Ray Nash
Council President
(1/1/09 - 12/31/11)

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Phone: (662) 728-6251
208 Hollie Haven
Booneville, MS 38829

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As a teacher of agriculture at Biggersville High School in Corinth, Mississippi, Ray is a National Board Certified Teacher and Certified Online Instructor who has extensive experience teaching Agricultural and Environmental Science Technology.

Prior to becoming an teacher of agriculture Ray worked in the agricultural chemical industry as a sales representative for Ciba Crop Protection in the citrus and vegetable markets of Florida. For nearly 15 years, he has been a classroom teacher with a concentration in the plant and animal sciences. Ray has served at all levels of leadership within the agricultural education profession and is curently Past President of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE).

Ray completed his B.S. and M.S. degrees in agriculture and extension education at Mississippi State University.

A native of Rienzi, Mississippi, Ray and his wife, Lori and son Carson reside in Booneville, Mississippi. Although he is very dedicated to his profession, he enjoys time hunting, attending sporting events, and spending time with his family.

Jeff Hicken
(1/11/11 - 12/31/13)

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Phone: (608) 267-9255

Educ. Consultant/State FFA Advisor Dept. of Public Instruction,
Bx. 7841
Madison, WI 53707-784

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Karen C. Hutchison, Ed.D.
(1/1/10 - 12/31/12)

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Phone: (302) 857-3320

Education Associate AgriScience Delaware Dept. of Education
35 Commerce Way, Ste. 1
Dover, DE 19904

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Dr. Karen Hutchison is currently the Education Associate for AgriScience and CTE Lead in the Delaware Department of Education. She has served in this position for 18 years. Karen serves The Council as President Elect for the National Association Supervisors of Agricultural Education (NASAE). She has previoulsy served on The Council, NASAE and the National FFA Board of Directors. Karen received her A.A.S. in Agribusiness from Delaware Tehnical and Community College, her B.S. in Agriculture Education from Virginia Tech, her M.S. in Vocational Studies and her Ed.D. in Education Leadership from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Hutchison and her husband Jim, reside in Dover, Delaware with their 2 children, Tyler age 18 and Caroline age 14.

Ira Beckman
(01/1/11 – 12/31/13)

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Phone: 952-492-2141

FBM Instructor, So. Central College
1720 195th. Street
West Jordan, MN 55352

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Ira Beckman is a Farm Business Management instructor at South Central College in North Mankato, Minnesota. Ira serves on the Council as the adult agricultural education representative, and is appointed by the NFRBMEA. Ira has served as President, Treasurer, as well as worked on several committees of the NFRBMEA. Ira has been an active member of the NFRBMEA since it was formed in 1985, and has received their “Distinguished Service Award".

Ira completed his B.S. and M.Ed. in Agriultural Education from the University of Minnesota. He began teaching high school in Montgomery in 1981, and started the Farm Business Management there on a part time basis beginning in 1984. While at Montgomery, Ira served as President and Head Negotiator for the local education association. the FBM portion of his teaching load gradually incresaed to full time and began working for South Central College as part of the State Colleges and Universities merger in 1995. Ira served as head of the Management Division at South Central from 2008 - 2010. He has also served as regional director for Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators and has received awards for outstanding adult education program in his region of the state.

Ira currently lives on the farm where he was born and raised near Jordan with his wife Michelle. They have three adult children who live relatively close by and enjoy helping on the farm when possible. His main interest away from work is spending time with his family. He enjoys virtually all sports, playing cards, and spending some time at the horse race track. Ira has also served on the Jordan school board for 14 years, all but one as Chair.

Jeff Maierhofer
(07/01/09 – 06/30/012)

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Phone: 815-357-5024

Seneca High School
307 E. Scott
Seneca, IL 61360

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Jeff Maierhofer serves on The Council as the ACTE Agriculture Education Division Vice President.

The Unversity of Illinois is responsible for Jeff's formal education. He received a dual major in Agriculture Education and Agriculture Economics in 1988 and a Master's Degree in Agriculture Education in 1992

Informal, and probably more valuable, education was garnered from growing up on a farm and from the lives of the many students who have been a part of the Ag Ed program over the past 22 years.

Jeff is a member and past president of the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers (IAVAT), the Illinois Association of Career and Technical Educators (IACTE), The National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE) and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). In 2005, Jeff was the National President of NAAE, a consultant to the National FFA Board of Directors and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National FFA Foundation. He serves as a Associate Director for the LaSalle County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Jeff's activities revolve around Seneca High School and the Ag Ed Department. His wife, Jenna, teaches math at SHS and they are the parents of two incredible boys, Levi James, 8 and Calvin Jon, 6.

Vern Hawkins
(1/1/11 – 12/31/13)

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Phone: 336-632-7545

President, NAFTA Crop Protection Syngenta Crop Protection
410 Swing Road, Bx. 18300
Greensboro, NC 27409

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Vern Hawkins serves as president of the Syngenta North American (NAFTA) Crop Protection business, based in Greensboro, N.C.

Growing up in a rural community in Indiana, Vern’s love for agriculture began early. He worked as a farmhand for his neighbors, was active in both 4H and FFA and eventually went to Purdue University, where he obtained his degree in agronomy. Later, Vern earned an executive master’s degree in business administration from Temple University. He began his career as a college intern for a Syngenta legacy company, ICI Americas, more than 25 years ago.

