2015-2016 GCFFA Advisors: Taylor McGrew and Heather Boyt 1. General Expectations of Chapter Members to Remain in Good Standing with FFA As an FFA chapter member I am expected to- Be currently enrolled in an Agricultural Science course during at least one semester of the school year (or the previous school year). Pay the annual FFA dues to become a member. Attend AT LEAST 3 out of 4 FFA chapter meetings in the fall semester and AT LEAST 4 out of 5 FFA chapter meetings in the spring semester. Participate in and sell the designated minimum number of items in the yearly meat, fruit, and dessert fundraiser. Be an active participant in FFA community service projects and social events. Conduct and value a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. Maintain passing grades in all classes on each report card. Attend the weekly barn cleanups/livestock checks EVERY week. (Students with livestock projects only) Attend the mandatory Livestock Meetings scheduled throughout the year. (Students with livestock projects only) Make a positive difference in the lives of others. Dress neatly and appropriately for the occasion. Respect the rights of others and their property. Be courteous, honest and fair with others. Communicate in an appropriate, purposeful and positive manner. Demonstrate good sportsmanship by being modest in winning and generous in defeat. Strive to establish and enhance my skills through agricultural education in order to enter a successful career. Appreciate and promote diversity in our FFA chapter. Be willing to uphold school and district policies. Refrain from the use of alcohol, drugs, or other illegal substances. 2. FFA Participation Expectations a) Chapter Meetings A monthly meeting will be held the 2 nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Grapevine High School Lecture Hall. FFA meetings are when we discuss upcoming events and FFA updates and is a great time for FFA members to all come together and get to know each other better. Attendance will be taken at each FFA meeting. FFA members must attend 3 out of the 4 meetings during the fall semester and 4 out of the 5 meetings during the spring semester to remain in good standing with FFA. Members who fail to attend the minimum number of meetings will lose eligibility for the following: o Showing of their livestock project through the GCFFA chapter at various shows throughout the year. o Participation in LDE or CDE teams and contests. FFA Member 1
o Market Animal County Show funds o Banquet Awards o Senior Scholarships b) Fundraising Expectations Meat, Dessert, and Fruit Fundraiser o Each fall semester FFA has a large fundraiser selling meat, desserts, and fruit. o The funds from this fundraiser help pay for LDE and CDE contests, social events, banquet, etc. o Every FFA member will have a minimum number of items they need to sell in the fundraiser to remain in good standing with FFA. Students who fail to sell the minimum number of items will lose eligibility for the following: Participation in LDE and CDE teams and contests. Banquet Awards Senior Scholarships Alumni Fundraisers o The GCFFA Alumni group is an essential part of our FFA program and they support many aspects of our FFA program. Throughout the year they host several fundraising events to help raise money to pay for things such as the Open Barn event we have in the fall, supplies for the barn, supplies for livestock shows, county show funds for students with market animals, FFA banquet, senior scholarships, and much more! GCFFA Alumni requires the help of FFA members and their parents to help make these fundraising events a success. Students who fail to participate in Alumni fundraising events throughout the year will lose eligibility for the following Alumni funded items: Market Animal County Show funds Alumni purchased medications Senior Scholarships c) Leadership Development Events (LDE) and Career Development Events (CDE) LDE and CDE teams are a great way for students to develop and improve their leadership skills as well as their knowledge and skills relating to various agriculture career fields. Many of the LDE and CDE teams are limited to a certain number of students. For this reason many of the teams require a try out process. In many cases the FFA Advisors will review FFA member participation in different aspects of the program to determine their eligibility to be on the team. An FFA member must be in good standing with FFA to be eligible to participate in an LDE or CDE. Below are certain requirements students must meet to be eligible for participation on an LDE or CDE team. Team members must not miss more than 2 team practices that are scheduled in advance with the FFA Advisor and other members of the team. Failure to meet the above requirements will result in a student being ineligible to participate in an LDE or CDE team. FFA Member 2
3. Livestock Project Requirements and Expectations a) Students must be in good standing with the FFA to be eligible to raise and show livestock projects through the FFA program. b) Students MUST be currently enrolled in an Agricultural Science course or have taken one during the previous school year to be eligible to raise a livestock project. **Freshman students MUST take an Agricultural Science course during at least one semester of their freshman year to be eligible to show a livestock project even if that student was previously a Junior FFA member.** c) Students MUST pay dues and be members of FFA to raise a livestock project through the FFA program. d) Students must attend General FFA Meetings: FFA members with livestock projects must attend 3 out of the 4 meetings during the fall semester and 4 out of the 5 meetings during the spring semester to remain in good standing with FFA. Students who fail to attend general FFA meetings will not be allowed to show their livestock project through the GCFFA program and will not be eligible for Market Animal County Show Funds. e) Weekly Barn Cleanup and Livestock Check There is a MANDATORY barn cleanup/ livestock check EVERY Monday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. after school for ALL students who have livestock projects housed at the GCISD Ag Barn. Students who have 2 or more unexcused absences from barn cleanup/livestock check during a single semester will be put on temporary probation from participating in livestock shows. Excessive absences from barn cleanup/livestock checks can result in removal of a livestock project from the GCISD Ag barn. Parents may attend a barn cleanup/livestock check in place of their child if the child has a conflict. Students who are unable to attend a barn cleanup/livestock check must contact one of the FFA Advisors at least 24 hours BEFORE the scheduled barn cleanup/livestock check and receive written approval for their absence. Students who have an approved absence will be assigned a barn cleanup duty that they must complete during the week of the missed barn cleanup. What happens during the Livestock Check? o Weighing of livestock projects o Pen checks- check for cleanliness and condition of pen o Showmanship practice f) Livestock Meetings There are certain meetings that will occur throughout the year that are MANDATORY for students with livestock projects to attend. Ex: Major Stock Show entry night, County Show entry night, etc. If a student is unable to attend one of these mandatory meetings for whatever reason they must contact one of the FFA Advisors at least 24 hours BEFORE the scheduled meeting and receive written approval for the absence. Students, who fail to show up to a mandatory meeting and fail to contact an FFA Advisor at least 24 hours BEFORE the scheduled meeting, will not have their show entry form paperwork filed and entered by Advisors. (i.e. Ms. Boyt and Mr. FFA Member 3
McGrew will NOT submit or sign- off on any entries for County Show if a student misses the mandatory County Show entry night). NOTE: FFA Advisors are the only ones with authority to enter students into various stock shows. Furthermore, these stock show entry nights are not for HELP, they are mandatory and must be taken seriously. FFA Member 4
Member Commitment: Grapevine- Colleyville FFA Chapter Member Please Sign and Return to one of the FFA Advisors I understand that it is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to be involved in FFA (the largest student led organization in the world). I have read and understand the requirements and expectations outlined in the Grapevine- Colleyville FFA Chapter Member. I understand that if I do not remain in good standing with GCFFA and meet the requirements and expectations outlined in this document I will lose eligibility for various opportunities such as showing of my livestock projects through the GCFFA chapter, participation in LDE and CDE contests, receiving Market Animal County Show Funds, receiving Senior Scholarships, etc. Student Name Student Signature Date Parent (or Guardian) of Member Commitment: We have read and understand the requirements and expectations outlined in the Grapevine- Colleyville FFA Chapter Member. We understand that if does not remain in good standing with GCFFA and meet the requirements and expectations outlined in this document they will lose eligibility for various opportunities such as showing their livestock projects through the GCFFA chapter, participation in LDE and CDE contests, receiving Market Animal County Show Funds, receiving Senior Scholarships, etc. As the parents/guardians we agree to support our student and their involvement in FFA. Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature Date FFA Member 5