august 2009, ffa new horizons

Knowledge For College

Katie Snider believes FFA is singing her song7tips for calming

job interview jitters

Your life-after-high-school questions, answered

More Than aMELODY

Create a profi le. Add friends. Start a group. Voice your opinions.

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Crater FFA, Ore.

Go online to submit your FFA experiences.

“I THINK THAT FFA NEW HORIZONS IS

GREAT! AND THE WEBSITE GIVES EASY ACCESS TO ALL THE THINGS PEOPLE MISS IN

THE MAGAZINE.”

WEB POLL

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most about FFA?

The awards

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Everything!

Thanks to FFANation user FFAchick23for creating this poll.

Tell the FFA Nation about your summer experiences! Upload photos of your FFA summer camps, livestock projects and family vacations.2.9%

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On the CoverKatie Snider, Gleason, Tenn.Photo By J. Kyle Keener

8 cover storyMore Than a MelodyKatie Snider believes FFA is singing her song.

Knowledge For CollegeYour life-after-high-school questions, answered.

12

4 ScrapbookRead news, jokes and more.

6 FFA FacesLearn about members’ achievements.

11 What’s HotApplaud FFA members doing good deeds.

16 National Officer Q & AMeet Vice President Regina Holliday.

17 Your MoneyAdd up the ways you can finance college.

18 How To …Ace a job or college interview.

20 Back TalkAdvocate for agriculture with Michele Payn-Knoper.

JULIE WOODARD Editorial Director KIM NEWSOM Managing Editor JOYCE CARUTHERS Copy Editor JESSY YANCEY Associate Editor ANDREA BLOOM, CHRIS HAYHURST, JESSICA MOZO, KAREN SCHWARTZMAN Contributing Writers KEITH HARRIS Creative Director BRIAN McCORD Senior Photographer JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, Staff Photographers ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER BRIAN SMITH Web Development Director CHRISTINA CARDEN Associate Production Director MELISSA HOOVER, Production Project Managers KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT LAURA GALLAGHER, CANDICE SWEET, Senior Graphic Designers VIKKI WILLIAMS ERICA HINES, AMY NELSON Graphic Designers MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, Ad Traffic RAVEN PETTY GARY SMITH Distribution Director YANCEY TURTURICE Information Technology Director FRANCO SCARAMUZZA Web Design Director ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ Web Project Managers CARL SCHULZ Web Design JENNIFER GRAVES Web Production TWILA ALLEN Color Imaging Technician KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL FFA Communications RAY LANGEN Executive Vice President CARLA H. THURMAN Sr. V.P./Sales CASEY E. HESTER Sr. V.P./Operations MARK FORESTER V.P./Visual Content TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./Editorial Director NATASHA LORENS Production Director JEFFREY S. OTTO Photography Director BETH MURPHY Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division RACHEL MATHEIS Sales/Marketing Coordinator

For advertising information, contact Beth Murphy, (800) 333-8842, ext. 251, or e-mail [email protected].

2008-09 National FFA Officers PAUL MOYA, NM President NESSIE EARLY, CA Secretary HANNAH CROSSEN, OH Eastern Region Vice President LAILA HAJJI, OK Central Region Vice President REGINA HOLLIDAY, GA Southern Region Vice President RILEY BRANCH, TX Western Region Vice President

National FFA Staff LARRY CASE National Advisor, Chief Executive Officer STEVE BROWN Executive Secretary BILL FLEET Acting Chief Operating Officer MARION FLETCHER National Treasurer JULIE ADAMS, MARK CAVELL, Division Directors DALE CRABTREE, TOM KAPOSTASY, JANET MALONEY, DENNIS SARGENT, KENT SCHESCKE, VICKI SETTLE, LEE ANNE SHILLER, TONY SMALL, BILL STAGG, WILL WAIDELICH

National FFA Board of Directors – Members LARRY CASE Chair, USDE, VA STEVE BROWN Secretary, USDE, VA MARION FLETCHER Treasurer, State Supervisor, AR JAMES BARBEE State Superviser, NV ROBERT B. CALVIN Agriculture Teacher/USDE, MO WILBUR CHANCELLOR State Supervisor, MS BRUCE LAZARUS FFA Executive Secretary/USDE, AR JOEL LARSEN State Supervisor, MN KURT LUCAS State FFA Advisor, KY JOHN RAKESTRAW Business Representative/USDE, CO

Subscription Information:FFA New Horizons (ISSN 1069-806X) is published Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct. and Dec. by the National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN46268-0960. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art or any other unsolicited materials. For subscription information contact: FFA New Horizons Subscription Services, (317) 802-4235 or e-mail [email protected]. Periodical postage rate is paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and additional mail offices.

