2009 State Presidents Conference
July 27-31, 2009
"Unwritten Legacy" — The 2009 State Presidents Conference was certainly an amazing experience in which nobody walked away empty-handed. FFA members flooded the streets of the Nation's capital as they toured the city, made congressional visits and, of course, met other Presidents and Vice Presidents from across the country. Committees were formed and delegate information was released. The 2009 Delegate issues that will be voted on at National Convention are:

• Global Engagement
• Inclusion and Engagement of all Students
• Post-Secondary Retention and Engagement Program Affiliation Options
• Alumni and Engagement Outreach
• New Horizons Delivery Options

Brittany and Hillary returned to Rhode Island with an empty wallet, a fistful of knowledge and, most importantly, memories from a remarkable experience.

Foster Old Home Days 2009
July 24-26, 2009
This year's Foster Old Home Days took place on the 24th though the 26th of July. Rhode Island FFA members participated in the Woodsman Contest and the Landscape Design Contest. The Scituate, Ponaganset, and Chariho chapters entered designs in the landscaping contest, the theme of which was Heirloom Gardens. The placings were 1st to Ponaganset, 2nd to Chariho and 3rd to Scituate. This year all five chapters had teams competing in the woodsman contest, which included seven girls' teams and 5 boys' teams. The events this year included the wood split, pulp throw, log roll, log drag, cross cut saw, and ax throw. The reserve champion girls team was Brittany and Mel from Ponaganset, and the champion girls team was Lauren and Brittany from Exeter-West Greenwich. The reserve champion boys team was Billy and Steve from Narragansett and the champion boys team was Bobby and Kyle from Exeter-West Greenwich. All members that participated did a good job. Both of these contests will be repeated at Washington County Fair, giving those who participated time to improve.

NLCSO
June 28-July 3, 2009
The Rhode Island State officer team ventured to Camp Oswegachie to meet with National President Paul Moya and National Vice President Laila Haiji. There learned to work together as a team but at the same time meeting other State Officers from around New England. The team worked on creating effective workshops for conferences and events and learning tricks and tips to creating a positive atmosphere. Other seminars included securing cooperate relationships and keeping your State Association aware of other Agriculture issues around the country. The State Officer team's experience at the National Leadership Conference for State Officers was a successful adventure.

BLAST Off
May 28-31, 2009
This year state officers participated in BLAST Off, Building Leaders And Strong Teams of Officers, training. Officers were trained by two members of National Staff about getting to know themselves and their personal strengths for a more successful year. The conference lasted three days and was held at the Woodward Building at the University of Rhode Island. While BLAST Off focused on the individual it also helped prepare the officers for their team conference, NLCSO, which was held in June.

CSI Rhode Island
The 2009-2010 State Officer Team has a challenge for all RI FFA members. The state officer detective team has chosen "CSI Rhode Island" as this year's theme. Although CSI stands for the popular TV show Crime Scene Investigation, the team has put a new spin on it: Creating Significant Individuals. Each state event will hold an important clue for members to discover their inner leader. The team encourages each member to take advantage of all the opportunities and attend state activities. This year each member will take on the role as a detective on the path to investigate their characteristics and qualities of leadership. The RI state officer team challenges every member to discover their individual strengths and talents in search for their inner leader.

2009 STATE CONVENTION WINNERS ANNOUNCED
April 30-May 2, 2009

CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

Opening and Closing CDE

1. Exeter- West Greenwich
2. Narragansett
3. Ponaganset

1. Julia Vincelette
2. Deanna Casey
3. Hannah Lindsley

2009 PROFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

• Dairy Production: Lauren Woloohojian, EWG
• Equine: Hannah Sette (Placement), Ponaganset
• Home/Community Development: Brittany Sederback, Ponaganset
• Veterinary Medicine: Melody Lawrence, Ponaganset
• Agriculture Sales: Justin Gaffney, Scituate
• Agriculture Education: Elizabeth LaPrise, EWG
• ------------------------------------------
• Star Farmer: Lauren Woloohojian, EWG
• Star in Agriculture Placement: Hannah Sette, Ponagnaset
• Star in Agribusiness: Hillary Breene, EWG

A Special Thanks to RI FFA Alumni, Foundation, and Local Sponsors for a Great Convention.

