Chamber news: Let’s celebrate National FFA Week

    February 20-27 is National FFA Week. Please join us in celebrating and congratulating our FFA members in their commitment to this long standing national organization. FFA has a great Web site, at www.ffa.org. and if you check their site in the next couple of weeks, you’ll even get to see a “Happy FFA Week” from Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe (the ladies in the office were impressed)!     We recently had to become his fans on Facebook, and I had to put a plug in for potato harvest: we’re dirty too Mike, come to The County for harvest! And, much to my continuing chagrin, even FFA is more technologically hip than your local chamber of commerce and industry: Facebook, Twitter, and Schooltube! Huh, times do seem to change.
    I feel like the potato fields I was in such a long time ago had dirt that would get into everything, so I can’t imagine why our farmers are out there twittering, but maybe those black/blue/cran/berrys are more dirt and spray material resistant than we know. Nevertheless, FFA is not just hip and connected to all the latest Internet things, they are also (and primarily) a great educational tool teaching our young people leadership skills, and providing career development opportunities. Statistically speaking, nation-wide FFA members are almost 40 percent female. The 2009 National Convention hosted almost 54,000 people, and to date, more than $30 million have been awarded in FFA collegiate scholarships. Agriculture is our countries largest employer, with more than 24 million people working in some part of this industry.
    They’re not your grandfather’s FFA anymore either: with a wide range of initiatives and a whole Web page or three devoted to Shop FFA, in 7,500 chapters across all 50 states, they concentrate on biotechnology, animal science, agri-science, and horticulture. Giving a whole new spin on the “going green” phrase, they can and will be the next best ways we may encourage our young people to stay, get their post-secondary educations, and think about where they may fit into small business ownership in a profitable, responsible and rewarding way. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not necessarily advocating everyone has to be an agri-tourism based business. I’m only suggesting there are many ways a young person can be a part of a longstanding proud industry, without having to sacrifice any of the “cool new things” the Internet age has brought to us.
    Remember, check out Mike Rowe on their Web site, and maybe join us in tweeting them your congratulations too! Happy FFA Week!
    Wendy Landes, MPA, is the executive director of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She can be reached in person at 24 Sweden Street, Suite 101; by telephone at 498-6156 or via e-mail at wlandes@cariboumaine.net.