august 2008, ffa new horizons
DESCRIPTION
Learn about college opportunities and meet a member who cross-pollinates irises in the August 2008 edition of FFA New Horizons, the official publication for all 500,000+ members of the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America.TRANSCRIPT
Click for College! Learn about universities and scholarships at ffanewhorizons.org
Just Breathe
( )
Brittney Selman hand-pollinates flowers
tips for planninglife after high school
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N A T I O N A L F F A O R G A N I Z A T I O N | A u g u s t 2 0 0 8
®
NEW HORIZONSFFA
FFA Volume 55 Number 6
The magazine of the National FFA OrganizationNEW HORIZONS®
JULIE WOODARD Editorial Director KIM NEWSOM Editor JOYCE CARUTHERS Copy Editor JESSY YANCEY Editorial Assistant ANDREA BLOOM, CAROL COWAN, Contributing Writers CHRIS HAYHURST, JESSICA MOZO KEITH HARRIS Creative Director BRIAN McCORD Senior Photographer JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, Staff Photographers ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, JESSE KNISH ANNE WHITLOW Photography Assistant NATASHA LORENS Production Director CHRISTINA CARDEN Assistant Production Director HAZEL RISNER Pre-Press Coordinator TADARA SMITH Senior Production Project Manager MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT Production Project Managers LAURA GALLAGHER, VIKKI WILLIAMS Senior Graphic Designers ERICA HINES, Graphic Designers AMY NELSON, CANDICE SWEET MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER, Ad Traffic PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY GARY SMITH Distribution Director SHAWN DANIEL Web Design Director ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ Web Project Managers RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ Web Designers CORY MITCHELL Color Imaging Technician KRISTY MEYER, AMBER STRIEGEL FFA Communications RAY LANGEN Executive Vice President CARLA H. THURMAN Sr. V.P./Sales CASEY E. HESTER Sr. V.P./Operations MARK FORESTER V.P./Visual Content TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./Editorial Director JEFFREY S. OTTO Photography Director BETH MURPHY Advertising Sales Manager, Custom Division JOHN LACEY Integrated Media Manager PATTI CORNELIUS Custom Sales Support RACHEL MATHEIS Sales/Marketing Coordinator For advertising information, contact John Lacey, (800) 333-8842, ext. 281, or e-mail [email protected].
National FFA Officers ZACH KINNE, MO President BECKY SULLIVAN, KS Secretary TYLER TENBARGE, IN Eastern Region Vice President MORGAN PARKER, CO Central Region Vice President BRADY REVELS, FL Southern Region Vice President KARI BOETTCHER, OR Western Region Vice President
National FFA Staff LARRY CASE National Advisor, Chief Executive Officer STEVE BROWN Executive Secretary DOUG LOUDENSLAGER Chief Operating Officer MARION FLETCHER National Treasurer MARK CAVELL, DALE CRABTREE, Division Directors TOM KAPOSTASY, JANET MALONEY, DENNIS SARGENT, KENT SCHESCKE, VICKI SETTLE, LEE ANNE SHILLER, TONY SMALL, BILL STAGG, WILL WAIDELICH
National FFA Board of Directors – Members LARRY CASE Chair, USDE, VA STEVE BROWN Secretary, USDE, VA MARION FLETCHER Treasurer, State Supervisor, AR ROBERT B. CALVIN Agriculture Teacher/USDE, MO WILBUR CHANCELLOR State Supervisor, MS THOMAS DORMODY Teacher Educator/USDE, NM DENNIS FISCUS State Supervisor, AZ IKE KERSHAW State Supervisor, OH BRUCE LAZARUS FFA Executive Secretary/USDE, AR JOEL LARSEN State Supervisor, MN JOHN RAKESTRAW Business Representative/USDE, CO
Subscription Information:FFA New Horizons (ISSN 1069-806X) is published Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct. and Dec. by the National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art or any other unsolicited materials. For subscription information contact: FFA New Horizons Subscription Services, (317) 802-4235 or e-mail [email protected]. Periodical postage rate is paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and additional mail offices.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to FFA New Horizons, P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960.
C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A
Copyright© 2008 by the National FFA Organizationand Journal Communications Inc.
