THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY M. KELLER, CAUSER, COHEN, COX, CUTLER, DELOZIER, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARHART, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, KAUFFMAN, KESSLER, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, McCALL, McILVAINE SMITH, MENSCH, METZGAR, MILLARD, MOUL, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PEIFER, PETRARCA, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, QUIGLEY, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REED, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHEATLEY, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, ARGALL, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD, BRENNAN AND HARHAI, FEBRUARY 6, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 6, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of February 21 through 28, 2009, as "FFA

Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Future Farmers of America, now The National FFA

Organization (FFA), has grown from its agricultural beginnings

into a broad-spectrum leadership incubator; and

WHEREAS, The FFA creed expresses belief in the future of

agriculture: "with a faith born not of words but of deeds"; and

WHEREAS, In accordance with the FFA motto, members serve

their chapter, community and country by cultivating friendships

and planting new ideas and seeds of hope wherever they go:

"learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to

serve"; and

WHEREAS, The FFA State Theme is: "Success...One Step At A

Time"; and

WHEREAS, The FFA National Theme is: "Step Up - Stand Out";

and

WHEREAS, FFA in the 21st century welcomes young women and

young men with diverse backgrounds, and FFA membership has

reached a 23-year record high; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 500,000 FFA members from 50 states, Puerto

Rico and the Virgin Islands are learning to be successful

leaders in production agriculture, agribusiness, agriscience and

other fields; and

WHEREAS, Many FFA members live far from working farms but

have an interest in related fields like food science, turf

management and horticulture; and

WHEREAS, FFA members who live in rural areas now represent

27% of the national organization; and

WHEREAS, Females comprise 37% of total membership and nearly

50% of all FFA officer teams; and

WHEREAS, Young people across this Commonwealth continue to

wear the traditional blue corduroy jacket which distinguishes

FFA members; and

WHEREAS, State President P. J. Adam of Mt. Pleasant Mills

represents today's diverse FFA; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

week of February 21 through 28, 2009, as "FFA Week" in

Pennsylvania and congratulate the members, advisers and parents

involved with this exemplary youth organization.