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C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Copyright© 2009 by the National FFA Organizationand Journal Communications Inc.

The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

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NEW HORIZONSNEW HORIZONSFFAFFAThe magazine of the National FFA Organization

®

Volume 55 Number 6

3FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG

august 2009 Contents

Fascinated by FrogsEver heard of the Chiricahua Leopard

and Ramsey Canyon Leopard frogs? Both

are endangered frog species, and six

high-school students from the Arizona

Agribusiness and Equine Center in

Phoenix know all about them.

In partnership with the Phoenix Zoo,

these FFA members developed a DNA marker

system to study the genetics of these

frogs. The group recently presented its

findings at the International Conference

of Plant and Animal Genome Research

in San Diego, Calif.

Congratulations to Gabrielle Delmer,

Amanda Fish, Jessica Gaines, Taylor

Lasley, Taylor Ortiz, Colin Pressler and

their instructor, Dr. Michael Brown!

Why did the kid goat think his parents were made of money? Because he heard them being called “buck” and “doe.”

Samuel IvanovichSpotsylvania, Va.

Why was the piglet in trouble?Because he had a snout-y attitude.

Seth GoodRolla, N.D.

Happy CampersOne of the best FFA experiences

for many members is a trip

to their state summer FFA

camp. Playing sports,

participating in

leadership training,

engaging in friendly

competitions, and

making new friends

definitely makes for

a great summer.

We want to know

how many of you

attended camp

this summer. Log

on to FFA Nation

(ffanation.ffa.org)

and share your

photos, talk about it

on the Discussions

forum and maybe

even reconnect with

summer FFA camp

friends!

Just Joking

ffanewhorizons.orgffanewhorizons.org

Send us your best jokes through our Online Feedback Form.


FFA scrapbook Express yourself

FYIYOUR TURN

Keep us informed!

This is your chance to

be a part of FFA New

Horizons. Send us a

short article about

your latest chapter

activities, awards

you’ve received or

even your involvement

outside FFA.

Be sure to include

a high-quality color

photo and your

contact information.

Want an easy way to

send your story? Visit

ffanewhorizons.org

and click on � Tell Us.

Or, send to:

FFA New Horizons

P.O. Box 68960

Indianapolis, IN 46268

[email protected]

in 1969, women were granted full membership into the National FFA Organization, then called the Future Farmers of America. This year, we celebrate 40 years since that historic event and how far we’ve come. Today, 41 percent of FFA members across the countRy are female.

A Monumental EffortHave you ever seen a replica of the FFA

emblem that stands more than 6 feet tall

and weighs 3,700 pounds? The FFA members

at Los Fresnos High School in Texas have;

they have spent the last two years garnering

support for its placement at their school.

The monument, known as the Ton of Pride,

is etched in a bronze patina lithachrome

monument finish and is one of only five in

Texas and the only one south of San Antonio.

A special ceremony was held to unveil and

dedicate the monument.

Riding FFA StyleIn honor of FFA and inspired by

the “American Chopper” TV show, the

Kewaunee FFA chapter of Wisconsin now

has its own set of wheels. Kewaunee’s

FFA chopper is a product of alumni and

community donations, a dedicated advisor,

and two years of hard work from more

than 20 students. FFA symbols and colors

are incorporated into every element of the

bike’s design, and even the seat is covered

with an FFA jacket. The chopper has been

shown at the Wisconsin

FFA convention and

the National FFA

Alumni auction

during the

2008

National

FFA

Convention.


Win a Chevrolet T-shirtChevrolet, the sponsor of FFA Faces, will award a T-shirt to featured members.

Nominate yourself by following the steps below. Questions? E-mail [email protected].

NE

KY

OK IA

OH

Through her SAE in specialty animal production, this college

freshman owns, breeds and shows 20 dairy goats. For her efforts,

Sarah placed third in the state for her proficiency and was named

FFA Star Chapter Farmer. She served as chapter president and the

district FFA reporter. Sarah plans to attend college and major in

agricultural education or political science.

