NATIONAL FFA OFFICERS HERE TO BEGIN LONG '96 TREK

This year will be one of travel for the six national Future Farmers of America officers. The team will spend about 300 days of 1996 traveling more than 120,000 miles each across the United States as well as to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Japan.

As part of their visit to Missouri, the officers met Wednesday with area students at Southeast Missouri State University. Usually 400 students attend the Greenhand Motivational Conference, but with school closings because of snow only a few came this year. The Perryville and Delta FFA chapters were represented at the conference.

"It's an opportunity to let the students meet the national officers," said Jim Welker, a state agriculture education supervisor who works in Cape Girardeau.

He said it was unfortunate that schools had canceled classes. The conference will not be rescheduled.

When FFA national president Seth Derner joined FFA five years ago, he thought it was for people who wanted to go back to the farm or ranch. Then he found out there were members from the cities and suburbs who were involved for other reasons.

"It's bigger than farming and the ranch," he said. "Seventeen percent of the jobs in the U.S. are ag-related."

The officers represent towns with populations of 42 to 3 million.

This year's theme was "Dream High," and officers hoped the students would not only dream high but set lofty goals for themselves as well.

"After the conference, every student will leave here with a goal set, whether it's an FFA goal or a life goal," said Andy McCall of Houston, Texas. He serves as the western region vice president.

The seven Missouri conferences give the officers a chance to work on their public-speaking skills. It is their first engagement as national officers.

"I think every year I've been involved has been a better chance to grow individually," McCall said. "I was scared to death to meet new people or speak to a group. It's made me more self-confident."

Missouri is the only state that allows local first-year members to meet all six national officers at one time.

The officers are Derner of Bartlett, Neb., president; Cody Wagner of Banner, Wyo., secretary; Caffee of Geneva, Ind., vice president for the central region; Bill Catania of Westfield, N.Y., vice president for the eastern region; Clara-Leigh Horn of Ashville, Ala., vice president for the southern region; and McCall of Houston, Texas, vice president for the western region.

The officers will retire in November when a new slate is elected at the national convention.