The event is an 'Open House' for the community and for WVC Students and Staff, and a chance for all to meet and share information on the AG 2.0 Program at the college campus.

WVC invites FFA Chapter officers to attend the event and compete in a friendly apple judging/tasting competition. Photo Caption 2: Sammi Jo Cool, Chelan Chapter President, and Chelsea Gocke, Chelan Chapter Secretary, accepting the 3-STAR National Chapter Award at the 82nd National FFA Convention.

Photo Caption: L to R Leo Garcia, Ag Department Chairman, WVC; Shay Mashayekh, Enrique Diaz, and Jorge Villasenor winners of the WVC AG Department Apple Judging/Tasting Contest for 2009.

Photo Caption 2: Sammi Jo Cool, Chelan Chapter President, and Chelsea Gocke, Chelan Chapter Secretary, accepting the 3-STAR National Chapter Award at the 82nd National FFA Convention.

Students from the Lake Chelan Valley who attended were able to meet and visit with WVC Staff and students including instructors Leo Garcia, Bob Gillespie, and George Rudell, WVC Vice President, Terry Peek, and many students currently enrolled in the program.

The Chelan FFA Officers in attendance were Treasurer, Jorge Villasenor; Reporter, Enrique Diaz; and Sentinel, Shay Mashayekh.




Chapter Advisor Rod Cool, shown on the left in this photo, advises that The 82nd National FFA Convention was once again held in the Indianapolis, Indiana and seven Chelan FFA members made the annual pilgrimage to this gathering with over 49,000 other members from around the country. The members traveled back to Indy to take part in convention activities and accept chapter awards. The members in attendance were Sammi Jo Cool, Elizabeth Garcia, Chelsea Gocke, Mitch Guimond, Andrew Jones, MaKenzie Kramer, and Jorge Villasenor.

At the convention they participated in the National PALS (Partners in Active Learning Support) Conference where they received instruction on reading strategies for elementary students and heard comments from the National Sponsor—Campbell’s Soup Company.

Students also attended the National Chapter Award Dinner for all Star award winners and the Models of Innovation Chapters.

They spent many hours at the FFA Career Show visiting with over 1300 agribusiness professionals, vendors and college representatives.

During the second session of the convention, the Chelan Chapter received a 3-Star National Chapter Award. The National Chapter Program evaluates chapters based on how well they meet the objectives of the FFA Mission Statement. The 3-Star award is highest award that a chapter can receive.

The Chelan Chapter was one of 364 Chapters across the country to receive the 3-Star designation and ranked 41st. There are over 7281 FFA Chapters in the organization.

Breanne Hanson received her American FFA Degree the highest degree that can be earned in the FFA. Requirements include earning or investing $7500 and 2000 hours of work within your Supervised Agriculture Education (SAE) program.

Tucker Cool, former Chelan FFA Member, and the current Washington State FFA President, took part in the official delegate process at the National Convention and attended many special functions for state presidents in addition to carrying our State Flag in the opening parade and opening ceremonies.

Many of the Chelan FFA Members were featured during the Second Session of the Convention on RFD-TV’s broadcast of the convention.

While at the convention members also broadened their understanding of the region traveling to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. They also toured the Eteljborg Museum of Western Art and Native American History, the Indianapolis Zoo, and Grissum Air Force Museum.

Photo Caption: (L to R) Rod Cool, Chelan FFA Advisor, Andrew Jones, Mitch Guimond, Sammi Jo Cool, Chelsea Gocke, Jorge Villasenor, Elizabeth Garcia, and Mackenzie Kramer attended the 82nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.