Student officers of the Maine FFA Association (formerly known as Future Farmers of America) attended the National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO), a regional leadership training in Croghan, New York, June 28-July 2. They joined 36 peers from surrounding New England states and New York.
Maine’s four student officers represent over 500 local student members enrolled in middle and secondary school courses related to agriculture and natural resources. The Oswegatchie Educational Center, in the foothills of the Adirondacks, hosted the event with facilitators from the National FFA Organization.
Maine’s student officers participated in lectures and hands-on practice in areas of teamwork, classroom management, speech preparation and delivery. By the end of the training Maine’s participants had completed preliminary preparations for classroom presentations on FFA opportunities that they will deliver to Maine schools. One key message of these upcoming presentations will be that any middle or high school class that includes an agriculture or natural resources focus area may be eligible to become an FFA chapter.
Sponsorship of the conference, covering all meals and registration costs, was provided under a Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement grant.
For more information, please contact the Department’s FFA Advisor, Doug Robertson at doug.robertson@maine.gov or 207-624-6744.