Wyoming FFA Convention

The 2013 Wyoming FFA Convention is slated for April 8-11in Cheyenne. FFA members across Wyoming are practicing the FFA Creed, putting the polishing touches on their speeches, preparing their presentations and practicing with their Career Development Event teams. 

Kudos go out to the 2013 Wyoming FFA Officer Team and Wyoming State FFA Advisor Stacy Broda and her team. Some changes are being made in the convention schedule and events that should improve the experience for Wyoming FFA’s 2,000-plus members from one of our state’s 51 chapters.

While in Cheyenne for the Convention, FFA members will compete in a variety of events collectively called “Career Development Events.” They’re so-named because of their proven ability to help FFA members explore career fields and develop marketable job skills while they’re still in high school. The competitions provide FFA members a chance to “get their toes wet,” if you will. The skills they learn give them a glimpse at work in a given career field or area. Some examples include the Agricultural Issues Forum, Environment and Natural Resources and Livestock Evaluation.

We’re also excited to see this year’s proficiency applicants. These applications feature FFA member projects or in FFA lingo, their Supervised Agricultural Experience project. For some it’s the work surrounding their time in the show ring, their commercial cattle herd or employment at an area business. Regardless of the exact project, what we know for sure is that there are some really ambitious FFA members across Wyoming who will submit stellar applications.

Once the work is done, FFA members will head to the Cheyenne Civic Center for the convention sessions and to carry out their Association’s business. Thanks to Farm Credit Services of America, FFA members and guests will hear from motivational speaker Mark Black. Mark is known as the “Adversity Advisor – Speaker, Author and Success Coach.” The heart and double-lunch transplant, who is a four-time marathon winner, is sure to give all of us in attendance some things to think about.

On the Foundation end of Wyoming FFA, we’re working to help pay the bills at the 2013 Wyoming FFA Convention. We provide a portion of the dollars to help fund the awards, aid winning teams in their travels to National FFA Convention this fall and more. If you’re a past member of FFA who would like to help or simply believe in the program and the direction it provides Wyoming youth, we’d appreciate your help. Opportunity exists to sponsor both Career Development Event teams as well as Wyoming’s proficiency winners. Beyond that, we’re expecting over six dozen scholarship applications from highly qualified and motivated FFA members who are either already enrolled in college or heading that direction Fall 2013. Sponsorships range from a few dollars to higher amounts.

The Foundation is also organizing the 2013 Career and Trade Show in hopes of bringing learning opportunities to the FFA members in attendance. If you’re interested in one of our limited (just 30) booth spaces, please drop me a line.

Jennifer Vineyard Womack is executive director of the Wyoming FFA Foundation and a freelance writer. She can be reached at Womack@Wyoming.com or at 307-351-0730.