICIF.NCY - R o be rt Burn s, Jr " is pic tured w ith Don Tread­wa y, Il..merican Quarter Borse Il..ssoc iation, spo nso r o f th e Na ti o na l A Horse Pro fici ency ,,,ward P rogram . Robert is a membe r of the Tuscaloosa Co unt y "B lue" FFA Cha pte r and hi s advi so r is Dup ree Ga ll oway.

BEEF PRODU CTION - Mike Duke is pictured with W . P hi l Niemeyer, Nasco D ivi sio n, Nasco International and Robert M . Wright, of Sper ry New Holland, s po nso rs o f the Na ti o na I FFA Beef Prod uctio n Proficie ncy Awa rd P rog ra m . Mik e isa me mberofthe Munford FFA C hap ter. a nd hi s adviso r is Jimm y Sewe ll .

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT - S ta n le y Clarke , is pic tured with Doug Butler. a ti o na l FFA Fo undati o n fo r Phi li p Morri s, Inc" spo nsor of th e Nationa l FFA Wildl ife Manage ment Proficiency program. Stan ley is a member of th e Linev ille F F A Chapter, and his advisor is Lama r Dewberry.

DAIRY PRODUCTION - Denise Smith is pictured with L. A. Skea te and Ja y M uth ma nn. Alfa- La va l, Inc .. Agri Group spo nsors of the Na tiona I FFA Dairy Producti o n Profic iency Award program. Denise is a member of t he Arab FFA Chapter . Her advisors are Randy Britnell and Rand y Wilkin s.

STATE OFFICER S - represe nted th e Alabama Associati o n as official delegates: sta te flag beare r. and as courtesy corps members. Officers are: (I-r) David Parme r. Phillip Hut so n, J ody Brewer, Greg Smith, Thomas Spencer. and Mike Dunkling.