Three South Hamilton FFA members recently participated in National FFA Musical organizations at the 1997 National FFA Convention in Kansas City. Jason Heeren and Mike Anderson were members of the 108 piece National FFA Band which included students from 37 states. Six instrumentalists were from Iowa. Brooke Olson sang soprano with the 100 member National FFA Chorus which also performed at the November convention. The chorus was conducted by Roger Kelley, director of the a Washington State University choir. The band was directed by Gene Englerth, director of the Michigan state FFA Band.
The three South Hamilton students stayed at the Kansas City downtown
Marriott and rehearsed for three days before the 47,000 member convention
opened, and then performed at a variety of FFA functions during the convention.
My playing improved so much! Everyone there was of all-state caliber...
said Heeren of his experience.
Brooke reported, It was a good experience. I learned a lot!
FFA has lots of opportunities to do things, said Anderson.