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Texas
Agriculture Archive
October 3, 2003
Former FFA'ers: Where are you?
The Texas FFA Association has launched a program to reconnect with the hundreds of thousand of students that have worn the distinctive blue and gold FFA jacket over the last eight decades.
"The Texas FFA is celebrating 75 years of success through youth leadership development and agricultural education," said Tom Maynard, executive director of the Texas FFA program. "We want to hear from our former students about how their lives have turned out and how their FFA training helped them."
Maynard said the 75th annual observance of the FFA's birthday in Texas is an excellent opportunity to locate the students that have been in FFA over the years. The organization plans to do that with a website, and a media campaign encouraging former students to make contact with the organization.
To assist alumni in reconnecting with the organization, the Texas FFA has launched a new website: www.texasffa.org. Alumni can visit the website and click on the 75th Anniversary logo to submit their contact information.
What started as an organization for farm boys in 1929 has grown into a large and sophisticated program that trains both boys and girls in agricultural science, public speaking, parliamentary procedure and a solid work ethic.
"We believe FFA has matured into a progressive, inclusive and diverse youth organization teaching leadership, technology, career and character development," said Tobin Redwine, this year's student president of the Texas FFA Association. "We are eager to hear from all generations of former FFA members about how FFA has impacted their lives."
The Texas FFA initiated this project to reunite former Texas FFA members with the organization, to keep them informed about the organization and to let current members know how the Texas FFA can impact their own lives, through the experiences of others.
The Texas FFA is the nation's largest state FFA association with a membership of 58,753 and 977 local affiliates.
Study says test biotech
A Pew Initiative study recently found that 89 percent of people interviewed believe the Food and Drug Administration should not allow biotech-derived foods on the market until they are proven safe.
What most Americans don't realize is that the FDA does not test biotech foods for safety. A 1992 law, instead, states that genetically altered foods are the same as any other, therefore not requiring FDA review and approval. The actual process consists of biotech executives submitting a summary of their data that says the product is safe to the FDA, who returns a letter acknowledging it.
Unbeknownst to the majority of people interviewed, 75 percent of processed foods contain biotechnology. Yet, 58 percent of Americans believe they have never eaten biotech foods. Also, according to the study, there are approximately 100 million acres of U.S. biotech crops.
Texas Farm Bureau's traveling 'Ag in the Classroom' display made its debut at the Crosby County Fair in September. The mobile exhibit teaches students in grades 1-6 how agriculture touches them in everyday life. Five different commodities—beef, pork, wheat, corn and cotton—are represented. Pictured (l-r) are Crosby County Farm Bureau Agency Manager Matt Stanton, Crosby CFB County Secretary Theresa Gregory, TFB State Director/Board Vice President Lloyd D. Arthur, a Ralls cotton producer, and TFB Field Rep. Martin Lefevere.
Notable Quotables
"The H-2a program is broken, its minimum wage is out of control, and this is having serious impacts on American agriculture's ability to secure a legal workforce. Passing AgJOBS is vital to addressing this country's widespread farm labor shortage, and also keeping America from losing more of our safe, domestic food supply to imports.
"AgJOBs streamlines H-2a, moves toward a market-based wage, and provides one opportunity for experienced farm workers to earn an adjustment of status if they continue working in agriculture. These provisions will be paramount in maintaining the security of our nation's food supply and will be extremely beneficial to America's farmers and ranchers."
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman, expressing support for legislation to reform H-2a, sponsored by Sens. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Reps. Chris Cannon (R-Utah and Howard Berman (D-Calif.)
