Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-2540 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Robert Waggener, Editor

Phone: (307) 766-3571

E-mail: robertw@uwyo.edu

 

Date: Feb. 13, 2006

UW FFA Chapter helping high school chapters across state

            High school FFA students planning to attend the University of Wyoming can continue their involvement in the national agricultural, science and education organization at UW.

            “Anyone who has an interest in agriculture is welcome to join our chapter. When they get to campus we encourage them to come to one of our meetings and see what we are all about,” said the chapter’s adviser, Kristie Brewer, a credentials analyst in the UW Graduate School.

            The UW FFA Chapter formed in 2001. Members this semester are working on resume building and interviewing skills, and they will assist the Snowy Range FFA Chapter in Laramie with its regional speech contest, celebrate National FFA Week Feb. 18-25, and participate at the high school state convention April 19-22 in Cheyenne.

“The collegiate chapter has assisted us in a number of ways. They have acted as chaperone for convention dances, helped operate our FFA store at state convention, and worked as group leaders with scoring different career development events,” said Ron Pulse of Cheyenne, state high school FFA adviser.

“Most of them have been through 4-H and FFA. They know what we need so they can pitch right in,” Pulse added.

            Members of the UW chapter are coordinating the FFA state quilt project. A blank quilt block was sent to each high school chapter in the state, and they are to return a finished block with a design representative of their chapter. The project is on the Wyoming FFA Web page at http://www.wyomingffa.org/. Click “Check It Out” on the “Quilting Wyoming: Collegiate FFA Quilt Project” link.

Brewer said UW students in 2001 formed the chapter because they wanted to continue their leadership and professional skills they gained in FFA and 4-H, the youth development arm of the UW Cooperative Extension Service.

Chapter officers this school year are president Derek Hensley, Gillette, a senior rangeland ecology and watershed major in the College of Agriculture; vice president Scott McDonald, Riverton, a senior agriculture business major in the College of Agriculture; treasurer Seth Kennedy, Bayard, Neb., a junior rangeland ecology and watershed management major; and FFA/4-H secretary Tamera Peterson, Upton, a senior molecular biology major in the College of Agriculture.

Other members include Keith Olson, Casper; Brendan Thoman, Riverton; Troy Siddle, Sheridan; Kyle Atwater, Last Chance, Colo.; Adam Stamp, Longmont., Colo.; Amanda Phillips and Tiffany Schaffner, Yampa, Colo.; Jani Phillips, Walden, Colo.; Aaron Kreman, Bayard, Neb.; and Krystle Christner and Tabithia Christner, Wauneta, Neb.

Brewer said she jumped at the chance to become faculty adviser after seeing how FFA and 4-H positively influenced her two daughters.

            “It was a great way for me to stay in touch with agriculture and young people. This is a great club to advise; the officers make the decisions with little guidance from myself,” she said.

            UW students or high school seniors planning to attend Wyoming who want to join the chapter may contact Brewer at (307) 766-3798 or kbrewer@uwyo.edu.

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