Around the Columns
On the road for FFA
As FFA president for 2008, MU’s Zach Kinne will give leadership workshops and learn about agriculture in the U.S. and Japan. Beau Williamson, right, of Clovis, Calif., was president in 2007. Photo courtesy of The National FFA Organization
Joining FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) as a freshman in high school opened the world to Zach Kinne. Eventually. Despite diligent practice for his first speech competition in his hometown of Eagleville, Mo., he didn’t even do well enough to move on to a regional event.
But Kinne, a junior majoring in agricultural economics, kept at it, gradually moved up in FFA and is now its national president for 2008. The organization has more than half a million student members. This year, Kinne will visit most states in the U.S. and fly to Japan, which has a similar organization. He’ll spend his time guiding youngsters through leadership workshops, meeting with business leaders and soaking up the wide world of agriculture.