SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL:

Members of the Brantley FFA Chapter in Alabama were one of 43 teams participating in the National FFA Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 89th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Jill Hall, Rhiannon Hall, Shay Odom, Kyndal Staley, Mackenzie Prescott and Harrison Weed competed with 252 other members from across the country. The team, led by advisor Mark Andrews, was awarded a silver emblem.

The members of the national winning team each received cash awards to recognize their success in the event. The cash awards and the parliamentary procedure event are sponsored by TransCanada.

The National FFA Parliamentary Procedure CDE tests students’ ability to effectively communicate ideas during a meeting.

Components included a general knowledge exam of parliamentary law, a 10-minute demonstration of parliamentary procedure, oral questions, written minutes of the demonstration as well as a team problem solving activity. Each team competed on local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their state at the National FFA Convention & Expo.

The event, held at the Hyatt Regency and Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, is one of many educational activities at the National FFA Convention & Expo in which FFA members practice the lessons taught in agricultural education classes.

The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 649,355 student members as part of 7,859 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.

The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education.

Governed by a 19-member board of trustees comprised of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA alumni, the foundation is a separately-registered nonprofit organization.

About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.