The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
On the CoverBrittney Selman, Garland, UtahPhoto By Brian McCord
4 16 18
3FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
AUGUST 2008 Contents
6
8 cover storyDeep-Rooted InterestUtah FFA member Brittney Selman hand-pollinates hybrid irises.
Take It to a New LevelExtend your FFA involvement beyond high school by joining Collegiate FFA.
4 ScrapbookRead news, jokes and more.
12 FFA FacesWin a Chevy T-shirt.
14 National Officer Q & AMeet Vice President Tyler Tenbarge.
16 Healthy LifestylesStress less about life after high school.
18 Your MoneyStart now to develop good money habits.
What happened to the female cat that swallowed a ball of yarn? She had mittens.
Dan Andrews, Wauneta, Neb.
Why didn’t the dog want to go near the campfire? He didn’t want to turn into a hotdog.
Jacob Jeannotte, Rolla, N.D.
What kind of jokes do farmers tell?Corny ones.
Anna and Alice Beckman,Ashville, Ohio
Just Joking
10percent of the
milk produced by
U.S. dairy farmers
is used to make
ice cream.
1of every six U.S.
jobs is directly
related to
agriculture.
25percent of U.S.
farmers have a
bachelor’s degree.
Gouda Idea!The Fauquier FFA chapter in
Warrenton, Va., has found a unique way
to blend fundraising with hands-on
agricultural education. The members
make and sell cheese! They annually
visit the Oak Spring Dairy in nearby
Upperville, where they turn fresh milk
into Gouda cheese.
Members play a part in the entire
process, from milking the cows to
cutting and packaging the cheese
with a special FFA label.
“It’s a great experience for students to
learn how cheese is made, then actually
make and market the cheese,” says
co-advisor George Fiddler. The chapter
sells 150 pounds of cheese each year.
4 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA scrapbook Express yourself
FYIYOUR TURN
Keep us informed!
This is your chance to
be a part of FFA New
Horizons. Send us a
short article about
your latest chapter
activities, awards
you’ve received or
even your involvement
outside FFA.
Be sure to include
a high-quality color
photo and your
contact information.
Want an easy way to
send your story? Visit
ffanewhorizons.org
and click on Tell Us.
Or, send to:
FFA New Horizons
P.O. Box 68960
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Inspired by FFATo Elizabeth McKenzie, a member of
West Virginia’s Hampshire County FFA
Chapter, FFA means a lot. She recently
wrote a poem about her FFA experience and
shared it with her college English class.
She wrote, “FFA members are more than
they seem, but to be one, more than a few
know what it means. It’s being a leader,
always doing your best, working as a
team, right along with the rest.”
She concludes her poem with, “It’s being
prepared for whatever may come your way. It’s
understanding what it means to be in FFA.”
Read Elizabeth’s full-length poem at
ffanewhorizons.org.
What a PalFormer Fort Gibson High School student
Mallory Cooper went a long way from her
Oklahoma home for her first teaching job –
all the way to Mentasta Lake, Alaska,
population 114. There she teaches 11 of the
remote Ahtna village’s 17 schoolchildren.
Although they live five hours from the
nearest Wal-Mart, Cooper’s
students have learned about
FFA and more from their pen
pals in Fort Gibson’s
2007-2008 senior class.
The students (including
several FFA members)
exchanged letters
with the children
during the year
and sent homemade
cards on holidays.
ffanewhorizons.org
Click on Fun Stuff for more ideas for educating others about FFA.
The FFA members of the Firebaugh chapter in California started a new school tradition last November. The students, all Greenhand FFA members, held the
school’s first plant sale, marketing their
products to members of the community. The students say
they are proud to help contribute beauty to the local landscape and plan to host the
sale as an annual event.
5FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Story by Andrea Bloom
For most FFA members, August means returning
to the high school hallways and gearing up for
another exciting year of FFA activities.
But for some it means heading off to college for the
first time. Why should your FFA involvement end with
the toss of a graduation cap? With all of the
opportunities Collegiate FFA offers, you can continue to
lead and serve agriculture for the next four years – and
have a lot of fun along the way.
Jeff Papke, team leader of Collegiate FFA programs,
says the main goal of Collegiate FFA is to “provide
additional leadership and career opportunities to
members who are pursuing agricultural careers.”
