The Past Impacts The Future
Friday, July 13, 2012 | Author: Hannah Chute, Caney Creek FFA
Imagine state officers representing all periods of Texas FFA history gathered in one room. The past state officer lunch provided an opportunity for former officers to reminisce about past experiences and plan future support for the Texas FFA.
Officers in attendance came from many backgrounds and eras, ranging from 1966 to 2010.
Marcus Hill was the 1966 state president from Sulfur Springs FFA, a time period when girls were not yet allowed in the organization.
“I [served] the second year that the president had a car furnished for him,” Hill recalled. “We would visit five schools a day.” He went on to explain how the state convention has grown. “There were 16 booths at convention then; there are 110 today.”
Joe Dettling, who served the same year as Hill, agreed. “A good year a convention had 4,000 students there,” he said.
The organization has changed even in recent years.
“Our experiences were a lot different than they are today,” said Trent Ashby, formerly of Henderson FFA and an officer in 1991.
Ashby, however, believes the quality of youth continuing the tradition of leadership has improved.
No matter what era, the former officers held great pride and respect for the position.
“It’s a position of great humility,” Barbie Mosley, the 1994-1995 president from Calallen FFA said.
Former officers not only recalled the past with fondness, but looked forward to the future. Aaron Alejandro, executive director of the Texas FFA Foundation, motivated the lunch attendants to stay active and involved.
“The future is not only bright, it’s challenging and full of opportunity,” he said.
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