Mizzou is tops in the nation in number of American FFA degrees

by Aimee Gutshall, posted Nov. 5, 2009

The atmosphere is unspeakable. A huge auditorium, loud music, lights flashing everywhere, students screaming, the big screen playing, hearts racing, and it’s only one thing that brings all of these feelings together once a year. Students' love of agriculture. This describes one of the sessions that thousands of FFA members from across the nation experience at National FFA Convention. Thousands of blue jackets swarmed the streets of Indianapolis for the 82nd National FFA Convention during the week of Oct. 30.

The 82nd National FFA Convention included sessions with keynote speakers, delegate sessions, the career fair with agricultural companies, colleges, and organization booths for students to visit, and the American FFA Degree Ceremony.

Many MU students packed their bags and drove to Indianapolis on Friday night to receive their American Degree on Saturday.

“National Convention and receiving my American Degree was a really great experience,” said Sam Cope, agricultural business major.  It was really cool because I got to see a lot of classmates that I am in CAFNR with.”

Cope was one of the 387 FFA members from Missouri receiving their American FFA Degree. Missouri ranked first this year in the number of recipients.

“I spent all week at National FFA Convention serving as a Missouri State FFA Officer and National Delegate," said Mandy Shebaum, MU agricultural education major. “I got to sit in on every session where I got to see various speakers and talk to FFA members from across the different states. My favorite part of the whole trip was seeing the newly elected national officers get inducted. Overall, it was a great week.”

The University of Missouri was well-represented with agricultural education students running the MU booth at the Career Fair, the Missouri State FFA Officers serving as National FFA Delegates, MU students receiving their American FFA Degree, and Mizzou’s own student running as Missouri’s candidate in the National FFA Officer Interviews.

Students from across the country got the opportunity to meet CAFNR agricultural education students who were set up in the FFA Career Fair. They had a large booth, with their blow up tiger, gobs of information and candy, and enough enthusiasm to catch FFA members’ attention.

“Our goal was to recruit potential FFA members to come to MU and enroll in CAFNR and even possibly ag ed,” said Katie King, president of the Agricultural Education Society. “We handed out information to students and answered any questions they had. My favorite part of being in Indianapolis was the opportunity to meet so many diverse students from all over the nation.”

National FFA Convention was also an exciting time for CAFNR student Kabel Oaks who was chosen to represent Missouri in the National FFA Officer interviews.

“National FFA Convention was a great experience to meet other students from across the country that had the same passion of agriculture as I do,” said Kabel Oaks, agricultural education major. “While I was there I spent time interviewing, interacting with National Staff, and learning about the National FFA Organization and the opportunities that are available. Overall, it was an invaluable experience enough though I was not chosen for a National FFA Office.”

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