The 77th California State FFA Conference April 16-19 at the Fresno Convention Center in downtown Fresno and California State University-Fresno is expected to draw 3,000 students, FFA alumni, and advisors from throughout the Golden State.

Highlights of this year’s conference include National FFA President Jackie Mundt of Pittsville, Wisconsin and Scott Greenberg, a nationally recognized motivational speaker, author and leadership consultant whose presentations focus on improving human performance.

The National FFA Organization, or FFA as it is more commonly known, is a youth organization including 315 FFA Chapters in California and 59,357 high school members.

The statewide conference provides students the opportunity to attend leadership workshops and listen to motivational speakers.

High school FFA members will compete in various contests ranging from Prepared Public Speaking to Parliamentary Procedure. Tours throughout the San Joaquin Valley will be conducted giving students an opportunity to visit agriculture industries and businesses.

When FFA members are not conducting business, many fun activities are held to give students an opportunity to meet others from throughout the state.

The conference will conclude with the retirement of the current state officers and elections of new 2005-2006 officers who will take a year off from college to lead the organization.

“One of the highlight of this conference is the inspiring speeches these fine young students create and the leadership they possess,” said Shayla Neufeld, a student in the College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology at Fresno State who is helping organize the event.

IN addiction to Mundt, state FFA Officers leading the 2005 convention are President Grace Berryhill of Tulare Union; Vice President Marcus Hollan of Mariposa; Secretary Colleen Bartlett of Galt; Treasurer Katie Robertson of Galt; Reporter Carey Galliani of San Luis Obispo; and Sentinel Jesse Eller of Corning.

“FFA believes in learning by doing, and that is exactly what they do by making this a positive experience allowing students to have the opportunity to enhance their education, leadership, career success and personal growth,” said Neufeld.

For more information, call (559) 779-3798.