Sarah PiperChapter: Big Walnut FFA

Mitch, a college freshman, first joined FFA to develop his showman

skills and began exhibiting hogs at the county fair. He also worked

part time on local veal calf and dairy farms. He earned his

Greenhand FFA Degree and was named his chapter’s outstanding

sophomore. In addition to FFA, Mitch was a member of his school’s

football, basketball and baseball teams.

Mitch McCafferyChapter: Johnson Creek FFA

This high school junior competed in the FFA Creed speaking and

horse evaluation CDEs. With her strong leadership skills, Feron

served as chapter secretary and was named her chapter’s Star

Greenhand. She manages her herd of show cattle through her beef

production entrepreneurship SAE and plans to pursue a career

as a veterinarian.

Feron LeonardChapter: Lamoni FFA

This high school senior was a state proficiency winner for her SAE

in vegetable production. She owns a two-acre patch of sweet corn

and sells her crop locally. She also competed in the agricultural

sales and food science CDEs, earned her Chapter FFA Degree and

served as chapter secretary. She plans to attend the University

of Nebraska-Lincoln to major in business.

Chaney BlackChapter: West Boyd FFA

A high school junior, Courtney has developed solid entrepreneurial

supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs in vegetable

production and diversified livestock production by raising

tomatoes, market lambs, goats, pigs and Shorthorn cattle. She

was named the top swine exhibitor at the state fair for two years

and also served as chapter treasurer.

Courtney TarvinChapter: Bracken County FFA

Justin, a high school senior, exhibits pigs and horses at local fairs.

He also placed first in his county in the livestock evaluation

career development event (CDE). Justin has served as chapter

historian and treasurer, plays baseball and is a volunteer fireman.

He plans to attend Oklahoma State University and wants to start

his own heating and refrigeration business.

Justin ShaverChapter: Sox FFA

– Andrea Bloom

KY

OK IA

Mitch, a college freshman, first joined FFA to develop his showman

skills and began exhibiting hogs at the county fair. He also worked

part time on local veal calf and dairy farms. He earned his

Mitch McCafferyafferyChapter: Johnson Creek FFAreek FFA

This high school junior competed in the FFA Creed speaking and

horse evaluation CDEs. With her strong leadership skills, Feron

served as chapter secretary and was named her chapter’s Star

Greenhand. She manages her herd of show cattle through her beef

production entrepreneurship SAE and plans to pursue a career

as a veterinarian.

Feron LeonardnardChapter: Lamoni FFAFA

olid entrepreneurial

grams in vegetable

uction by raising

orses at local fairs.

vestock evaluation

served as chapter

volunteer fireman.

and wants to start

n business.

Create Describe NominateGo to ffanation.ffa.org and sign

up for an FFA Nation profile.Upload a profile photo and fill out the fields to tell us about

your FFA experiences.

Under the FFA Faces thread on the Discussions page, tell us why you should be featured.

WI


FFA Faces

Cover Story

We’ve long known that FFA members are about more than just “cows, sows and plows.” You are selfless, motivated, and most of all, unique.

Over the next six issues, we’ll be highlighting FFA members who embody what today’s FFA is all about. You’ll meet athletes, volunteers, an artist and more.

But first, meet Katie, a talented singer-songwriter from Gleason, Tenn.

Katie is FFA. Are you?

Katie Snider believes FFA is singing her song

MelodyMore Than a

Story by Chris Hayhurst

For those in the audience, the National

FFA Talent Revue held each year during

the national FFA convention is a chance

to get up, clap your hands and dance. For

those members who perform – like Katie Snider,

who earned a spot onstage in 2007 – it’s a

chance of a lifetime. And it’s no slam dunk.

Katie, a recent high school graduate

from the Gleason FFA Chapter in Tennessee,

recalls the moment clearly.

“I was so nervous,” she recalls. “It was

the entire convention, the whole shebang. I’d

never played in front of that many people. I

just kind of looked out at the crowd, and all I

could see was this ocean of national blue and

corn gold.”

Fortunately for Katie, a gifted pianist

and composer, she knew what she was doing.

Blinded by the lights but buoyed by the cheers

from the crowd, she took her portable keyboard

and began to play.

The song? “Great Balls of Fire” – the rock

’n’ roll hit made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis in

the 1950s. And the verdict? By all accounts,

she rocked the house.

“It was so much fun,” Katie says. “I’ll never

forget it.”

It could be said that Katie’s performance

was destiny.

