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Show FFA students attend national convention in Kansas City Brian Gillman, Stephanie Evans, Diana Jacob, Trent Bristol, Michelle Kortman, and Cory Wilcox of Pleasant Grove were selected toa attend the 60th National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, November 12-14, 1987. The officers joined more than 22,000 FFA members, advisors, supporters and guests who represented all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands at the world's largest annual student gathering. These students are members of the Pleasant Grove FFA Chapter. The chapter advisor is Mr. Brian Evans. The 60th anniversary convention featured keynote addresses from Vice President George Bush, Chrysler Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lee Iacocca, Secretary of Education William Bennett and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubch, Along with these speakers, the officers had the opportunity to hear FFA's finest during public speaking contests and when t' e six national officers delivered their retiring addresses. FFA was founded in Kansas City in 1928 at the old Baltimore Hotel, located just a few blocks from the Municipal Auditorium where the convention currently resides. Since then, the gathering has grown from fewer than fifty attendants to the world's largest annual youth gathering. During the convention, high school agriculture students f r challenged themselves and honored FFA's highest achievers and strongest supporters. Other highlights included the naming of top FFA members in 29 agricultural proficiency areas and in ten national career skill competitions, com-petitions, as well as the Agriscience Teacher of the Year award. Top chapter programs in safety, community development and overall activities were also recognized. Thursday evening at the convention, con-vention, the Star Farmer and Star Agribusinessman of America, the two FFA members with the most outstanding production and agribusiness programs respectively were announced. At the Friday afternoon session the highest degree awarded to FFA members, that of American Fanner was presented to 728 recipients. Those 728 members are the top two-tenths of one percent per-cent of the organization's 416,000 members. ;' "The convention is an excellent opportunity to motivate members and train them for their futures in the ever-changing agricultural industry." said Kevin Eblen, national FFA president from Creston, Iowa. "It is also an occasion oc-casion for recognizing individual members, chapters, advisors and alumni for outstanding achievements." The convention introduced the national FFA theme for 1987-88, "FFA-Agriculture's New Spirit," which emphasizes FFA's contribution con-tribution to the agricultural industry. |