"FFA Cares" Conference Held
"FFA Cares" Leadership and Community Service Conference was held on the 12th of February, 2009. Over 70 Rhode Island FFA members attended this conference. Both Greenhand and Chapter members were included in this day. Admission to the Conference was a canned good. The chapters will be competing between themselves until state convention to see who collects the most canned goods. So far, Scituate leads the way.

The Conference started at 12 noon and went until 4 o'clock. Members from all five chapters were present. The FFA Creed contest and the Greenhand Quizbowl Contest were held here. Judges of the Creed Contest were Mr. and Mrs. Hammond and Mrs. Holly Howard. We appreciate their generosity in helping RI FFA. We held workshops on Community Service, Ice Breakers, and Planning an Event. Each chapter got together to plan their very own community service event for their school. The State Officer team held its own community service project at this conference. Every member at the conference made two Valentine's Day cards which were passed out to residents at two local nursing homes. The conference was closed with an Awareness Activity about Poverty in Rhode Island.

The State Officers encourage all members to do their part to help make the world a better place. Thank you to the RI FFA Alumni who sponsored this Conference!

2nd Annual FFA T-Shirt Design Contest
Each chapter may enter one design to be judged at the Floral Design Competition on March 3, 2009. Each participant at State Convention will receive a T-Shirt!Our Theme for state convention is "Follow the blue and gold road!"

It's time to be creative … get your whole chapter involved! And may the best design win!

Chapter Officer Workshop
On December 4, 2009, around thirty chapter officers from Rhode Island's five FFA chapters gathered with the state FFA officer team at Exeter Chapel in Exeter, Rhode Island. First, chapter officers learned about the duties of their position, how to assume the responsibilities of chapter office, and how to make their chapter (and community) better through their leadership. Next the officers took part in a discussion group to talk to each other about meeting that went wrong and events that never happened, and then shared advice and experiences about how to keep a chapter running smoothly. After a break for pizza, the officers divided up into two workshops, where they learned about the importance of communication and working as a team. Then it was off to the races, as each of the chapters' teams flexed their skills in FFA officers, teamwork, FFA knowledge, and, most of all, FFA rapping skills. Before the officers left they were each given a spoon, with the reminder that one must look inward to develop oneself, but also outward to help others.

The chapter officers all enjoyed themselves and were able to meet their fellow officers. Plus, they tuned up the skills they will need to carry them throughout the rest of the year.

Special thanks to Exeter Chapel -- where would we have our events if it weren't for your basement?

Holiday Design Contest

Best in Show Centerpiece - Matt Minty, Narragansett
Best in Show Wreaths - Stacy Moskwa, Narragansett
Best in Show Misc. - Aaron Gathen, Chariho

Marketing 1st - Ponaganset
Marketing 2nd - EWG
Marketing 3rd - Narragansett

Teachers "Spirit of Christmas Past"
1st - Loren Andrews, Ponaganset
2nd - Gwynne Millar, EWG
3rd - Christine Habareck, Chariho

National Leadership Conference for State Officers
This summer, from June 27 to July 1, your 2008-2009 State Officer Team traveled to Oswegatchie Educational Center in upstate New York to attend NLCSO (National Leadership Conference for State Officers). We were accompanied by Ponaganset chapter advisor Ms. Searle. Also at Oswegatchie were the state officers from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.