Thirty years earlier, her dad, Mike, who is

now a well-known professional banjo player,

also performed at the national FFA convention.

Back then he was an officer in Gleason FFA,

another honor he shares with his daughter,

who also served as a chapter officer.

Later, as he raised his family in the same

town he grew up in, he made sure his kids

were always surrounded by music.

“Growing up in a household where there’s

music going on all the time, I was just naturally

drawn to it,” Katie says. “I was curious about

it, so I wanted to learn to play as well. I guess,

Tennessee FFA member Katie Snider performs during the 2007 National FFA convention.


Cover Story

maybe, I just wanted to be like my dad.

He was really an inspiration for me.”

Katie had friends who were taking

piano lessons, so she did the same.

“I loved it right from the start,”

she says. “I loved taking piano, and

I loved playing and practicing.”

Today, Katie says, after 10 years of

lessons, music has become her passion.

“I listen to all types of music, and

I’ll play anything,” says Katie, who

has performed everywhere from the

Tennessee FFA convention to a senior

citizens’ Christmas luncheon at school.

During her freshman year, Katie

even took part in a program that used

music to build self-esteem in young

children. There was no piano at the

school, so she improvised.

“I brought in a little roll-up key-

board I got for Christmas one year,

and I used it with the first graders,”

she explains. “It was so interesting

to see how they responded. I had them

all get up in a line, and they all got

to play on it.”

Even the shyest kids in the class

came up to the front and gave the

keyboard a try, Katie recalls.

“Their faces would light up, and

you could tell it meant a whole lot to

them. It was beautiful,” she says.

Music, as Katie explains, is her

outlet in life.

“If I’m upset or sad, or if I just

want to play a song, it kind of transports

Katie learned to play the guitar four years ago, and it quickly became a passion for her. She now writes her own songs and continues to hone her talent.

Are you a musical FFA member? Join FFA Nation to connect with other members like you on the Discussions page. You can also upload photos of your favorite musical performances to the Photo Gallery.

me into whatever state of mind I want

to be in,” she says. “It gives me tran-

quility. I think it’s really neat how

something so simple can do that.”

Simply put, Katie is really good

on the piano. She’s so good, in fact,

that not long ago she won an

International Piano Guild Superior

Composer Award.

But the piano isn’t the only thing

Katie excels at. She also plays guitar

and sings, and Katie enjoys composing

her own music and lyrics.

She’s won state and national public

speaking awards, and she’s competed

in everything from livestock judging

to parliamentary procedure. Katie’s

classmates elected her Miss Gleason

High School and homecoming queen.

This summer, Katie began college

at the University of Tennessee at

Martin on a music scholarship.

Katie says she’s excited about

college, though she’s not yet sure

what major she will choose. It may be

music, it may be creative writing

(which she also loves), or it may be

something else altogether.

“I’m just going to take life as it

comes, one step at a time. I do know

that music will definitely have a

part in whatever it is I do,” she says.

“I want music to always be a big part

of my life. I’m not sure how I’ll use it

or where it will lead me, but it will

always be there in one way or another.”


Twist of FateIn 2007, Dakota Hoben and some

friends from the Louisa-Muscatine

High School in Iowa were enjoying a

hot summer day when a tornado blew

through their community, causing

damage everywhere. A particular home

caught their attention, since they knew

its resident was in her 90s and likely

inside. She was, and the boys pulled her

to safety and provided basic first aid

until help arrived.

While many people call Dakota and

his friends heroes, they remain humble.

“I feel I could count on every FFA

member from across this country to

respond in a similar fashion, with

a similar attitude,” Dakota says.

A Pet ProjectAs part of their National FFA Week celebration, East Lincoln

FFA members from Denver, N.C., sponsored a pet supply drive.

The students collected more than 200 items from their high

school classmates, including chew toys, bowls, cat litter, pet

food and more. They donated the items to the Humane Society

of Lincoln County and The Animal League of Gaston County.

According to FFA advisor Shane Norris, the members

recognized that these groups needed their help more than

ever during the economic downturn, when the number of

abandoned pets skyrockets.

“When families are displaced and move to

alternative housing, they usually have

no room or are not allowed to have

pets,” Norris explains.


Cool stuff to know FFA What's hot


college affords FFA members a unique opportunity to interact with other students, in addition to providing a quality education.

Q

Q

Nervous, scared, intimidated, anxious.

