National Convention

National Convention

1931

         

         Excited with his first convention, James looked over the cow pen with his father, the president of the FFA Association, and his father the President of the Cattlemen’s Association.  He was everything James aspired to be.  His confidence oozed from him as they stood in front of the cow pen.  His cow was in there marked by a number on the ear.  The judging would be sometime over the course of the next three days, he would need to look at the guide he had been given when he arrived.

         “What do you think?” the FFA president asked.

         James turned from the pen to look at him.  “I think I have a long ways to go from Greenhand to president.”

         “So you want to be FFA president some day, do you?” the FFA President said.

         “Yes, and I have my eye on President of the Cattlemen’s Association like your father.  I can see where you get your enthusiasm from.”  He eyed his father a smile on his face.

         “It’s a lot of hard work, son, but if that’s what you want to do, and you work at it, you’ll do just fine,” the boy’s father said.

         “If you want help, that’s what we’re here for.  None of us works alone here.  We are a team.  We might be from all different locations, but we all have one goal in mind, doing the best we can for the farming community,” the FFA President said.

         “I had a glance at the guide when we checked in.  The motto says it all: Learning to do, Doing to Learn, Earning to live, Living to serve, that’s what I want to do, serve in any capacity I can,” James said.

         “You’re in the right place to do it,” the FFA president said.

         James turned his attention back to the cows.  “It looks like it will be hard to judge all these cows.”

         “We have experts judging the American Royal Livestock show.  I saw the cow you brought in.  She looks like a winner,” the Cattlemen’s Association president said.

         “They all look like winners,” James father said.

         “And they are, but now we judge them as the best of the best.  Are you part of the Cattlemen’s Association?” the Cattlemen’s Association president said.

         “Yes, I joined with my father when I was a teen,” Edward said.

         The FFA president looked at James.  “How old are you?”

         “Fourteen, but not too young to think about what I want,” James said.

         “No, I knew what I wanted the first time I came to these shows.  My father wasn’t the President of the Cattlemen’s Association but he was in the running for it,” the FFA president said.

         “Our family has been a part of the Cattlemen’s Association since it was founded.  First my grandfather was the president of his local chapter, then dad was, now I’m the President of the national organization.”

         “That’s what I want to do eventually, be the President of FFA and the Cattlemen’s Association.  I believe I have a lot to offer,” James said.

         “You have high aspirations, son, and a lot of hard work ahead of you,” the Cattlemen’s Association president said.

         “I’m willing to do what’s necessary,” James said.

         “And that’s what makes a good FFA officer and Cattlemen’s Association officer.  I wish they had this organization when I was a kid like my son.  It would have prepared me better for what I’m doing.  You kids will take this country by storm, and already have a good start.  Good luck to you.  Shall we head back?”

         “James wanted to know where his cow was, and now that we met up with you and have seen where, I think it would be a good idea to get something to eat.”

         “Are you going to be at the banquet this evening?  If you are, then it might not be good to get a lot to eat beforehand, from past experience there is a lot to eat at the banquet,” The FFA president said.

         “Yes, we are,” James said.

         “Then probably the best thing, might be to take a look around and see what else is going on over the next several days,” the FFA president said.

         They had come together in the car belonging to the president of the Cattlemen’s Association, a 1931 Cadillac four-door convertible.

         “What kind of car do you drive?” the president of the Cattlemen’s Association said.

         “I drive a 1931 LaSalle Tudor,” Edward said.

         “Fine car, I own one as well, though I expect to do a lot more at these conventions, so I bring this one.  It has more room.”

         “I prefer the train when traveling,” Edward said.

         “The train is a wonderful way to travel.  I used to do it all the time before I became president of the Association.”

         James half listened to the conversation as he took a last look at the cow pen before he turned his attention to the road ahead and all the activities he would soon be involved in at his first FFA convention.