The theme for the workshops was "Discover the Rhythm," and the workshops were presented by National Southern Region Vice President Brady Revels and National Western Region Vice President Kari Boettcher. In the workshops, we learned about vision, teamwork, solidarity, conflict resolution, and leadership. Also, we began to develop as a team workshops that we will soon be delivering at chapter visits and other State events. In between our sessions of discovering the rhythm, we discussed the FFA Constitution and By-laws with the National FFA Executive Secretary, Mr. Steve Brown, and learned about internships and career opportunities from Monsanto.

The workshops consumed a lot of our time in New York, but we still had time to meet and fraternize with the other state officers and the national officers. And when we weren't busy doing that, we built a campfire, complained about the mosquitoes, fished for squirrels, and ventured into town for ice cream.

All in all we had a great time, and we learned a lot of ideas and techniques that will make us better able to perform our duties as State FFA Officers during the year.

2008 Fair Season
Once again, the Rhode Island FFA Association was active in the two fairs in Rhode Island. At the Foster Fair, the State FFA held the annual woodsman's contest. Teams competed in various competitions including cross cut saw, log roll, log drag, dot split, and pulp throw. Unfortunately, we were rained out and unable to finish the cross cut competition. Chapters competed in the Landscape Design Contest with a Butterfly Garden theme. The State Officer team had a display which introduced the theme for the year, "Step into the Spotlight."

At the Washington County Fair, the State Officers reintroduced their theme, "Step into the Spotlight." This featured a video of many current FFA members, alumni and friends of the FFA, and the general public. The state officer team held "Pie in the Face" fundraiser. Familiar faces to the Rhode Island FFA and the Washington County Fair were in the running to get a whipped cream pie in the face. Thanks to Kevin Breene for his willingness to get pied!

There was the annual Woodsman Contest at Washington County, along with Dairy Handling, and the Landscape design contest.

Results were as follows:

• Woodsman Contest
  Top Girls Team: Ponoganset
  Top Boys Team: Chariho
• Landscape Design
  1st place: Chariho
• Dairy Handling
  1st Place: Brittany Ellis EWG

The Rhode Island FFA Alumni ran the Pie Booth serving freshly baked pies, homemade apple crisp, and warm cinnamon rolls. They also sold pint sized cartons of Rhody Fresh Milk. Once again, the Washington County Fair was a success!

State President's Conference
In July of 2008, the state President and Vice President traveled to Washington DC for State President's Conference. Liz and Abbie spent time in the capital city for a week. There were sessions presented by the National Officer Team. The two Rhode Islanders met with 2 delegates from each FFA Association across the US. Liz and Abbie were busy, busy, busy. They met with their congressman, Sheldon Whitehouse to talk about agriculture in Rhode Island, toured the city, and even went to the White House to have a special meeting with President George W. Bush!

The National Officers presented state delegates with information about National Convention coming up in October. The delegate issues were introduced and the delegates were separated into committees for National Convention. The Rhode Island Delegates will present Rhode Island FFA members with information about the Delegate issues to determine their votes at National Convention in Indianapolis.

Rhode Island FFA Alumni Donate Laptops to Chapters
January 16, 2008

Chapter personnel display their new laptops.

On January 16th the Rhode Island FFA Alumni presented all 5 chapters with laptops. The Alumni also purchased a projector and a laptop for the State Association. The Alumni had a record year in the pie booth at the Washington County Fair which enabled them to make this generous donation.

The Rhode Island FFA Alumni supports the majority of Career Development Events, as well as matching funds from the National Organization for proficiencies. The Alumni also sponsors the Leadership Conference held in January, and will be funding the purchase of T-shirts for all Rhode Island members to be presented at the State Convention in April.

The Rhode Island FFA Alumni is a very productive group and Rhode Island FFA would not be the same without them. If you are interested in joining, please come to a meeting or email an Alumni Officer ... we could sure use an extra set of hands!

Chapter Visit with Scituate FFA
December 13, 2007

Emma, Abbie, Christine and Liz are cooking something up!

