10/30/06 FFA Prgrams Get Support

FFA Programs get Support. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. USDA Under Secretary of Rural Development Tom Dorr was mingling with the nearly 55-thousand FFA members in Indianapolis last week during the 79th National FFA Organization Convention. He said the leadership programs within FFA continue to have the support of USDA's Rural Development. DORR: These kids in these leadership programs of FFA are marvelous. Rural Development for the last several years has been sponsoring some entrepreneurship programs with FFA and it's a great component of our programs. It's fun to see these young kids growing and leaving. We love being here. Dorr reflected on the Advancing Renewable Energy conference held in St. Louis earlier this month - calling it a first. He says he looks forward to the involvement of FFA members in the future of the renewable energy industry. DORR: For the first time in a given venue, all together, we had President Bush who has made a strong commitment to this; three cabinet secretaries, Secretary Johanns, Secretary Bodman and EPA Administrator Johnson. Many of the best leaders, adventure capitalists and CEO's from ADM, DuPont, John Deere, Coe Bank and others along with some of the countries finest private and public researchers, they were all at the same place at the same time and that sent a huge signal to everybody that there is a political, there is a public policy, that there is a financing commitment to renewable energy. Renewable energy is largely rural originated and that means there is a lot of opportunity for rural America. It's these kids that are going to make it happen. After all - Dorr notes - the talents of the FFA youth is good news for the future of rural America. DORR: All of these kids that are at this conference and I've wandered around here a lot this morning have got lots of ideas, they've got lots of capacity and they've got lots of opportunities and that's nothing but good news for rural America. The FFA Convention wrapped up on Saturday. This is the first year Indianapolis - home to the FFA Center - has hosted the annual event. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.