The Announcer

Winter 2015

Editor: Regina Oldendorf Wisconsin FFA Alumni, Executive Director

“Amplify” was this year’s National FFA Convention theme. The convention may be over , but the theme will continue on long after the gavel drop. Affiliate members need to continue to “Amplify” their impact at the local level in everything that they do. “Amplify” your connection with students, the support that you provide, and the advocating that you do for the agriculture education programs in which you serve.

Wisconsin FFA Alumni Convention

IN THIS ISSUE

Registration Moves Online The 2016 Annual Wisconsin FFA Alumni Convention will be held in Madison on February 6th & 7th, 2016. It marks 36 years of celebrating affiliates successfully supporting agriculture education. As you gather your affiliate members who will be attending convention, please make sure to check out our website. This year you will be able to register online for the convention! Page 8

President’s Welcome Page 2

The Teaching Connection Page 4

2016 Convention Information Pages 7—11

We strive to be Wisconsin’s premier Agriculture Education advocate with FFA Alumni support in every community. We envision our diverse, positive, community committed organization to provide resources to support youth development and leadership.

TABLE OF CONTENTS National FFA Alumni Convention Results Page 3

The Teaching Connection Page 4

2015—2016 Membership Updates

“Amplify”

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JANET SCHNEIDER 2015—2016 PRESIDENT

Affiliate Affairs

I greet you with a hearty hello! With harvest and field work almost complete it is a time of reflection for me. Reflecting about how amazing this business called agriculture is and how quickly harvest actually happens in this country when you think of the scope of the industry. It is also the time of year that I feel thankful on how blessed we are to have magnificent bounty all around us and how such a varied industry finds a common thread with something is so fundamental to all humans.

Convention Schedule and Hotel Information

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I have just returned from the National FFA Alumni and FFA Conventions. You cannot leave without feeling excited for our organization. The theme this year was “Amplify”. That theme resonates with all levels of the FFA membership. We need to amplify our story and engage more folks in our own communities to become members of our awesome organization. We hope, as a Council, by adding the “Affiliatiation Program” option for membership that it will make it easier for you to “Amplify” membership in your local organization. The end goal is to keep your affiliate strong, informed and active. I wish to send a heartfelt THANK YOU to each of you. Each affiliate has a unique story and so many programs depend on your support and enthusiasm! Many FFA Chapters and agriculture classrooms would have closed years ago without that help. Remember your State Council Representatives are available to help you, as well as our wonderful Executive Director. We are just a phone call or email away. Reach out to us when you have need and please share your stories with us. Happy Thanksgiving, God Bless America!

If you have any upcoming local affiliate events that you would like to let FFA Alumni members from around the state know about, please email your event information or flier to the email address below. We will also place your information on www.WisconsinFFAAlumni.org [email protected]

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Online Registration & Workshop Options Page 8

Convention Tour Options Page 9

All Inclusive Registration Package Options Page 10

Individual Event Registration Information Page 11

Joshua Rusk National FFA Alumni Executive Director (far left) along with Dr. Larry Case, National Council member (center) welcome Wisconsin participants to the National FFA Alumni Convention.

Wisconsin held 43 delegate seats at this year’s Annual National FFA Alumni Business meeting. Bryce Krull (Lake Mills) and Greg Lincicum (Juda) are preparing to start the meeting.

National FFA Alumni Convention Results The 2015 National FFA Alumni Convention proved to be another year full of awards and honors for our members, affiliates and FFA Chapters alike! Thank you to the individuals who took their time to serve as a delegate to help direct our organization at the national level. Local Program Support Grant The National FFA Alumni Association offers grants ($1,000.00) to local FFA Chapters to help them purchase needed items such as computers, laboratory equipment, chapter supplies, and official dress items. Only chapters with active affiliates are eligible. Wisconsin had three FFA Chapters receive a grant this year! Check out Ms. Kim Houser with her Wisconsin Heights FFA Chapter members. (picture to left) Mishicot FFA Chapter— “Hydroponic Wheel” Sauk Prairie FFA Chapter— “Bring Biotechnology to Life” Wisconsin Heights FFA Chapter— “Wildlife Management—Hands on Education” Outstanding Affiliate Award

Newsletter Award

Marshfield FFA Alumni—Region 3 Finalists

Denmark FFA Alumni—National Finalists (Bronze)

Stoughton FFA Alumni—National Finalist

Kiel FFA Alumni—National Finalist (Silver)

Overall Awards

Milton FFA Alumni—National Finalist (Silver)

Denmark FFA Alumni—Most lifetime members

Website Award

Wisconsin FFA Alumni—Most members (8,776)

Kiel FFA Alumni—National Finalist

Wisconsin FFA Alumni—100% Lifetime State Team

Denmark FFA Alumni—National Finalist (Silver)

Donating to the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association just became incredibly easy! You do not even need to think about it and you will be passively sending donations our way. The Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association just signed up with AmazonSmile.

