Beau Williamson from California will lead a new slate of student officers in the coming year. Serving with Williamson will be: Kacy Baugher, Illinois, Secretary; Janette Barnard, Arizona, Western Region Vice President; Jamie Cecil, Colorado, Central Region Vice President; Jennifer Himburg, Alabama, Southern Region Vice President; and Coty Back, Kentucky; Eastern Region Vice President. The officers were selected from among 41 members vying for national office. They will serve as ambassadors for the agriculture industry and represent FFA and its members for the following year.

The national FFA officer selection process includes an assessment of each candidate’s years of academic and extracurricular achievements. Nominees must first qualify at the state level to represent their state FFA associations. They then submit an in-depth application to the national organization, detailing their accomplishments and contributions to the community, and completing an essay explaining why they wish to be elected to the position.

Once at the convention, candidates participate in five rounds of interviews, take an in-depth written test on the organization and agricultural topics and complete two writing exercises. A nominating committee, composed of nine state FFA officers, recommends the slate of six national officers for approval at the convention.

Illinois member wins Star Farmer award

Growing up on a family farm, Andrew Bowman had a desire to follow in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps.

When his father asked him if he wanted to rent five acres of corn and five acres of soybeans, it became stronger. Now, that desire has earned him a prestigious award.

The National FFA Organization named Bowman 2006 Star Farmer, one of the organization’s highest honors.

During the convention, each finalist participates in interviews by a panel of judges, who will ultimately name the top candidate in each area. Those areas are American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement, and American Star in Agriscience. Bowman was presented with the award during an onstage convention ceremony and received a plaque and an award of $4,000. All finalists will receive plaques and $2,000 each.

What began as a 10-acre project has since grown into a 316-acre operation. Bowman is a full-fledged farmer, but he also realizes he is so much more than that.

“Just from observing my grandfather and father, I knew that a farmer was a family man first, a community leader second and then a businessman, biologist, market analyst, accountant and mechanic,” the 20-year-old Oneida, Ill., resident said. He has big plans to diversify his farm by venturing into other enterprises to supplement the operation.

Bowman has other goals to expand his farming operation. He hopes to revamp the technology for the farm, installing accounting and record-keeping software and an updated filing system. He also would like to purchase chemical and fertilizer application equipment to enhance cost savings. These advancements in technology will result in the farm becoming more profitable, allowing for acreage expansion and an increase in farm efficiency.

Bowman is a student at the University of Illinois, pursuing a degree in crop sciences, emphasizing in agribusiness management. He is considering a Master’s Degree in agricultural economics or agricultural policy and would like to work in the agribusiness industry.

“I know that I am a better person, student and leader because of experiences FFA and my SAE program have provided me.” Bowman is a member of the R.O.W.V.A. FFA Chapter and his FFA advisor is Rodney Main. He is the son of Lynn and Sally Bowman.

Bowman’s supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program led him to apply and earn the American FFA Degree, in which a student must earn and invest $7,500 or have earned and productively invested at least $1,500 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time.

An SAE program is one of three components that make up the agricultural education program.

By combining the SAE career entrepreneurship or job placement component with classroom instruction from agricultural education instructors and leadership development from the FFA, students like Bowman are able to make a positive impact on their own and others’ lives. Awards and recognition for Stars Over America finalists are made possible by the generous support of individual contributors to the National FFA Foundation.

AgReliant Genetics donates $70,000 to FFA

The National FFA Foundation announced that AgReliant Genetics of Westfield, Ind., has contributed $70,000 for the support of the 79th National FFA Convention. This gift will help support the activities that will take place during the next seven years while the convention is in Indianapolis.

“We are excited to support the National FFA convention for the next seven years especially since AgReliant is also based in Indianapolis. The FFA organization has been and will be instrumental in preparing the next generation to take leadership roles in determining the worldwide future of agriculture,” said Raphael Journel, President and CEO of AgReliant Genetics.

“In fact, many current AgReliant employees are past FFA members including numerous past state and local officers,” added Craig Newman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “As we recruit new employees, we look to see if the applicant has been active in FFA as that is an indicator of future success.”

AgReliant Genetics, LLC is based in Westfield, Ind. and markets corn, soybeans and alfalfa seed under the following Brands: AgriGold Hybrids, St. Francisville, Ill.; Great Lakes Hybrids, Ovid, Mich.; LG Seeds, Elmwood, Ill.; Producers Hybrids, Battle Creek, Neb. and Wensman Seeds, Wadena, Minn.