2016 FFA Year in Review

Alaska FFA organized and hosted the National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO) for State FFA Officers from Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Alaska. A conference that hasn't been to Alaska for many years.

Chartered three new FFA chapters at Golden Heart in Fairbanks, Kake and Ninilchik. We have more than doubled both student membership and FFA Chapters from 125 members in January 2015 to currently over 280 members and from 6 to 12 chapters.

Guest speaker at the SARE, Alaska Farm Bureau Convention, MatSu Master Gardeners, and Grange meetings highlighting agriculture and natural resource education and FFA.

Teamed up with Alaska Farm Bureau to host a Governor's Alaska Grown reception in Juneau. Met with state legislators about agriculture, agriculture education and FFA and possible supportive legislation. Joined with state legislators on an agriculture tour and farm forum in the MatSu Valley.

Attended the Alaska Career and Technical Education conference and discussed goals and vision for agriculture education/FFA. State FFA officers conducted two workshops on Parliamentary Procedure.

Hosted the 2016 State FFA Convention in Palmer at MatSu College with team events being held at the UAF Experiment Farm. Over 150 people registered with the largest attendance to date. This year's theme was Aim Higher.

During this convention, thirteen career development events were held adding Agriculture Issues and Environmental & Natural Resource Management CDE's. The second annual Marine Technology CDE continues to be a popular event with over 50 members participating .

Elected a full slate of six new state officers who attended Blast Off, State President's Conference leadership training and hosted NLCSO in Alaska. These officers have conducted six leadership training events for FFA members around the state including classroom visits to several schools and conducted COLT & Take Off Leadership Schools for all chapters.

Hosted the second annual professional teachers association (AANRE-Alaska Association of Agriculture & Natural Resource Educators) teacher/advisor conference in Palmer in July focusing on plant science, natural resources and growing student leadership. Will host a CASE teacher training workshop in November and work towards bringing CASE to Alaska in 2017 for indepth teacher training.

Partnered with the University of Idaho to supervise and locate a student teacher in Palmer to work on his student teaching and further future opportunities in bringing career bound agriculture education professionals to Alaska to teach.

Secured over thirty sponsors for donations and scholarships including Click Pick Give to continue building the Alaska FFA Foundation to provide scholarships, grow leadership opportunities for the members, strengthen agriculture and support community service activities.

Authored and received three supporting grants to do community service activities centering around hunger issues and to carry out educational leadership workshops for FFA members, advisors, teachers and host additional leadership activities.

Conducted a 2nd annual tractor safety program in the MatSu valley. Review includes activities from January 2016-December 2016

Kevin FochsAlaska State FFA Director1509 Georgeson DrivePalmer, AK 99645W (907) 746-9499M (907) 707-9710