SAN LUIS VALLEY — The National FFA Organization along with San Luis Valley chapters are celebrating National FFA week Feb. 21-28.

"Step Up, Stand Out" is the theme this year, challenging FFA members to step up to responsibilities, stand out from the rest of the crowd and reach for success. Nearly half a million FFA members across the nation will participate in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels.

FFA members are success-oriented students who are driven to achieve their goals and be the leaders of tomorrow. They stand out by recognizing the importance of being active in their schools and communities and are urged to step up when volunteers are sought, friendship is needed and leadership is required.

Through classroom instruction and hands-on learning, agricultural education and FFA are making a positive difference for members every day. FFA members have opportunities to attend national leadership conferences, develop a supervised agricultural experience project, learn life skills and serve their communities with civic engagement.

The focus of National FFA Week is to tell America about the great opportunities available for youth in agriculture. From its beginnings in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization today reaches out to all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. From urban to rural schools, FFA is committed to developing character and leadership skills and preparing members for a lifetime of success in one of the 300 careers in agriculture.

FFA members are our future engineers, scientists, teachers and producers. One of every five Americans is employed in the food, fiber and natural resources industries of agriculture, and Alamosa FFA members are the future of these important industries.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one of every five Americans is employed in the critical food, fiber and natural resources industries of agriculture. Former FFA members and agriculture students are engaged in these essential careers.

“Step Up, Stand Out is not only a way of life for FFA members, but it is also a call to action for all students,” said Paul Moya, national FFA president. “Members recognize the importance of being active in their schools and communities, and FFA Week is a time to celebrate their leadership and educate others about agriculture.”

During the week, national FFA officers will travel to different regions in the United States to visit local FFA chapters, participate in special events and visit with their state legislators, and in some cases, their governors.

As a part of National FFA Week, Alamosa members are planning the following special events:

Monday — 23rd — FFA Spirit Day

Tuesday — Teacher Appreciation Breakfast/ Wear Official Dress to School Day, Laila Hajji, Central Region National FFA Officer to speak during Breakfast.

Wednesday — Dress like a Hick Day

Thursday — Rodeo /Rodeo Clown Day

Friday — John Deere Day

Chapters have the chance to participate in the National FFA Week Contest and the first place chapter is featured on the FFA Today television show.

National FFA Week is sponsored by Tractor Supply Co. and Carhartt as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The Foundation helps secure support from business and industry for FFA and agricultural education, and it raises several million dollars each year for scholarships awarded to outstanding members pursuing higher education.

Visit www.ffa.org for more information.



Heersink goes out with a bang at stock show

By BRANDY MARRINAN

Alamosa FFA Reporter

ALAMOSA — Alamosa FFA member, Chelsea Heersink participated in her last National Western Stock Show this year.

Chelsea is currently a senior at Alamosa High School.

She showed her goats in a market and showmanship classes.

Chelsea competed against many exhibitors from Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico.

In the showmanship class Chelsea took over all Grand Champion Senior Showman. Showmanship is a competition on how well the exhibitor can exhibit their animal, knowledge of the animal, and how well the animal is trained.

Chelsea has been showing for many years and knows her animals well. She travels around the country to exhibit her animals.

At this Stock Show she proved her knowledge and skill. At her last show she really went out with a bang.





FFA Mission & Vision

THE FFA MISSION: 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.

THE FFA VISION: The National FFA Organization envisions a future in which all agricultural education students will discover their passion in life, and build on that insight to chart the course for their educational, career and personal future.

The National FFA Organization collaborates with teachers, state leaders and others to deliver an integrated program of agricultural education that:

• increases understanding of, and respect for, agriculture

• encourages students to explore opportunities

• supports their discovery of natural talents and interests

• offers meaningful activities in which they can apply their skills and talents



Therefore, the National FFA Organization will:

Make local agricultural education teacher success its primary focus, through model programs and

activities that generate local program success.

Reaffirm its commitment to the integrated agricultural education delivery model as a synergistic way of

delivering academic, technical, professional and youth development content. Within this model, further

improve for local students the role of experiential learning, the depth of personal engagement and the

breadth of participation opportunities.

Promote the widespread use of community based planning and support to develop environments that

make the integrated agricultural education model successful.

Develop stronger programs and support for state leaders of agricultural education.

Offer programs and activities that are attractive to all students of all ages (middle school through

college), diverse backgrounds and broad career interests in the agriculture, food, fiber and natural

resources industry.





FFA BELIEFS

We believe that ...

Students need an environment and experiences that promote their personal growth ...

The discovery of personal talents, skills and interests leads to personal growth.

Academic, technical, career and life skills and values can be learned.

All students need to be accepted, experience success and be confident in themselves.

Teachers educate and provide personal growth opportunities for individual students.

Classroom, experiential and group activities are complementary learning methods.



Within a supportive community, all students can ...

Recognize the benefits of their various communities and actively serve to them.

Appreciate and embrace individual differences and varied experiences.

Accept the responsibility for making wise choices about the course of their lives.

Discover that career work can be inherently valuable and rewarding.

Strive to achieve worthy, challenging goals.

Build strong leadership skills.

Develop positive attitudes and the courage to seek and find meaning in life.

Integrate their educational, career and personal worlds into a meaningful whole.



This foundation will lead to a lifetime of personal growth and service ...

Agricultural careers provide opportunities for individuals and benefits to society.

Lifelong connections within the greater agricultural community create value for all.

Active participation in civic life promotes citizenship and patriotism.





FFA VALUES



• Self awareness • Learning • Career Success • Integrity

• Personal Growth • Service • Achievement • Agriculture

• Self-confidence • Diversity • Leadership • Community

• Teaching • Responsibility • Optimism • Citizenship









Alamosa FFA chapter attends stock show

By BRANDY MARRINAN

Alamosa FFA Reporter

ALAMOSA — The Alamosa FFA chapter attended the National Western Stock Show in Denver this year. The lucky people that attended the Stock Show were Mikie Hussman, Jacob Gibbs, Chase Werner, Levi Rutgers, Alex Reynolds, Erin Holman, Amy Marrinan, Lauren Keen, Jennifer Keen, Dana Salazar, Monica Mata, Krystal Huffaker, Ms.Salazar, and FFA Advisor Kevin Rice. On the first day of their trip they went to the Coors Brewery for a tour.

The second day they went to the Stock Show and to the rodeo. That same evening they attended a Nuggets game. The final day they visited the Air Force Academy. This trip was an exciting start for the New Year.