KELSEYVILLE >> Future Farmers of America member Ariana Montero, a student at Kelseyville High School, has been selected to serve on the State FFA Nominating Committee. This committee consists of two members from each of the six geographical regions with the past state president as chairperson.
Committee members are chosen through submitted applications by the regional selection committee. To be selected as a representative on the nominating committee a student must be an affiliated FFA member with a chapter in good standing with the state association, hold the Chapter FFA Degree at the time of the leadership conference where he/she is to serve, be a junior or senior in high school, and complete a comprehensive application.
On Monday March 6, Montero traveled to the California State FFA Center in Galt to attend a meeting with the other representatives. The committee paper screened over 70 State FFA Officer candidates checking for required qualifications. In April, the nominating committee will meet on Thursday before the conference to develop interview questions and activities for the incoming candidates. The candidates will arrive on Friday and begin the interview process.
This committee of 12 serves long hours throughout the State FFA Leadership conference to develop a slate of 12 candidates for the ballot by Sunday evening. Once the ballot is completed the FFA voting delegates will listen to the potential candidates through a question answer period and meet and talk with them in person before an official vote is taken.
The increased time in Fresno for nominating committee members is covered by their local chapter. In October, pumpkins grown by vineyard owners Michael and Tanya Hat were donated to Kelseyville FFA to sell. The profit from these sales will be used to develop leaders like Montero and help defray the costs of conferences, registrations, and travel.
The California FFA Association has over 76,000 members throughout the state of California. Expected attendance at the State Leadership Conference in Fresno is over 5000 FFA members and guests.
FFA chapters are an integral part of their high school agriculture programs and help develop competent and assertive agricultural leadership. It also allows students to increase awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being. FFA strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work while encouraging achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs. Through this organization students have the opportunity to travel, meet students from throughout the state, apply and earn scholarships, participate in a diverse array of contests, and earn degrees and recognition.
