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Emden
student meets with USDA officials
Learns
about risk management efforts while in Washington, D.C.
Kate Wrage of Emden
was recently named one of 10 winners in the National FFA
Organization’s Risk Management Essay Contest. Wrage’s essay
was based on her supervised agricultural experience program that
is a part of Hartsburg-Emden High School’s agricultural eduation
program. The winning essay allowed Wrage and her FFA adviser,
Betsy Pech, to meet with several USDA officials Thursday, April
27, and to visit with Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.
 "Our
10 winners and other contest participants understand that farmers
must do more than grow their crops, they must make good business
decisions and manage risks wisely," said Deputy Secretary of
Agriculture Richard Rominger. "Judging from the quality of
these essays, the future of agriculture looks bright."
As a result of
winning this contest, Wrage and Pech received an all-expense-paid
trip to Washington, D.C., where they met with USDA officials and
were presented with awards. In addition, the two had lunch with
USDA staff in the Secretary’s Dining Room, visited the offices
of Illinois legislators and met with staff from the House
Agriculture Committee to discuss the growing importance of risk
management for American agriculture.
"It is our
hope that this contest stimulates our students to learn about and
manage risk effectively," said Dr. Larry Case, National FFA
adviser. "This also provides a valuable opportunity for FFA
members to cultivate their communications skills, which are vital
to American agriculture."
The contest was
offered by the National FFA Organization in partnership with the
National Council for Agricultural Education. The contest was
sponsored by the Risk Management Agency, United States Department
of Agriculture, as a special project of the National FFA
Foundation.
FFA is a national
organization of 451,997 members preparing for leadership and
careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.
Local, state and national activities and award programs provide
opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills learned
in the classroom. The organization has 7,268 local chapters
located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the
Virgin Islands. FFA’s 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 FFA Internet Web site, www.ffa.org,
provides information about the National FFA.
Two
named to IDEA Youth Board
 The
Illinois Drug Education Alliance (IDEA) has chosen two Lincoln
young people to serve on the IDEA Youth Board. Samantha Hudelson,
daughter of Donald and Janet Hudelson, and Elizabeth Carmitchel,
daughter of Bruce and Jan Carmitchel, were selected to serve the
state of Illinois in promoting the prevention of drugs and
alcohol.
IDEA
began in 1982 because of concern about the illegal use of alcohol
and other drugs and the concern about what that use was doing to
children, families and communities. In 1989, IDEA created the
Youth Board to promote youth involvement in the project. These
young people help with the planning of the annual conference and
other programs that impact youth and young adults.
IDEA
provides guidance and leadership to parents, youth, school and
community groups who are working in prevention and acts as a
statewide, independent citizens’ advocate for effective
prevention efforts.
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