On Thursday December 13, the Rhode Island State Officer team visited the Scituate FFA Chapter. They showed a workshop on opportunities displaying events from the chapter to national level. The theme for the visit was Rachel Ray and consisted of cooking oriented skits and activities. The importance of CDEs, proficiency awards and active participation in the organization were encouraged. They worked with the chapter members explaining activities and playing icebreakers/games. At the end of the presentation, the chapter members served food and beverages and discussed upcoming events.

Ask your Advisor to Book your Chapter Visit so you can see what Rhode Island FFA is cooking up!

President Steven Breene	Officers presenting workshop

Holiday Decorating Contest
December 2007
At the beginning of the Holiday season, the Exeter – West Greenwich Chapter hosted the annual State Holiday Greens Competition. There was a good turnout -- all chapters participated. There were a total of 23 wreaths and swags entered, 29 centerpieces, and 6 Yule and wooden items! There was also a special category for the teachers and a Sales and Marketing competition. For the sales and marketing contest, each chapter had a team of four people to advertise their holiday designs to the judges. The entries were judged by community members, retired FFA advisors, and professional florists.

Results:

• Centerpieces
  Best in Show - Andrew Shemick, Ponaganset
  Reserve - Stacey Moskwa and Katie Carrier, Narragansett
  Honorable Mention - Mariah Cahoon, Chariho
   
• Yule Logs/Wooden
  Best in Show - Steven Magner, Narragansett
  Reserve - Hanna Lindsley, Narragansett
   
• Wreaths/Swags
  Best in Show - Luke John Burnfeld, Narragansett
  Reserve - Jen Castro, Narragansett
   
• Teachers
  First Place - Stacie Pepperd, Chariho
   
• Sales/Marketing
  First Place – Exeter-West Greenwich
  Second Place - Narragansett
  Third Place – Ponaganset

October 23-27, 2007
National FFA Convention
In October members from the Narragansett, Ponaganset, and the Exeter west Greenwich chapters traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for the National FFA convention. Over 50,000 members from all fifty states and Puerto Rico met in the city. The Rhode Island booth highlighted different agricultural aspects of Rhode Island. The booth also mixed coffee milk for the visitors to try; it was a big hit since most of the states don't have coffee milk.

During national convention there were many competitions running. At our state convention that we held in April many students competed in contests; if a member won a contest they then competed in this year's national convention. The results are as follows:\

• Creed Speaking: Hillary Breene(EWG) – Bronze medal
• Extemporaneous Speaking: Elizabeth LaPrise(EWG) – Bronze medal
• Prepared Public Speaking: Christine Kissinger (EWG) – Bronze medal
• Floriculture Team from Ponaganset
• National FFA Band: Bethany Wright (EWG)
• National FFA Chorus: Emily Records (EWG)
• American FFA Degree: Emily Momborquett (P), Abbie Whitford(E), Kayla Harrison (S)
• Agriculture science teacher of the year finalist: Gwen Millar

The Rhode Island Booth made by the Narraganset chapter.	Steven, Liz, Abbie, and Hillary
Most of the state together at the hotel	Mrs. Millar accepting her award

August 15-19, 2007
Washington County Fair
Our big event of the summer was the Washington County Fair. Here, we had an informational booth about FFA, "Way Beyond the Blue," which featured past FFA members and their accomplishments as well as where they are today.

There was a follow-up woodsman contest held here at Washington County. With the addition of: lighting a fire with only one match, trying to keep it burning, and to bring a can of water to a full boil. The winners of this competition were, Girls: Melody Lawrence and Brittany Sederback from Ponaganset. Boys: Steve Breene and Chris Loffredo from Exeter – West Greenwich and Narragansett.

There was a landscape design contest at the fair. Each chapter entered a landscape of an "Enchanted Garden" theme. There was also a dairy handling competition. Each competitor was assigned a dairy cow in the morning and they had to wash the cow, and show it in the show ring.

