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- Local FFA chapter makes request to county commission
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ASKING FOR SUPPORT • FFA members met with Juab County Commission to ask for county support to attend the national convention
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Not only will the Mt. Nebo FFA represent the state of Utah at the national convention this month but they will also represent the county.
Kylee Taylor, Shelby Garrett, Rylie Wright and Zeak Woodland, representing the local chapter, met with Juab County Commissioners to request that the commission contribute money to the venture. They would also like items from the county to give as souvenir gifts to those attendees who will visit their display at the national convention.
"We won the state chapter display," said Taylor. "Now we are representing our state at the national convention."
The 2015 National FFA Convention & Expo will celebrate its last year of its three-year run in Louisville beginning October 28. More than 60,000 FFA members and guests from throughout the United States are expected at this year's event, which runs through October 31.
Attendees will stay in 136 hotels within a 60-mile radius of Louisville. After this year, the convention and expo will move to Indianapolis from 2016 to 2024.
"Any time we give money," said Byron Woodland, commission chairman, "we have to justify it."
Glenn Greenhalgh, county planning commission director, said that the commission could justify a tourism promotion contribution of $500 to the FFA.
The county commission is allowed to give money for advertising but, since it is taxpayer money, commissioners have to get something for what is given.
"With just what we have to send, shipping will cost us $500," said Taylor.
"The money from the county would be considered a tourism promotion," said Greenhalgh.
This year marks the 85th anniversary of the National FFA Creed as well as the 50th anniversary of the merger of New Farmers of America, an agricultural organization for African-American students, with the National FFA Organization.
Taylor said that the Mt. Nebo Chapter had already contacted several groups and counties in Utah for contributions that could be shared at the convention with conference attendees.
"Garfield County and Bryce Canyon will send us 10,000 items," she said.
They will be sending pins, buttons, key chains and similar souvenir items to the chapter to hand out. Those items all advertise the various areas tourists might enjoy around the state.
Z. Woodland said that the group was hoping that there were items from Juab County because they wanted to represent the county where they all lived as well as promote the state. "Pat Painter has some beautiful shots of Mt. Nebo that he has taken," said Greenhalgh.
Clinton Painter, commissioner, said he had also taken some beautiful shots of Mt. Nebo and would be happy to share those. He asked members of the chapter to come to his home and look at the photos available. After they make their selections he will blow them up to the poster size.
He also had access to some items that could be used as gifts at the convention.
The FFA chapter is short on time in collecting all the items and getting them shipped to the convention in time. That needs to be done soon so that the items will arrive in time.
The convention and expo will kick off with keynote speaker Rick Rigsby during the opening sessions.
Throughout the week, students will attend more than 70 leadership and personal growth workshops. FFA members will tour industry destinations, including Papa John's international headquarters, Ford's Louisville assembly plant, Churchill Downs and more.
Rick Carlton, commissioner, said that the county had a number of left-over county history books—actually bound books—and would be happy to donate some of those.
Jamie Garrett, county fair and events planner, said that the books would tend to be heavy to ship but that the county would give FFA members 10 or so that they could have in their booth to give away.
Carlton asked if the state travel agency had been contacted.
"They sent souvenir buttons to give away and pictures of national parks that we could display," said Taylor.
Carlton suggested members go to the agency and see what is available in addition to what they had received.
"They had some unique items like beehives," he said.
Brent Boswell, county economic development director, might also have some things that would be unique to Juab County which could be given to the FFA.
It was also suggested that the group contact Cheston Slater, who is with the local travel council because he might know of items that would advertise Juab County that would be available.
There are brochures promoting Juab County tourism available that could be donated. Areas like Yuba Dam and Little Sahara Sand Dunes would also have brochures as would the local travel council.
The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 629,367 student members who belong to one of 7,757 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
"Amplify" is the theme for this year's convention and expo.
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