That’s how many of you say you feel

about life after high school. The good

news is, you’re not alone.

Many middle- and high-school students

find themselves with more questions than

answers when it comes to college. After all,

it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll

ever make and, for many of you, the first you’ll

make as an “adult.”

So, for this year’s annual college feature,

we turned to you.

We asked our FFA Facebook friends and

FFA Nation users to submit questions about

college. And for the answers, we called upon

college experts – admissions directors,

professors, current college students and

even your National FFA Collegiate Ambassadors.

Read on for a great variety of college

information, from information on housing

to how you can continue your FFA involvement.

How hard is the transfer from studying in high school to studying in college?

“Most students tell me they don’t have to

study in high school to do well, so there is

definitely a transition when entering college.

In college, students are expected to spend three

hours studying outside of class for each credit

hour. So as an example, a three-hour class would

equal to at least nine hours of study time.”

Christy Watkins

Recruitment Coordinator,

Murray State University, Murray, Ky.

“College is all about time management.

You are away from home, with no one to tell

you when to study, how much to study or when

to go to bed. It is up to you to make sure that

you get everything done. I suggest making

a weekly checklist for all the assignments

due, things you need to read and things you

need to study. Get a planner if it will help.”

Erin Crumbley

Freshman, New Mexico State University,

Las Cruces, N.M.

How is my roommate chosen? “With most on-campus housing, you have

the opportunity to choose your own roommate.

If you decide not to, you are usually randomly

assigned to a student who has similar interests

as you. A word of advice: Be bold and let your

roommate be randomly assigned. You can gain

lifelong friendships and meet more people

that way.”

Mike Ockerhausen

Junior, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.

Your life-after-high-school

questions, ANSWERED

Story by Kim NewsomPhotography by Jeffery S. Otto

CollegeKnowledge For

FYIOUR CONTRIBUTORS

Thanks to these

FFA members who

contributed college

questions for this article:

• Ame Steele,

Northwestern

Regional FFA, Conn.

• Shyann Krumrey,

Buffalo Lake-Hector

FFA, Minn.

• Jon Wilber, Scott

County FFA, Ky.

• Leah Schill,

Crothersville FFA, Ind.

• Ross Newton, Hoosier

Hills FFA, Ind.

• Kolin Schmidt, Central

City FFA, Iowa

• Benjamin Trampe, SEM

FFA, Neb.


QQ

Q

Q

Why is college so expensive?

“The better question is, “How can

I make my college education worth the

investment?” And, college is an invest-

ment – one that will pay off throughout

your lifetime, since your salary will

be greatly higher than someone with

only a high-school diploma.”

Ina Agnew

Vice President, Enrollment

Management, Oklahoma State

University Institute of

Technology, Okmulgee, Okla.

What should I do to remain sane the first few months and not miss everybody?

“Make connections! Talk

to your professors and fellow

students. Don’t isolate yourself;

instead, get involved. You’ll make

friends quickly, and the myriad

of activities and schoolwork

should prevent boredom!”

Jason Emmert

Assistant Dean, College of

Agricultural, Consumer and

Environmental Sciences, University

of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

How do I decide which major to choose?

“What you choose to pursue

in college will likely change over

your collegiate career. The strong

majority of college students will

change majors at least once, and

the strong majority of those of us

in the workforce are employed in

an area not directly tied to our

college major. Find a major that

fits you; don’t make yourself fit

the major!”

Kathryn Martensen

Assistant Dean, College of

Agricultural, Consumer and

Environmental Sciences

University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign

What do colleges look for in an applicant?

“Colleges are looking for students

who are driven and want to be involved.

Grades are important, but they

aren’t usually the only deciding

factor. FFA members have a head

start because of the reputation of

the National FFA Organization.”

Natalie Ryan

Junior, California

State University – Fresno


Q

QIs there any way to continue FFA during college?

“Collegiate membership! Once

on campus, get connected with your

collegiate FFA chapter so you can stay

involved in the many opportunities

FFA has to offer. If your campus

doesn’t currently have a collegiate

FFA chapter, simply contact National

FFA at [email protected] to get

information on how to charter a new

chapter. Once connected with your

collegiate chapter, you’ll be amazed

at all the opportunities that await you!”

Marty Tatman

Education Specialist,

National FFA Organization

What is the best advice that you would give to a high school student about college in general?

“Keep your mind open. You

will be surprised who you will meet,

what you will discover and the fun

you will have when you are open to

trying new things you would have

never done in high school.”