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The Teaching Connection POPCORN...GET YOUR POPCORN, (or oranges, or peanuts or nuts and bolts)! WRITTEN BY: KIM HOUSER AND TROY TALFORD, WISCONSIN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS AND WAAE MEMBERS

Now that the hustle and bustle of the National FFA Convention is over, many agriculture teachers find themselves in fundraising season. Every agriculture department is unique as to the fundraisers they offer, and FFA Alumni Affiliates can play a vital role in ensuring the success of these activities. You may be asking yourself, “Kim and Troy, how can I help?” Well, good thing you are reading this article. We are taking you through the essentials of a fruit box (because that is what we know best) and relating it to how your local alumni affiliate can be a support for the agricultural education instructor and FFA members.

The Box = A quality, supportive box is a necessity for any fundraiser. Just like our box needs to be sturdy, we need supportive alumni members to pick up supplies, run last minute errands, supervise the sorting process of food or even help students organize the materials before the kick off day. The Fruit = Our products need to be sweet, have the right texture, and no bruises or bumps. Sometimes your agriculture teacher just needs a boost to make sure their fundraisers go off without a hitch. You can help by giving them a cheerful phone call, sending them a “go get ‘em” email or sending chocolate and caffeine. Yep, we are serious --- we love chocolate and caffeine. The Cheese Spread = The cheese spread is an added bonus to any good fruit box. The added bonus that you can offer your agricultural education instructor is by spreading the word about the upcoming fundraiser. Phone calls, Facebook posts, tweets, announcements in your church, library or community centers or even talking to your neighbors are super easy ways to get the word out about an FFA chapter fundraiser. Don’t forget, you can participate by helping to sell too. (We will never say no to some additional sales!) The Delivery = The main reason that younger FFA members do not participate in fundraisers is because they do not have a way to deliver the product. This is a perfect place for our alumni members to help – not only can you help out the FFA advisor but you will also get a chance to get to know our members, make that connection with them and have a great reminder as to why you joined this dynamic organization.

Hopefully by now you are thinking to yourself, “Gee, thanks Kim and Troy. I think I’m going to talk to my agriculture teacher this week to see how I can help out!” It is our hope that you do not just simply read this article and think “I can do that”. Instead, read this article as a call to action and talk to your agriculture teacher by the end of the week to learn how you can help with their next fundraiser.

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Anyone with an interest in supporting FFA and agriculture education can be part of the FFA Alumni! Our membership ranges in age from birth to well-seasoned, poses a wide range of skills, and have varying levels of time to share. Each of them adding priceless qualities.

2015-2016 Membership Updates There have been a few changes to membership this year. The option of becoming an associate, annual, or lifetime member are still the same. However, the collegiate alumni level has been removed. This year is the first year that a group of supporters can become an affiliate, but not be directly linked to one specific FFA Chapter. These affiliates are called a Non-Traditional Affiliates. When individuals weigh out the options of what type of member they would like to become, they should review how each level of membership benefits the FFA as well as themselves. The associate, annual and lifetime members receive the following membership benefits: 

A 10% discount each time you stay at a La Quinta Hotel

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The New Visions (national) and The Announcer (state) newsletters informing you about what is happening in the FFA Alumni and with agriculture students across the nation

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A $500.00 discount on a Chrysler/Dodge vehicle purchase

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A chance to give of your time and talents for the development of agriculture students

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Voting rights at the local, state and national levels of the FFA Alumni organization

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A wealth of opportunities for your own educational development

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Being part of an organization that supports the individual student’s education, career development and leadership training!

A lifetime membership to the National/State FFA Alumni is an investment in the future of the organizations and the FFA members for years to come. Literally! When an individual pays lifetime membership $160 goes to the National FFA Alumni. 100% of that $160 is put into the National FFA Alumni investments. Every year roughly 5-8% is pulled out of the investments and then that money is used to give to the states in the form of WLC scholarships to FFA members. In Wisconsin your $150 lifetime dues are split. 50% goes into our operating budget to help fund our multiple student and alumni scholarship programs, affiliate grant programs, and affiliate support resources. The other 50% goes directly into our investments. Each year our council has the option to pull out up to 5% for whatever funds are needed for. Last year for example we pulled out about $8,000 to give to WLC scholarships for FFA members in Wisconsin. If an individual does not have the desire to “invest” in the future of the Wisconsin affiliates or the FFA members, then they would most likely choose the annual membership. If an individual is desiring to support the future of the items listed above then they would most likely choose to “invest” by paying their lifetime dues. This year is also the first year for our Wisconsin affiliates to participate in the NEW Affiliation Program. Any affiliate can choose to be part of this optional program. If your affiliate has