California FFA News Spring 2016 | Page 3

Greenhand Leadership Conferences introduce freshmen to the opportunities within FFA This year the California Association, FFA hosted a record-breaking 5,400 freshmen at 31 different Greenhand Leadership Conferences (GLC) that spread from Redding, located in the Superior Region, all the way to Imperial, in the Southern Region. GLC aims to introduce students to the benefits and opportunities in Agricultural Education, including SAE and FFA. GLC is no ordinary leadership experience; conference attendees are granted their “All Access Pass” which allows them to move through sessions and take an active role in learning how Agricultural Education and FFA can have a positive, meaningful impact on their life. Throughout the day, students learn about the three ring model, the benefits of Agricultural Education, the leadership development continuum (GLC, MFE, ALA, SLE, and WLC), and leave the conference with a personal plan for success. For many, that plan also includes going back to their chapter to enhance their knowledge on FFA and ultimately pursuing their Greenhand Degree. Wasco FFA brings GLC inspiration home to their chapter Submitted by Noemi Esquivel Each year, Wasco FFA welcomes over 100 new Greenhands into the chapter. This year, chapter officers and advisors decided to put on the first-inaugural “Greenhand Week” to celebrate their installation at the Greenhand ceremony. The officers wanted to bring back some aspects from the Greenhand Leadership Conference (GLC) to get more Greenhands involved in the Wasco FFA Chapter. During the week of November 9th, Wasco FFA held various activity and involvement days for Greenhands to participate in. They used a promotional video to advertise the new tradition. Starting on Monday, Wasco FFA chapter officers hosted mini-workshops within freshmen classes. One activity included a “What does FFA mean to you” mixer. On Tuesday, they held a relay race in the quad at Wasco High for all interested Greenhands. Retaining freshmen is an important part of a growing FFA program. We hope to continue this tradition in the future. Lizbeth Garcia says: “I really enjoyed participating in the first-ever Greenhand Week with the FFA, I liked how they integrated leadership and involvement ideas from the GLC into the activities that they planned throughout the week. The most memorable part of Greenhand Week was when the officers came in and talked to us about what exactly FFA means to us. The Greenhand Conference made me want to be more involved with FFA and so did Greenhand Week.” • FFA Street Beat lavffa The Greenhand Conference was a whole lot of fun. It was the first conference for the majority of the people who attended from our chapter. All participants learned what FFA can do for them and how to get involved be it hands-on activities, SAE, Conferences, Conventions, competitions,etc!!! #FFAGLC #FFA #GREENHAND Include #FFANews to be noticed for the next e ][ۂ