LG, FFA gear up for state convention

La Grande will be awash in blue jackets March 20-23.

La Grande will be the site of the annual State FFA Convention March 20-23. The event is expected to draw about 2,200 people during what will be the opening weekend of spring break.

Convention participants will include 1,700 students from the 105 high school FFA chapters throughout the state. The youths will be easier to identify than Mount Emily — all will wear blue corduroy FFA jackets with gold lettering. The jackets have been a trademark of the FFA, a national youth agriculture education organization, since the 1930s.

Rhett Laubach Keynote speaker

Anderes noted that EOU is stepping forward to ease the accommodation crunch by making open rooms in its residence halls available to people attending the convention.

The influx of people into La Grande will also have a big impact on local restaurants. And they have been warned.

Anderes has called each restaurant listed in the local yellow pages to alert them of the convention. He said restaurant owners appreciate knowing this,since it allows them to have enough employees and food on hand for the anticipated influx of customers.

The opening ceremonies of the convention are expected to draw 1,500 people the evening of March 20. About 2,200 people are expected for the closing ceremonies the evening of March 23, said Anderes, an agriculture and natural resources teacher at LHS.

All evening sessions will be conducted in the LHS gym where an elaborate stage will be set up. The stage will feature two large video display screens on each end. An elaborate sound system will also be in place. The video display and audio elements for the convention will be the most expensive part of putting it on, said Anderes.

The convention’s cost will be $35,000. Oregon FFA is covering $25,000 of the cost. Financial assistance is also being provided by the City of La Grande, Union County, the La Grande School District, EOU and Monsanto.

The March 20 opening ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. Rhett Laubach of Edmond, Okla., will give the keynote address. Laubach is a member of the National Speakers Association. He focuses on the ability of individuals to positively influence people. Laubach has spoken to more than 500,000 people in 40 states, the Bahamas and Canada.

A fireworks show on the south side of LHS field will conclude the opening ceremony.

The convention continues Saturday morning, March 21, with many events including public speaking competition and addresses by FFA officers. The Saturday evening session begins at 7 and will include an address by Congressman Greg Walden, R-Hood River.

The Sunday, March 22, morning and afternoon sessions will include speaking and parliamentary procedure competition and workshops. The March 22 evening session will include the announcement of competition results and opening remarks by EOU President Dixie Lund.

The convention concludes Monday evening, March 23, with a closing ceremony that begins at 7 p.m. Highlights will include the installation of the 2009-10 FFA State Team.

La Grande last hosted the State FFA Convention in 1998. Anderes is gratified by the outpouring of support he is receiving from other FFA chapter leaders and the community in preparing for the convention.

Those stepping forward to assist in a big way include the FFA advisers of local high school chapters: Dennis Clark, Union High School; J.D. Cant, Imbler High School; Toby Koehn, Cove High School; and Brent Carroll, Elgin High School.

To date, about 100 community members have volunteered to assist with putting on the convention, many of whom will serve as competition judges. People are still needed to help. Anyone interested in volunteering should call Anderes at 663-3301.