We were able to raise over $12,000 this year at the Alumni Pie Booth for the Rhode Island Association. We sold pies, apples and caramel, cinnamon rolls, and our delicious homemade apple crisp! The Alumni members ran the booth, with the help of the state officers. The Fair had a great turnout making this our highest year ever!

July 26-29, 2007
Foster Old Home Days
The State FFA held the annual woodsman's contest. Teams competed in various competitions including cross cut saw, log roll, log drag, dot split, and pulp throw. The winners for the girls' division were Bethany Wright and Lauren Woloohojian. The boys' division winners were Chris Loffredo and Steven Breene. Spectators enjoyed the show and the competitors had fun.

June 28-July 3, 2007
NLCSO @ New York
NLCSO: National Leadership Conference for State Officers
One of the first events that the Rhode Island State Officers attended was NLCSO at Camp Oswegatchie in up-state New York. During the week, the team spent countless hours learning about leadership and planning workshops and other events for the year. We all bonded as a team, sat around camp fires, and learned valuable life lessons.

The Rhode Island State Team: Front Row (left to right) Christine Kissinger, Emma Morton, Abbie Whitford, Elizabeth LaPrise. Back Row (left to right) John Siligato, Stephen Kettle, and Steve Breene.	The National Officers: Jamie Cecil and Kacy Baugher, who taught us how to be effective leaders during the week through several workshops.

The most exciting part of the week was when we got a chance to do the High Ropes Challenge Course. (left to right) Emma and Liz prepare for the "flying squirrel;" John and Steve show off their harnesses; and Miss Searle is getting ready for a vertical lift.

2007 STATE CONVENTION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

CHAPTER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

1. Christine Kissinger – EWG
2. Madeline Colson - EWG
3. Madeline Colson - EWG

CHAPTER PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING

1. Ethan Farell- Narragansett

1. Hillary Breene - EWG
2. Joe Harris - EWG

2007 PROFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

• Agriculture Processing: Chris Loffredo, Narragansett
• Dairy Production: Elizabeth La Prise, EWG
• Equine: Samantha Cluk (Placement)
• Home/Community Development: Mollie-Jean Burgess
• Outdoor Recreation: Lucas Littlefield, Narragansett
• Ag Mechanics: Steven Breene, EWG
• Small Animal Care: Melody Lawrence, Ponaganset
• Vegetable Production: Eric Wilcox, Scituate
• Agriculture Sales: Stephen Kettle, Chariho
• Poultry Production: Daniel Iannucci, Narragansett
• Landscape Ent: Ed Spicer, Scituate
• Landscape Placement: Ethan Minson, Narragansett
  ------------------------------------------
• Star Farmer: Steven Breene, EWG
• Star in Agriculture Placement: Katherine Fish, EWG
• Star in Agribusiness: Ed Spicer, Narragansett
• Star in Agriscience: Christine Kissinger, EWG

A Special Thanks to RI FFA Alumni, Foundation, and Local Sponsors for a Great Convention.

2006 STATE CONVENTION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

CHAPTER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

• Ponaganset

1. Elizabeth Laprise - EWG
2. Mary Ruth Travers – Ocean State
3. Justin Stamp – Ocean State

2006 PROFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

• Agriculture Processing: Mario Forte, Narragansett
• Dairy Production: Abbie Whitford, EWG
• Diversified Livestock: Westin Place, Narragansett (Placement)
• Diversified Livestock: Sarah Balmforth, EWG (Entrepreneur)
• Equine: Lauren Antrop, Scituate (Entrepreneur)
• Equine: Emily Mombourquette, Ponaganset (Placement)
• Forestry: Kyle Schnaible, Scituate
• Home/Community Development: Ellen Ryan, Ponaganset
  ------------------------------------------
• Star Farmer: Abbie Whitford, EWG
• Star in Agriculture Placement: Chris Loffredo, Narragansett
• Star in Agribusiness: Allison Toles, EWG

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