FFA Alumni member earns achievement award

Virginia “Virgie” Damp, an active leader in the Oconto Falls FFA Alumni affiliate, is one of four recipients of the 2014 National FFA Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award. She accepted the award at the National FFA Alumni Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Damp was cited for her dedication and leadership in supporting FFA members and agriculture education programs at the local, state and national levels. Locally, she has served as treasurer of the Oconto Falls affiliate, organized and worked on numerous affiliate projects and chaperoned FFA members at leadership development programs. Her efforts in support of FFA extend beyond the local affiliate. She has participated in 11 Wisconsin State FFA Conventions, judging speaking and other career development events. Her leadership and commitment led to her being awarded the Wisconsin FFA Honorary State Degree at the 2013 Wisconsin FFA Convention. She has also served on two Wisconsin FFA Alumni Convention planning committees. Nationally, Damp has chaperoned the Oconto County FFA delegation to national conventions in Louisville, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Indiana, for 12 years where she has judged national proficiency award applications. She also served as a Wisconsin delegate at the National FFA Alumni Convention, held in conjunction with the FFA Convention, for 12 years. FFA is recognized as among the most effective adult-supervised youth development organizations in the world. In Oconto County FFA Alumni affiliates support FFA and agriculture education in the Gillett, Lena, Oconto Falls and Suring school districts. The mission of the FFA Alumni Association is to be the premier advocate for the FFA and agriculture education in Wisconsin. The goal is to be a diverse, positive, community-committed organization that supports youth career and leadership development at local, state and national levels. Membership is open to anyone of any background who has interest in promoting the mission and goal of the organization. For more information and to become involved, visit the Wisconsin FFA Alumni website at www.wisconsinffaalumni.org or contact a local FFA Alumni affiliate.