Erin Sheffer

College graduate, Towson

University, Towson, Md.

Visit the Discussions page to join the conversation about life after high school.


Regina Holliday loves animal agriculture. A

native of Dublin, Ga., she began showing beef

cattle at an early age, and her career goal is

eventually become a veterinarian. But for

now, Regina is enjoying her year as the

National FFA Southern Region Vice President.

QWhat is your favorite part about being

a college student?

AI love life at the University of Georgia!

The best part about being a college

student is getting to meet new people.

Trust me – in a lecture hall of more than 400

students, you meet somebody new every day!

FYIREGINA’S FAVORITES

Any day of the week,

this Georgia native’s

purse is carrying

around a pack of

crayons. Sound

strange? Learn more

about Regina’s quirks

and favorites:

Sport to play: Tennis

Color: Pink

Food: Chicken and

dumplings

FFA memory: Annual

fruit sale

Animal: Cows

Hobby: Singing

Anima

Ho

HollidayRegina

QWhy should FFA members consider

joining Collegiate FFA after they finish

high school?

ACollegiate FFA is a great way to

continue involvement in such a great

organization. You may go to a school

outside of your state, but with Collegiate FFA,

you can still work with individuals who have

the same beliefs in agriculture. Plus, it helps

you learn how we as agriculturalists can

help educate people on things that affect

our everyday lives.

QAs a beef cattle producer and FFA

member, what do you tell people when

asked about our nation’s food supply?

AWe have one of the safest – if not the

safest – food supply in the world. Quite

often, people don’t fully understand

the issues in agriculture, so it’s important

to educate people about our industry. That

education starts as FFA members in our local

communities and can even extend to our

collegiate careers and beyond.

QA lot of other FFA members, like you,

also want to become veterinarians.

What are you doing to prepare yourself

for your future career?

AI have realized the important of

maintaining good grades, so studying

is a must for me. The average GPA to get

into vet school is greater than a 3.5, so I have

to hit the books! I also think it is important to

build relationships with faculty and staff at

your college or university. My advisor at UGA

has been instrumental in helping me take

the required courses and developing a plan

of action so that I can go to vet school.

ffanewhorizons.orgffanewhorizons.org

Click on In This Issue for more from our interview with Regina.

National FFA Southern Region Vice President


FFA National Officer Q & A

Much?I

f college is in your near future,

you’re probably thinking about

choosing a major, moving into

your dorm room and maybe even

joining a sorority or fraternity. But

hold your horses – the first step in

planning for college is to

understand the costs involved. After

all, your education is one of the biggest

financial investments you’ll make in

your life.

It’s no secret college costs a pretty

penny. You’ll be wise not to rely solely

on your parents to navigate the ins

and outs of tuition, grants and loans.

Even if you’re just considering

college, you should also fill out the

FAFSA application, which stands for

Free Application for Federal Student

Aid. You can complete it online at

www.fafsa.ed.gov.

The first step in preparing for college is to understand the money involved

College Costs HowCollege Finance, DefinedSome common terms you’ll hear as you

research college finance options:

Tuition: The amount of money you’ll have

to pay to attend a college

Pell Grant: A federal grant that provides

funds to undergraduate students with

financial need

Stafford Loan: A federal student loan

program that allows students to borrow

money for education directly from banks

and lenders

Subsidized Loans: Federal loans that

are based on financial need; students

typically are not charged interest until

they begin repayment after graduation

Unsubsidized Loans: Federal loans

that are not based on financial need;

students are charged interest right

from the start

Interest Rate: The cost of borrowing

money as expressed as a percentage

rate of the sum you are borrowing

Promissory Note: A legally binding

contract a borrower signs to obtain a loan

Out-of-State Tuition: The extra money

you’ll have to pay if you attend a public

college somewhere other than in your

home state

Scholarships/Grants: Free money for

college that you do not have to repay

Loans: Money you borrow for college

that you will eventually have to

pay back to the lender

“The FAFSA is the government’s

way of determining how much you

and your parents can afford to pay

for college. It’s probably the most

important financial aid form a

college-bound student can complete,”

says Mark Rothbaum, president of

CollegeToolkit.com. “You’ll need to

complete this form to get access to

most of the money available from

the federal government, including

Pell Grants and Stafford Loans. And

many state and private aid programs

use the FAFSA to determine your

eligibility for their scholarship,

grant and loan programs.”