MAKING CAREER CONTACTS
“In today’s agricultural industry, there is a need
for quality employees,” Papke says.
As a result, companies put greater emphasis
on recruiting new employees who possess more than
just technical skills. According to Papke, employers
are looking for “soft skills,” like team leadership,
communication, work ethic and public speaking ability.
Papke also explains that company leaders value
a student’s supervised agricultural experience (SAE)
because it proves that the individual has business
experience and has learned to make smart decisions.
Matthew Meyer, a recent agriculture graduate of
Extend your FFA involvement beyond high
school by joining Collegiate FFA
New LevelTake It to a
Collegiate events during the national FFA convention include a Collegiate Game Night, where members from different states can mingle with each other.
6 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Western Illinois University, made
significant professional contacts
through his Collegiate FFA experience.
“The biggest opportunity is the
business contacts you can make,” Meyer
says, adding that one of the best ways
to make those contacts is to attend the
Collegiate Career Expo at the annual
national FFA convention.
During the event, students can meet
with representatives from many of the
nation’s leading agricultural companies,
share their résumés, learn more about the
companies’ values and explore internships
or full-time careers.
STAYING CONNECTED WITH FFA
Collegiate FFA is certainly a great
way to develop career skills and look for
employers. However, it’s not all about
briefcases and business cards. Collegiate
FFA also provides many opportunities to
stay connected with FFA on local, state
and national levels.
Dr. Greg Thompson, an Oregon State
FYISTARTING A COLLEGIATE CHAPTER
Would you love to be a
Collegiate FFA member,
but your university
doesn’t have a chapter?
Do you know of other
students who feel the
same way? Start a
chapter! Here’s how:
advisor and ask for
his or her help.
campus administration
to discuss your
intentions.
together to discuss
the purpose and value
of Collegiate FFA on
your campus.
members and invite
them to your first
meeting.
experiences and
leadership skills to
create opportunities
that will benefit your
members.
don’t reinvent the
wheel! Communicate
with other Collegiate
FFA chapters to share
ideas.
The Collegiate Career Expo, held during the national FFA convention, allows Collegiate FFA members to learn about agricultural companies, discover internships and consider future jobs.
University (OSU) agricultural education
professor, has served as a Collegiate FFA
advisor for the past 13 years.
“Collegiate FFA is a huge organization at
OSU and a very active club,” Thompson says.
Each year, members of the OSU
Collegiate FFA chapter organize and host
the state career development events for high
school competitors. Through this event,
collegiate students learn to budget big
events, collaborate with faculty and develop
partnerships with other campus leaders.
Papke says that Collegiate FFA differs
from other student organizations because
those clubs are often offered only to a
specific group of students. Collegiate FFA,
on the other hand, is open to all students.
“All you have to be is someone who is
studying agriculture,” Papke says.
ffanewhorizons.org
Visit In This Issue for more Collegiate FFA ideas and activities.
7FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
8 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
InterestDeep-Rooted
Well-rounded member Brittney Selman enjoys everything FFA
Cover Story
Story by Chris Hayhurst
If you want to know who, exactly,
Brittney Selman is, you first
have to know this: There’s a
secret to that smile – the one you
can’t miss when she’s delivering
a speech, leading a meeting or
working in the fields – and it’s all
about confidence. It’s the confidence
that comes with success, whether it’s
in school, FFA competitions, or in
business. It’s the confidence of a
winner, someone who’s learned what
it takes, through years of practice,
to achieve almost anything.
“I want to be a motivational
speaker,” says Brittney, the 2008
valedictorian of Bear River High
School in Garland, Utah, and newly
Brittney selman shears one of the rams she leases to sheep producers in the area. Left: All five Selman siblings – from left, Alashandra, Justin, Brittney, Morgan and Tanya – have worn the Bear River FFA jacket. As a result, their parents haven’t missed a state FFA convention in more than 10 years.
elected state FFA secretary. “I’d like
to be the kind of person who always
comes to state convention and
speaks at conferences. I love
watching those guys. I’ve always
listened, and it always makes me
want to go and do better things,
and be a better person, and I think
it would be cool to try and do that
for other people.”
Seem like a stretch? In
Brittney’s case, definitely not.
