AREA TEEN NATIONAL LEADER OF YOUTH UNIT

ADVANCE -- Future Homemakers of America members aren't just baking cookies anymore.

So says Ross McFerron, an Advance High School senior who has been elected to lead the national organization in promoting its new name and image.

McFerron, the son of Kenny and Jan McFerron of Advance, was elected president of the organization during a national convention in Boston, Mass., last week.

"It's odd for some people that I'm president of this organization, and yet you don't want to eat anything I might prepare," joked McFerron, 17. "It's grown into an organization where there are lots of guys."

McFerron faced intense competition to become president of the organization. Only 12 finalists from a large field of applicants were approved to become national officers. Finalists then delivered speeches to the national assembly prior to the general election.

"I had no idea what to expect," he said. "There were about 150 Missouri delegates there. When they called out the vice president's name and it wasn't mine, they went wild."

McFerron said the assembly's decision to rename the organization Family Career and Community Leaders of America was made to reflect a new focus on developing future community leaders.

Local chapters also work to provide students with fun and entertaining activities that promote the application of academic skills, he said.

"We're preparing ourselves to grow within this next century," said McFerron, who will represent some 225,000 members during the next school year. "FHA was not a good description of what I as a member do or what we're trying to accomplish."

McFerron said the group's decision to change its name also was based partially on a desire to reflect its diverse membership. In the past, the largely female membership reflected the group's focus on issues important to stay-at-home mothers. Today, however, more women are working outside the home, and employers are looking to hire people who have demonstrated community service and leadership skills.

"Now more women go out and work, and therefore the organization could expand and meet the needs of not only the women who work but also for men who choose to stay at home or who also work," McFerron said. "Our purpose is to build strong leaders within the family, different careers and the community."

Besides his involvement in his local FHA chapter, McFerron is a past president of Future Farmers of America and a former treasurer of the student council at Advance High School. He plays trumpet in the school band and was a member of the all-district cross-country team.