// August 2008
It’s here! Your bi-monthly source of information on FFA events, members, state officers, member competitions, Washington Association news, and how to submit your own articles! The AgVocate is a bi-monthly newsletter put together by your state officers, consisting of articles by Washington State FFA’s members and officers, to let you know where they’ll be, inform you of upcoming events statewide, and provide you with some fun facts.
We hope you find it useful as well as fun to read!
// August 2008
When we hear about an incoming storm, we either anticipate the show, or fear for the damage. However, without a catalyst, a storm can never reach its full potential, just like a hurricane can’t increase its power over a cold body of water. What can we do to fuel the storm of change that alters the landscape of our organization for the better?
Operation Blue Thunder, the state theme for this year, truly encompasses the goals that the 2008-09 Washington State FFA Officers have in mind. Thunder is the life and sustenance of great storms, and the sound they make is the perfect test of their greatness. The sound a storm makes is what grabs people’s attention and interests them. In the same way that a storm can be great, we, the Washington State FFA Association, can also be great. Just as the thunder is the life and sustenance of a storm, you, the members of the Association, are the life and sustenance of our group. You are the ones that leave a mark on this world. While many will come through this program, just like a good storm comes and goes, it is the mark that you make on the world that truly attests to the greatness that we have achieved. The sound we make to declare how great we are shows the world the amount of power we have to create change for the better. FFA stands for pride, leadership, character, integrity, tradition, and the best organization in the entire world. Don’t let intimidation or fears hold you back from your operation, because this year has just started.
// August 2008
This month we sat down with the newly elected sentinel Tammy Bennett to get to know her some more. Tammy was born and raised in the town of Lynden, WA. Her parents are CJ and Katie. She also has six younger brothers and sisters. She loves her mom’s strawberry pie, pot roast, and raspberries. She also likes cold coffee drinks like iced mocha’s, frappuccino, and mocha shakes. She dislikes pumpkin pie, pudding, whip cream, crab, shrimp, olives, tomatoes, pickles, and the list goes on. One of Tammy’s favorite movie is Ratatouille. Her favorite place in the world is Hong Kong. She said that she has already been there but she would go back in a heartbeat.
// August 2008
Washington FFA has excellent members who perform outstanding tasks throughout their community and chapter. Let the state organization know! Send in your articles of you or another members highlighting projects completed, CDE’s the members has excelled in, and any other important items they/you have encountered as an FFA member. If your article is so outstanding, that member will be selected to be featured in the Washington FFA newsletter!!! How awesome is that, right? Get involved and we are excited to see what our members have accomplished through their career as an FFA member.
Send submissions to
Please Submit by October 31st and include the member’s Name, Phone, Email, Chapter, Year in FFA (School Year), and if they have a office, what office. The article should be no more than 500 words and please attach a picture that best represents the member.
We will contact the month’s pick prior to publishing it in the AgVocate.
// August 2008
The Washington FFA Association is excited about its new website. So much has been added to it not only as an informational resource about the association, but it also includes so much to offer for the Members! From its Forums, State Officer Blogs, District Officer Blogs, Calendar of Events, District and State Officer Photo Gallery, all the way down to resources for awards, and competitions. The website is the new place for the Washington FFA members to stay informed, be informed, and collaborate and communicate with members all over the state.
// August 2008
We have kicked off this year with a bang! First, as a state officer team we went to Eatonville and had some training sessions with Amy Nikel, the best trainer ever! Then we headed on over to the towns of Ephrata and Moses Lake for some planning with some awesome Washington State FFA Alumni members. We then attended the National Leadership Conference for State Officers in Idaho in the end of July. Afterward, we had a blast at District Officer Training in Easton with the coolest District Officers ever! Now they are keeping all of us up to date on what their districts are doing by blogging about it on the website. Currently we are planning and getting ready to come meet each and every member in Chapter Visits and also BGLT, also known as Blue and Gold Leadership Tour.