“She’s so enthusiastic and
interested in promoting FFA,” says
Wes Burrell, Brittney’s advisor. “And
she’s a great leader. She leads by
example and never just tells people
to do things. She’s very proactive,
always taking the initiative to get
things done.”
She’s also a great competitor. In
2007, Brittney won state in prepared
public speaking. She also took high
individual on a state champion farm
business management team. This
fall she’s headed to Utah State
University, where she’ll major
in agricultural communications
and journalism.
Look for Brittney outside of
school, and chances are you’ll find
her at Zebra Gardens, a local
company that cultivates hybrid
irises with splashy, streaking
colors. The unique flowers are given
animal names – anything from
“Chocolate Moose” to “Hippoz Tutu” –
and are sold as bulbs. Brittney,
who’s worked at Zebra Gardens since
the age of 11, is the company’s field
manager. She helps with the
hybridizing through careful bee-
like hand pollinating. She also leads
tours and supervises other workers.
“I make sure they stay on task
9FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
PHO
TOS
BY B
RIAN
MCC
ORD
Brittney says hybridizing irises requires patience, attention to detail and record-keeping skills.
and that what they’re doing is
correct,” Brittney explains. “If the
irises aren’t planted right, or things
aren’t done right, they won’t grow.”
Over the years she has found
time for experimentation and has
even started an iris garden of her
own at home. Last October, she won
a national FFA floriculture
proficiency award for her work.
“I never thought of myself as
competitive,” Brittney says. “When
I started public speaking as a
freshman, I was scared to death.
I didn’t think I’d ever want to do it
again. But my parents have always
taught me, and FFA has always
taught me, keep going and try again.”
That might explain Brittney’s
success in yet another venture:
sheep breeding.
“I have three rams and I rent
them out to herd owners around
Utah and Idaho,” explains Brittney.
“They’re for producing show sheep.”
Brittney says her sheep
breeding business is part of a
growing niche market, and she
hopes to add more rams to her flock.
With a father who grew up on a
sheep ranch and four older siblings
as former FFA members, Brittney
has agriculture in her blood.
“They showed me what it was
all about,” she says. “I tagged along
everywhere they went.”
Now, she says, her parents and
siblings are her strongest supporters.
“They’ve all been there
whenever I’ve competed, and they’re
always there whenever I need help.
I want to make them all proud.”
10 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
Cover Story
11FFA NEW HORIZONSFFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
A college freshman, John has already gained a broad perspective
of the agriculture industry through his FFA involvement. John
raised turkeys and chickens through his supervised agricultural
experience program and participated in the livestock evaluation
and agronomy CDEs. John is currently attending the Curtis School
of Technical Agriculture.
John HorstChapter: Sandy Creek FFA
NE
This college freshman used her FFA experiences to improve her
career skills in the livestock industry. Cheyenne participated in
the livestock evaluation CDE and exhibited her registered Maine-
Anjou cattle at local and national shows. She also twice served as
chapter president. Cheyenne’s goal is to attain more acres and
cattle to further develop her cattle operation.
Cheyenne TillisonChapter: Henderson FFA
TX
As a college sophomore, Chase believes he gained many career
skills through FFA. Chase participated in many CDEs, earned his
chapter FFA degree and served as a chapter officer for three
years. In addition, Chase was a three-sport athlete and took part
in the school musical. He is currently attending Catawba College
with a major in music business.
Chase KylesChapter: East Rowan FFA
NC
Suzannah, a college senior, earned her state FFA degree,
participated in and coached parliamentary procedure, and was a
member of the 2006 National FFA Chorus. Suzannah served as the
2007-08 state FFA reporter and currently attends Tennessee
Technological University with a major in agricultural education.
She plans to become an agriculture instructor.
Suzannah MellingerChapter: Eastern York FFA
PA
Micaela, a college freshman, says her FFA advisor was a very
positive influence during her FFA career. Micaela received her
chapter’s most active member award for three years and served
as chapter president. She now attends the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln, majors in agricultural leadership and hopes to work as a
county extension agent.
NEMicaela RezacChapter: Raymond Central FFA
This college sophomore has an impressive résumé of FFA
achievements. Jordan was a state agricultural communications
proficiency winner and served as the 2005-06 Alabama state FFA
president. Jordan attends Auburn University, where he majors in
chemical engineering and chemistry, and may pursue a research
career in alternative fuels.
