When Kim Meyer became Albert Lea Schools FFA advisor a handful of students in the club weren’t very active.

Thursday, May 10, 2001

When Kim Meyer became Albert Lea Schools FFA advisor a handful of students in the club weren’t very active. In the last 13 years, through hard work, caring and a lot of overtime, Meyer has turned the program into the premiere leadership chapter in the state.

Meyer has advised 17 state officers since 1991 and two state presidents in the last four years, something many would consider an amazing accomplishment.

&uot;When we consistently win these awards, people ask me, ‘What’s in the water in Albert Lea? Meyer, how do you keep getting these good kids?’&uot; he said. &uot;I say, ‘I don’t know, they just keep coming.’&uot;

&uot;I know many ag teachers that haven’t advised a president or a state officer in 30 years,&uot; Meyer said.

On his desk is a quote from Henry Ford: &uot;You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.&uot; With 72 members, the Albert Lea intercurricular club is medium-sized, Meyer said. But members are extremely active.

About one-third of members will attend an intensive, week-long FFA camp this summer, he said. Many more will be involved in other projects, like state fair competitions.

This year, 22 of Meyer’s students interviewed for 9 chapter office positions, when other chapters had trouble filling the offices because of lack of interest, he said.

&uot;The people that don’t make it in our chapter could probably be an officer in another chapter,&uot; he said.

FFA National Organization of Agriculture students develop confidence and career experience that most students don’t have, Meyer said.

&uot;Our mission statement is basically to develop premiere leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education,&uot; he said. &uot;Our chapter is there, we’re doing that.&uot;

Only about 30 percent of Meyer’s FFA members live on a farm, and few will go into farming, so he focuses on skills that will be useful in agribusiness rather than production, he said. But he still tries to teach students a respect for farming and good stewardship.

Meyer was raised on a farm near Lake Mills, Iowa and studied agricultural education at Iowa State University. He got a Masters Degree from the University of Minnesota. He owns a 24-acre farm and 25 beef cows.

&uot;Less than 2 percent of the population farms, and that’s declining,&uot; he said. &uot;But I think it’s the most important job in the world. I’m very proud to be that small piece of the food chain.&uot;

Student, parent and community involvement has made the Albert Lea FFA program successful, he said. But Meyer’s dedication to students and love of agriculture have also been crucial.

&uot;He’s basically, besides my older sister, the one who caught me on to what I call the FFA fever,&uot; said Kellie Ladlie, past state reporter and region president. A junior at Iowa State University, Ladlie got a very competitive John Deere Scholarship this year because of her FFA leadership. She is now preparing to run for national officer.

&uot;I know that I’d be a completely different person if it wasn’t for FFA,&uot; Ladlie said. &uot;FFA has allowed me to recognize all the skills and talents I had within myself.&uot;