School: Abbotsford H.S. FFA – Attend National Convention (Oct 1974)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Prestebak, Strassburg, Ford, Powell, Robinson, Pierce, Butz

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 24 Oct 1974

Alan Prestebak, president of the Abbotsford FFA Chapter, and Dale Strasburg, local FFA Advisor, were in attendance at the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri on October 15 through October 19, 1974. They represented the Abbotsford Chapter, along with 600 other FFA members from chapters throughout the State of Wisconsin.

On October 15 the convention delegates were addressed by the President Gerald R. Ford. The President’s speech was televised nationally.

Other notables who addressed the convention were Pam Powell, Staff Assistant in the White House, Brooks Robinson, all pro third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, William F. Pierce, deputy commissioner for the U.S. office of education, and Earl Butz, the secretary of agriculture.

Some of the activities at the convention, in addition to the addresses, were the American Royale Livestock Show, the Agricultural Career Show, educational tours, the awarding of the national FFA awards and the popular Firestone Show on Friday evening.

Local businesses in the area who helped support this trip through their financial support are Abbotsford State Bank, Security State Bank, Production Credit Association of Medford, and Bowen Hardware of Curtiss.