NPower Conference

Overview
Each summer, the Nebraska FFA Association provides high-quality leadership conferences for FFA members. In 2011, Nebraska FFA will coordinate, in partnership with Nebraska 4-H and the Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI), the first NPower Conference. NPower is focused on leadership development for all students attending. In addition to FFA, 4-H and NHRI, students from DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, SkillsUSA and HOSA will be invited to attend. Members attending NPower will work in age-specific groups and gain leadership and personal growth experiences appropriate for their interests and ages.

There is separate curriculum for 6-7-8th grades, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Emphasis is placed on serving as a leader in their chapters and schools, as well as helping themselves and others to grow and develop new skills. (For more on the program, click here.)

Current Sponsorship Opportunities
NMC, Inc. and the Nebraska FFA Alumni Association will be co-sponsoring this program for 2011.

Sponsor Benefits and Visibility
Sponsorship of the NPower Conference for the Nebraska FFA Association provides many benefits:

• Affiliation with largest agriculture-based, youth membership organization in Nebraska.
• Affiliation with other Nebraska youth-based organizations and their members.
• Opportunity to build a partnership and brand with the agricultural education and FFA community, as well as other Nebraska youth-based organizations.
• Connection to the student and teacher participants at the conference.
• Recognition as a sponsor in all NPower Conference materials, program, signage and t-shirts.
• Opportunity for company representatives to be directly involved in the conference, through a presentation to the participating students and teachers each session.
• Opportunity to provide a personal letter and literature to each participant in the conference.

• NPower Conference materials: More than 250 printed and provided to students and teachers. Also would include company logo on these materials.
• NPower Conference promotion: On FFA website and any printed promotional materials sent to all 139 agriculture teachers/FFA advisors in the state. Will also be listed as a sponsor with other Nebraska youth-based organizations, and on all promotional materials sent out from their offices to adults and students.

Additional Background

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is helping to secure support for this conference. Any sponsors involved will also be listed as sponsors for the other Nebraska youth-based organizations involved – Nebraska 4-H, Nebraska Human Resources Institute, DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, SkillsUSA and HOSA.

To learn more about these sponsorship opportunities, contact the Nebraska FFA Foundation at 402.472.5224.

State FFA Officer Training

The seven-person State FFA Officer team contributes over 210 days of service during their officer term. They receive no salary, but are reimbursed for expenses incurred. Their expenses are paid through corporate and personal sponsorships and dues from FFA members. The state officers are elected as seniors in high school or freshmen in college and serve for one year.

The State FFA Officers are provided training throughout their officer year. This continuum of training begins with two State FFA Officer Development Programs held immediately after their election in the spring. The focus is on the development of their speaking and presenting skills, broadening their understanding of Nebraska’s agricultural industry and the role of agricultural education in our state’s high schools, and in service on the opportunities offered by FFA. The state officers also participate in four additional training conferences conducted during the year. 

Activities available for the sponsorship, related to the Nebraska State FFA Officer Team, include:

• The Chapter Visit Program is planned and conducted by the State FFA Officers as a means to provide direct contact with a majority of Nebraska FFA members. The officers develop a series of workshops which can be conducted within the framework of the local school day. Topics may range from recruitment and retention of FFA members to career opportunities in Nebraska’s agricultural industry. The workshops are interactive and designed to “engage” students and increase excitement about agricultural education and the FFA. Each chapter is visited for one day by a state officer or team of state officers.
• Scholarships for the State FFA Officers After Their Year of Service
• State FFA Selection Process
• State FFA Officer Breakfast During State FFA Convention
• State FFA Officer Jackets and Business Casual Official Dress