As another school year gets under way, the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization prepares to kick off its 75th anniversary at the National FFA Convention, October 30-November 2, 2002, in Louisville, Kentucky. The FFA was established in 1928 as an organization for farm boys enrolled in high school vocational agriculture classes.

The Illinois Association FFA, which was chartered in 1929, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary next year. The 2002-2003 Illinois FFA officers have selected "Excellence Becomes Tradition" as the theme for this year. This theme is appropriate because the FFA has always promoted excellence among its members, and that has created a rich tradition.

The most visible tradition of the FFA is the blue and gold corduroy jacket, which FFA members wear with pride and everyone recognizes. The FFA is also known for leadership development, public speaking, parliamentary procedure and supervised agricultural experience programs.

An important part of each chapter is its Program of Activities. One of these activities is community development, which fits right in with another tradition of the FFA, community service. Illinois FFA chapters and their members have given countless hours of volunteer time and work to improve their school and community.

The other two parts of the FFA's Program of Activities are student development and chapter development. Members learn skills that will benefit them throughout life. For many FFA members, lifelong friendships also begin with people they meet through the FFA.

The agriculture classroom and the supervised agricultural experience program are also important parts of the total agricultural education program. Today's career opportunities in agriculture are many and varied. For example, the "Green Industry" is one of the fastest growing areas in agriculture today. Research and agricultural sales also offer many career opportunities for students. Although production agriculture is only a small part of agriculture, it requires a vast network of support and related businesses. Approximately 20-25 percent of the people in Illinois are employed in agriculture or an agriculture related job.

Agricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems.

Each year, the Horatio Alger Association prepares a report on the "State of Our Nation's Youth," a survey of the thoughts and opinions of the typical student. In 1999, the study compared agricultural education students and FFA members to the typical high school student. The study found the following:

• 89 percent of FFA members believe in career success and are optimistic about the future vs. 68 percent of the typical students.

• 83 percent of FFA members say courses are exciting vs. 32 percent of typical students.

• 88 percent of FFA members vs. 49 percent of typical students think courses are interesting.

• 90 percent of FFA members participate in sports, school and community activities vs. 77 percent of typical students.

• 91 percent of FFA members vs. 66 percent of the typical students relate personal effort to personal success.

The FFA mission states: "The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education".

Book on Illinois barns

As a closing note, the Illinois Foundation FFA is still accepting pictures of Illinois barns for the book they are doing. If you have a barn picture you would like to submit, please contact the Illinois FFA Center at (217) 753-3328 for an entry form, which needs to be submitted with the picture. We had hoped to have all the pictures in by now, but we still need more. If you can help, we would appreciate it. Thank you to all who have already submitted pictures.

Frank M. Dry is the Associate Executive Secretary of the Illinois Association FFA. He taught high school agriculture for 12 years before accepting the position with the Illinois Association FFA in July 1985.

The opinions and views of guest commentators are their own and may not represent those of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives or the electric co-ops of Illinois.

4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING www.aiec.org