By Joseph M. Morgan
MONTGOMERY, Ala.—One of DeKalb County's own, Kailee Johnson from Sylvania High School, was elected 2016-2017 Treasurer for the Alabama FFA North District at the 88th Annual Alabama FFA State Convention last week.
Alabama's annual FFA State Convention is a four-day event. In addition to electing Alabama FFA District and State Officers, the convention sets the stage for competition teams from FFA chapters across the state to compete for state titles in a series of Career Development Events (CDE), including team and individual competitions in:
Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Construction & Maintenance, Agricultural Mechanics, Aquaculture, Creed Speaking Finals, Extemporaneous Speaking Finals, Forestry, Horse Evaluation, Livestock, Nursery/Landscape, Floriculture, Meats Evaluation, Parliamentary Procedure, Poultry Judging, Prepared Public Speaking Finals, Quiz Bowl, Safe Tractor Driving Contest, and Small Engines.
Each Career Development Event includes problem solving, critical thinking and, if applicable, teamwork skills.
The entire first day of the convention is dedicated to CDE state competitions. Held on Tuesday, June 7 on the campus of Auburn University FFA chapters from all over Alabama compete in CDE state championships.
On Wednesday, the action moves to Montgomery and the actual convention portion of the week begins with a career show, FFA State Officer candidate interviews and wraps with performances and the string band contest finals all hosted at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre and the Montgomery Renaissance Convention Hall.
All day Thursday and most of Friday are dedicated to announcing the winners and state champions of each CDE category. At the end of the day Friday, June 10, elections are held. Johnson, from Sylvania High School, was elected on the final day of the convention, Friday June 10, as the 2016-2017 Treasurer for the Alabama FFA North District.
The winners of each CDE category at the State Convention and their chapters will advance to the National FFA Convention where they will represent their respective high schools and the State of Alabama as a whole as they compete against FFA chapters from states across the U.S. for the CDE national championships.
Johnson will join her fellow FFA District Officers and FFA State Officers next month for a formal officer training and fellowship in late July where she will have the opportunity to learn more about the governing structure of Alabama FFA and the Northern District and get to know the fellow officers with whom she will be serving during 2016-2017.
