September 12, 2014

Media Advisory – FFA Greenhand Workshop

The College of Agricultural Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host an FFA Greenhand workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Student Center. Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the event, which attracts approximately 500 high school FFA students from around the region.  Students will be on campus from 5 to 8 p.m. 

The SIU Collegiate FFA, a registered student organization, manages the event.  The collegiate FFA members will lead seminars for their high school counterparts that focus on team-building, leadership, and communication skills. They will also talk to the students about opportunities they can pursue in the university’s agricultural sciences program. 

Graduate student John Edgar, a past SIU Collegiate FFA president who is serving in an advisory position, said SIU agricultural sciences students have an important role as mentors for the high school students, and along the way gain valuable leadership and communication experience.  The SIU Collegiate FFA chapter works with approximately 100 different high schools annually and hosts nearly 20 events a year. 

The Greenhand degree is the first FAA award available and often is earned by students during their first year of FFA in high school. 

For more information on the event, contact Edgar at 618/453-2469 or at jcedgar@siu.edu.