Prior to taking on his current role in January 2010, he led the Commercial Operations for Syngenta Crop Protection in the United States. He also spent time leading the U.S. Horticulture Business Unit. In addition to these positions, he has been at the helm of Syngenta Brand Management, Biological Research and Development, Regulatory Affairs and Development Planning teams in the NAFTA Region. Before Syngenta was formed, Vern was the global business manager for pyrethroid insecticides with Zeneca Agrochemicals based in the United Kingdom.

As Syngenta nears its tenth anniversary in 2010, Vern’s passion for agriculture and dedication to Syngenta customers continue to drive his leadership of the Syngenta Crop Protection business.

Bob Barton
(01/01/10 – 12/31/12)

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Phone: (541) 564-9830

National FFA Alumni Council
PO Box 376
Hermiston, OR 97838

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Bob is currently the Western Region Representative of the Natoinal FFA Alumni and President of the Oregon FFA Alumni. He also co-chairs the Membershp Committee for the National FFA Alumni Council.

After graduating form Oregon Institute of Technology and working for the family business Bob found his niche working with machne controlled (laser system) heavy equipment. He spent eleven years working for Spectra Physics (now Trimble Navigation) doing dealer development to enhance automatic machine control for the North America Group. Bob played an integral part in future development of not only machine controlled systems but earthwork estimating software as well. In 1995, Bob and his wife moved "back home" to raise their family and take over his father's excavation business.

In 1999, Bob's previous ag teacher asked him if he would be interested in helping start on FFA Alumni for their local FFA. He agreed to do the task and it has been an incredible journey. As the doors have opened, Bob has worked hard helping others understand the relevance and role of "Advocating for Agriculture Education" from the the local, state and national levels.

Terry Hughes
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Phone: 518-255-5538

SUNY - Cobleskill Frisbie Hall Cobleskill, NY 12043

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Wm. Jay Jackman

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300 Garrigus Building University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0215

Phone: (859) 257-2224
(800) 509-0204

Fax: (859) 323-3919

http://www.naae.org

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Jay Jackman is executive director of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), a position he has held since March 1996. The NAAE executive director is an ex-officio, non-voting member of The Council. Before his current appointment, Jackman was a grant programs manager in the office of Higher Education Programs, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. He holds the B.S. degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University, the M.S. degree in agricultural education from the University of Kentucky, and the Ph.D. in educational research and evaluation from Virginia Tech.

David A. Miller
National Executive Treasurer

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Phone: (301) 663-4192

MD Ag Ed Fdn.
7413 Round Hill Road
Frederick, MD 21702

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David A. Miller recently retired as Assistant Superintendent for Career and Technology Education and Business Partnerships for Frederick County Public Schools in Frederick, Maryland, He earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Agricultural Education from the University of Maryalnd, where he has since served as president of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Alumni Association, the College of Agriculture Alumni Chapter and the University of Maryland Alumni Association, International. David has worked as a high school teacher of agricultural education, the Executive Secretary of the Maryland FFA, the Maryland Supervisor of Ag Education, the National FFA Treasurer, and has served as a member of the National FFA Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. He is past president of the Maryland Agricultural Council, Inc. and is currently co-chair of the Frederick County Ag Business Council. He is also currently a member of the Frederick County Workforce Development Board and is on the Board of Directors of lcoal Rotary , Lions and Elks Civic Clubs. David is married to Norma Boone and is the father of two children and has four grandchildren.

Steve A. Brown
National Advisor

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Phone: 703-838-5882

Ag Education National Headquarters
1410 King St., Ste. 400
Alexandria, VA 22314

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As a Program Specialist in Agriculure, Food & Natural Resources for the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Brown serves as the National FFA Advisor, of the National FFA Organization, Brown was raised on a farm in Orrick, Missouri and was an FFA member and State FFA Officer in high school. All his degrees are from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He served as a local agricultural education instructor for secondary and adult students. He served as a district supervisor in Agricultural Education and State FFA Executive Secretary at the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education before accepting a position with the U.S. Department of Education.

W. Dwight Armstrong
CEO National FFA Organization

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Phone #: 317-802-4412

National FFA Organization
6060 FFA Drive, PO Box 68960 Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960

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Since 2008, Armstrong has served as the Founder and Principal at JDA Consulting, LLC. From 2000-2008, he served at Provimi, a global nurtition company, as Group Vice President and Director of the Americas and as President and CEO of North American Nutrition Companies, Inc.

Prior to joining Provimi, Armstrong was President and General Manager at animal nutrition and research center Akey, Inc., from 1982-2000, where he led major business initiatives with increased growth and profitability.

Armstrong is a former FFA member from Kentucky, and he recently served as chairman of the National FFA Foundation Sponsors' Board. Armstrong received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Murray State University. He earned a Master of Science in Nutrition from Purdue University and received his Ph.D. in Nurtition from Purdue.

As COO of the National FFA Organization, Armstrong will guide the organization and work with Dr. Case, the National FFA Board of Directors and the National FFA Staff to address pressing challenges and opportunities facing FFA on local, state and national levels.