California State University, Fresno’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology coordinate one of Fresno’s largest conventions when the annual California State FFA Leadership Conference hosts more than 5,000 high school students, advisers and guests.
This year’s 82nd state conference convenes Saturday-Tuesday, April 17-20, at Selland Arena in downtown Fresno. Conference workshops are conducted on the Fresno State campus, exposing potential students to the university’s hands-on agricultural programs, including a commercial winery, a 1,000-acre diversified farm and a variety of food processing and marketing enterprises.
The four-day event attracts young agricultural leaders from more than 300 chapters of the California Association of Future Farmers of America (FFA). The conference encourages students to develop personal and team leadership skills, discover agricultural careers, establish lasting friendships and strive for success. There’s also time to dance and have fun during skits, which are part of the program.
Attendees will hear from motivational speaker Mark Scharenbroich and Josh Sundquist, a paralympic ski racer and speaker, as well as national FFA officers Levy Randolph and Bethany Bohnenblust.
The conference highlights student accomplishments in public speaking and production practices with proficiency awards, scholarships and special recognition.
Nearly 50 Fresno State students are on the committee that begins planning the conference months in advance. Participation by the students is part of a two-unit course. The student executive committee is comprised of Jason Ferreira, the president, vice president Paulina Pinheiro, secretary Mandy Hill and treasurer Scott Dehn.
Committee members execute their plans at the conference handling details of everything from the public relations effort and transporting participants around Fresno to organizing industry tours, hosting speakers and decorating the arena.
Many of the Fresno State students are ag education majors, who have an opportunity to work directly with high school ag students and gain useful experience.
The California FFA Association, founded in 1928, helps more than 69,000 California high school students develop their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through vocational education.
For more information, visit http://calaged.org/conventionnews2010.
(Copy prepared by University Communications news intern Sadie Thomas.)
