LINCOLN — The students’ hand-written messages on note cards to their respective state senators were poignant, heartfelt and to the point.

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“FFA is important to me because it’s my future.”

“I love FFA. It is an awesome organization.
I can’t picture where I’d be without FFA.”

“FFA has been in my family ever
since it was first started.”
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   Most youths personalized their messages by also briefly telling about themselves and their involvements at the 81st Nebraska FFA Convention in Lincoln.

   More than 1,000 notes were written on special cards during the three-day convention last week as part of an extensive campaign in support of Legislative Bill 476, which would require the Nebraska Department of Education to establish and administer the Nebraska Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning.

   The center would provide an opportunity to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nebraska Career Education Student Organizations, including not only the FFA but the Future Business Leaders of America, Skills-USA, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Health Occupations Students of America and the DECA Association.

   The fate of these organizations hangs in the balance due to severe state budgeting restrictions.

   Basically, there would be no room in the state budget for the administration and support of these organizations, beginning July 1, 2010. Advisers and professional assistants’ positions, office space, and all support and resources would end.

   LB476 asks for the legislature to appropriate a minimum of $450,000 each fiscal year to carry out the Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning.

   The FFA note card-writing campaign is among various activities under way by the state’s affected career education student organizations. Also during the convention, members were encouraged to personally visit with the state senators at the state Capitol.

vThe front of the special FFA note card features a photo of the backs of five blue-jacketed Pender FFA members that ties to these words: Please, don’t turn your back on Nebraska FFA.”

   Throughout the convention, the card campaign was coordinated by Rick and Pat Crosier of Norfolk, familiar faces in state FFA circles. The couple manned tables with the note cards, a state map outlining the 49 legislative districts and lists with each state senator’s contact information.

   It was a different convention role for Crosier, who retired last year after 28 years as the agricultural education instructor and FFA adviser at the Norfolk Public Schools. But it was a role Crosier said he and his wife embraced as a labor of love.

   Crosier said they have personally witnessed the difference the FFA program has made not only in the lives of their children but hundreds of other members as well.

   “FFA opens doors for students that no other organization could do,” he said.

   If LB476 is not passed, Crosier said, “We would lose the future leadership of Nebraska. We cannot afford, as a state, to not support this legislation because this is our future.”

   In addition to FFA members, other note cards were signed by family members, chapter advisers, former members and others.

   Crosier pointed to one card signed by Sharon Derner, who lives on a Bartlett ranch. Son Seth was a member of the Wheeler Central FFA Chapter and was elected the 1995-96 national FFA president.
She wrote: “He learned his leadership skills in FFA and has carried on to his starting his own successful business.”

   At the close of the 81st FFA convention, the Crosiers sorted the note cards into 49 stacks. The cards were then hand-delivered to the 49 state senators by the state FFA officers on Monday.