ALJordan HamiltonChapter: Sand Rock FFA
A college sophomore, Doug has participated in a multitude of FFA
activities, including the livestock evaluation career development
event (CDE), parliamentary procedure, and the chapter fruit sale.
Doug ranked 39th individual in the national land and range judging
contest. He currently attends Wilmington College with a major in
agricultural business.
OHDoug HarrisChapter: National Trail FFA
Win a Chevrolet T-ShirtChevrolet, the sponsor of FFA Faces, will award
a T-shirt to featured members. Nominate
yourself or a fellow FFA member by sending
us the following details about the nominee:
name, grade, address, FFA and academic
achievements, interests, and extracurricular
activities. To be considered, submissions
must include a high-quality color photo.
Send to:
FFA New Horizons
P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Or e-mail to [email protected]
12 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA Faces Members in action
Coming from a big family (he has six
siblings) in a small town (population 1,537),
Tyler Tenbarge has plenty of experiences to
share. And as your National FFA Eastern
Region Vice President, Tyler is telling these
stories to FFA members and supporters
across the country.
QYou’ve competed (and placed in) 12
career development events – that’s
a lot! Do you have a favorite?
AOf all the CDEs I have competed in, soil
judging was my favorite. My advisor,
fellow members and I had a blast
traveling to competitions, working hard, and
meeting others from across the state and
nation. Plus, who can beat spending a week
in Oklahoma for the national contest?
QWhy do you think it’s important that
FFA members “test out” different CDEs?
AMy advisor, Mr. Ritter, motivated me to
try public speaking as a freshman. I
thought there was no way I could speak
in public – even if it was only to a few judges.
After trying that CDE, I realized I enjoyed
writing speeches and presenting them. I
would have never known that about myself
without giving it a chance.
QIn this issue, we focus on college, and
even more specifically, Collegiate FFA.
Why do you think students should get
involved with this program?
AThe focus of FFA is to develop students.
In middle and high school, we get to
experience leadership, growth and
success. We don’t have to leave that behind
when we move into college. Collegiate FFA
provides more opportunities for us to meet
others, learn and have a great time in FFA.
QWe’re getting closer to the national FFA
convention; any secrets you can share?
AThe 81st National FFA Convention is
just around the corner! With our theme,
“Step Up, Stand Out,” my teammates
and I are excited to see you again in
Indianapolis! We have been working closely
with National FFA staff to get some awesome
speakers, entertainers and maybe a few new
effects. As far as secrets go, you’ll have to
attend to find out what’s in store!
National FFA Eastern Region Vice President
TenbargeTyler FYITYLER’S FAVORITES
This Indiana native
wanted to be an artist
when he grew up, and
strangely enough, his
favorite smell is a
dairy farm! Read on
for more of Tyler’s
favorites.
Color: Green
Vacation spot:
Washington, D.C.
Dessert: Apple pie
Food: Dill pickles
Sport: Soccer
Animal:
Holstein
cow
ffanewhorizons.org
Visit In This Issue to learn more about Tyler’s year of service to National FFA.
14 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA National Officer Q & A
5 tips for choosing your after-high school plans
Take a DeepBreathT
he closer you get to high
school graduation, the
more you’re faced with
the inevitable question: What are
you going to do with your life?
Some students know exactly
what career path they’ll take even
before their senior year, whether
it’s enrolling in a four-year college,
enlisting in the military or taking
classes at a technical school. Others
don’t decide until they already have
a couple years of college or work
experience under their belt.
If you’re stressing about what
you’ll do after graduation, relax.
There’s no right or wrong time to
choose a career, and even though
you may feel pressured to, you don’t
have to decide before you graduate.
“I think for many students, it’s
best to wait until college – after a
variety of courses – to seriously
choose a major,” says Dr. Randall
Hansen, author of The Complete
Idiot’s Guide to Choosing a College
Major. “That said, I think it’s great to
begin the process in high school.”
To help ignite your thinking
process, Hansen offers these tips:
1. GO WITH YOUR GUT.
Consider what you’re
naturally good at doing. It might be
working with your hands, helping
others or using your creativity –
whatever ignites the passion in you.