You’ll also want to create a budget

for college, and there are dozens of

calculators and worksheets available

online to help. CollegeToolkit.com,

for example, offers a College Expense

Worksheet to create a budget, a

Financial Aid Award Evaluator to

compare financial aid

awards, and a College

Savings Calculator.

It’s never too early for high school

students to start planning for college

expenses. Though most students don’t

think about it until junior or senior

year, freshmen and sophomores can

benefit from examining scholarship

applications, joining clubs and

paying attention to their grades.

– Jessica Mozo


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Just hearing the word “interview”

is enough to make some students

break out in a cold sweat. After

all, whether you’re trying to get into

college, get chosen for an internship,

or land your first job, an interview

places you in the hot seat and is

the deciding factor for some very

important opportunities in life.

“Interviewers spend a good

amount of time justifying their first

impressions,” says Mark Truman, a

college consultant and owner of Omniac

Education, a New Mexico firm that

specializes in helping students

transition from high school to

college. “If you look confident,

capable and intelligent when you

first enter the room, the interviewer

will ask you questions that will give

you a chance to display your skills.

If you look poorly dressed, run late

and answer incoherently, the

interviewer will ask questions that

attempt to figure out how off you are.”

Truman offers these additional

words of advice:

1. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.

Try on clothes, arrange

for a ride and scope out the

interview site in advance.

2. LOOK PROFESSIONAL.

Teens sometimes struggle

to look professional because they

7 tips to calm your nerves and help you present yourself professionally

JittersJob Interview don’t have a closet full of suits. Talk

to your parents about purchasing

an affordable suit or put some time

into ironing and matching clothes

you already have.

3. PRACTICE QUESTIONS.

Google “common

interview questions” and print out

a list, then have your parents or a

friend ask you sample questions.

4. PLAN FOR CURVEBALLS.

Also be prepared

for curveball questions. Lots of

interviewers like to ask unusual

questions to see how well candidates

think on their feet.

“There’s only one wrong answer –

‘I don’t know,’” Truman says. “If they

ask you your favorite movie and you

say Mortal Kombat, that’s totally fine.

It’s honest and might even get a laugh

out of the interviewer.”

5. KNOW ABOUT THEM.

Show you are interested

in the job, internship or scholarship

by knowing a few important facts about

the company. Researching the website

is a must.

6. ARRIVE EARLY.

If you’re rushing around,

you’ll look unprepared – even if you

spent hours preparing.

7. BE YOURSELF.

As cliché as it sounds,

focus on being yourself.

“Interviewers don’t expect you

to be perfect, “Truman says. “They are

interested in honest discussions.”

– Jessica Mozo


FFA How-to Ace a job interview

Michele Payn-Knoper is an FFA alumna from Michigan.

If you ask Michele Payn-Knoper what she

does, her simple answer is, “run around

the world talking a lot.”

As a professional speaker, author and

consultant, she works to give a voice to the

people who feed the world. Payn-Knoper is

no newcomer to agriculture; she grew up

on a dairy cattle operation and served as

the Michigan FFA Secretary.

Learn more about her unique career.

Payn-KnoperAgriculture advocate and FFA alumna tells the story of those who feed our world

Michele

QWhat does your company, Cause

Matters Corp., do?

AI work with people in production

agriculture and agribusiness to speak

out more effectively in order to build a

connection between the farm gate and

consumer plate. Recently I began offering

keynotes and workshops for FFA conventions

and leadership conferences with a friend who

was in a neighboring FFA chapter. You never

know when your fellow FFA members will come

back into your life!

QIn what ways did FFA help prepare

you for this type of career?

AFFA transformed me from being painfully

shy to falling in love with speaking on

the stage of the Michigan FFA convention.

The leadership skills taught at all levels of FFA

continue to serve as the foundation for my life.

QWhy do you think it’s important for

FFA members to help advocate for

U.S. agriculture?

A Regardless of whether your interests

are in landscaping, food science,

forestry, raising livestock or planting

crops – understand you have a story to tell

about agriculture.

FFA members across the nation need to

be speaking up to help get the word out that

American agriculture does the right thing

for the right reasons. The reality is that if

you don’t, consumer misunderstanding

will drive the future of our business.

Add your thoughts about agricultural advocacy to our Discussions thread.


FFA Back Talk Former members Reflect

august 2009, ffa new horizons

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