By Jon Kocan
Stillwater NewsPress
After a lifetime of involvement, Stillwater’s Eddie Smith received
the FFA VIP award at the 81st State FFA Convention on April 24.
Smith has served as the state program administrator and FFA advisor since
1988 and will retire April 30. Smith said many changes have occurred since
he became state advisor.
Smith began his involvement with the
FFA nearly 43 years ago when he was a member of the Jett FFA in high
school.
After graduating from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor of science in
agriculture education, Smith spent time teaching agriculture in Fargo and Burlington
on his way to the position of state advisor.
Smith said the FFA had a strong emphasis on production agriculture and a declining
enrollment when he took over.
The program was redirected to align more with agribusiness, technology and science,
along with the development of new courses and curriculum.
The three years following those changes saw a significant increase
in enrollment – up
to 25 percent. Smith said the increase in enrollment is still being
seen today.
Currently, student membership is 23,832 statewide.
Smith
said his only regret from his career was not being able to remember
all the students’ names.
“What’s
been most rewarding is watching youth grow and watching them develop
into future employees, employers and citizens of this country,” Smith
said.
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Eddie Smith during the state FFA convention. |
Smith said the FFA VIP award is the highest award bestowed
on any individual in the FFA and he is tremendously excited he was chosen.
He said he couldn’t
have picked a better career.
According to Smith, the FFA has the greatest impact in rural areas. He
said it is a unique program that represents not just students but families,
schools and communities.
Smith said he is looking forward to retired life and he has a list of
things to keep him busy.
According to a press release, the FFA VIP award is considered the academy
award for the FFA and is presented to only one or two individuals annually
that have supported FFA members, local chapters and the state association
over an extended period of time. Recipients must have previously received
the honorary state FFA degree.
The 81st State FFA convention is expected to draw more than 10,000 Oklahoma
FFA members to the Cox Convention Center April 24-25.
The convention is the culmination of the year’s activities for
FFA members and is planned by a team of eight student leaders.
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