“I strongly believe if you follow
your passion, the money will come,”
Hansen says.
2. LOOK AT THE LOGISTICS.
Think about how much
education a career will require and
whether you’re willing to invest that
much time and money. Also consider
what type of work environment
would suit you best.
“Some professions require six
or more years of education beyond
high school,” Hansen says. “Do you
want to work in an office, or do you
want to be on the road or in the field?
Do you want a job that’s the same
each day or one that changes?”
3. TEST YOURSELF.
By taking self-
assessment tests, you may discover
some exciting career fields you
didn’t even know existed. By asking
you about your traits, preferences
and interests, they give you a better
idea of your attitudes as they relate
to different careers. You can find
self-assessment tests online or in
your high school guidance office.
4. AVOID INFLUENCES.
“I see too many
students in majors because they
thought they had to major in that
subject to make a parent or friend
happy,” Hansen says. “But students,
it’s your lives, and you are going to
work 40 to 50 years after college, so
you need to choose something you
will enjoy.”
5. DON’T RUSH.
You’re going to be
working for decades, so choosing
a line of work isn’t something that
you can or should do overnight.
“Don’t worry if you have no
clue now,” Hansen says. “Just keep
striving to discover yourself while
researching careers of interest.”
– Jessica Mozo
16 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
FFA healthy lifestyles choosing your future
As you near the end of your
high school career, you’ll
probably start preparing for
college by visiting campuses, paying
close attention to your grade-point
average and shopping for all the
things that will make your dorm
room feel like home. While you’re at
it, it’s a great idea to start getting
your finances in order, too.
The earlier you start being
financially responsible, the better
chance you’ll have for a future
that’s free from financial worries.
If you’re not in the habit of
budgeting your money, that’s a good
and logical place to start.
“Start making a habit of doing
a budget now. A budget is telling
your money where to go instead of
wondering where it went,” says Dave
Ramsey, radio talk show host and
best-selling author of The Total
Money Makeover. “You don’t have to
start with the perfect month. Start
where you are. Write down what you
will have this month in income and
expenses. Spend all your income on
paper before the month begins. Do it
all on purpose, on paper. Then you’ll
have a game plan.”
Here are some other things you
can do to put yourself on the right
financial track:
1. APPLY FOR GRANTS.
Try to avoid student
loans and credit cards.
“The average college graduate
in 2002 graduated with over $17,000
in student loans,” Ramsey says.
“Add another $6,000 in credit card
debt for the average student, and
the typical graduate walks across
the platform with $23,000 in debt
before they get their first job. That’s
a terrible way to begin a career.”
It’s never too early to start getting your finances in order
On the RightTrack2. CHOOSE A GOOD BANK.
Watch out for hidden
ATM and monthly fees, and be sure
to choose a bank that offers free
checking with no minimum balance.
It’s also a good idea to choose a
bank that’s accessible anywhere,
especially if you’re going to college
away from home.
3. WORK ON CAMPUS.
“If you need to, attend
an affordable local college first to
get your first couple years of
required classes over with,”
Ramsey suggests. “Then transfer
to the school of your dreams.”
Many schools even offer work-
study programs that allow you to
work on campus to help offset the
cost of your tuition.
4. WATCH CREDIT CARDS.
Companies often visit
college campuses and bribe cash-
strapped students to sign up with
free T-shirts and Frisbees. But what
you get with those freebies are sky-
high interest rates that can cause
you to pay nearly twice as much for
purchases made on credit cards
unless you pay your balance in
full every month.
5. GET REAL.
Understand that you
can’t have everything you want.
Make wise choices about how to
spend your money, and know there
are consequences for poor spending
habits. If you buy that CD or new
outfit today, you might not have
the cash to go to the movies with
friends tonight.
– Jessica Mozo
18 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG
JEFF ADKINS
FFA your money Being Responsible
Discover more great post-high school tips at ffanewhorizons.org
Need a past issue?
Click on Virtual
Magazine for current
and archived editions.
Convention BlogSee what news has been revealed about the 81st National FFA Convention!
Browse colleges, scholarships, internships and student organizations at College Row, our virtual campus tour.
Sign up to win great prizes
from Red Brand Gear!
20 FFA NEW HORIZONS FFANEWHORIZONS.ORG