FYI
Fast Facts about Dr. Armstrong
A few fun facts to know about Dr. Dwight Armstrong, chief operating officer for the National FFA Organization:
• Dr. Armstrong is a former FFA member from Kentucky.
• He grew up on a farm in western Kentucky, where his family raised livestock and tobacco.
• He received a bachelor of science degree in animal science from Murray State University.
• He earned a master of science degree and a PhD, both in animal nutrition, from Purdue University in Indiana.
• Dr. Armstrong worked abroad for several years, through his job in the animal nutrition industry.
• He was reintroduced to FFA by serving on the National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board.
More Feature Articles
January 2010
-Creature-Focused Careers
-Former Members Reflect: Dr. Dwight Armstrong
-Levy Randolph
-Safety on Speed Dial
-Preserving Their Culture
-Off and Away
November 2009
-Former Members Reflect: Emilie Bocker
-Turn That Down!
-Car Smarts
-So Much Cooler Online
-Laila Hajji
-The Water Way
-A Greater Cause
June 2009
-Stretch Your Summer Income
-Riley Branch
-Turn That Down
-Behind-The-Scenes Star
May 2009
-Welcoming Women
-Regina Holliday
-Job Interview Jitters
-So Much Cooler Online
-Questioning Your College Choices?
-A Can-Do Attitude
-Former Members Reflect: Michele Payn-Knoper
April 2009
-Hannah Crossen
-Cowboy Book With a Cause
-From FFA to 33Miles
-There’s Cash in Your Future
-I’m Angry…Now What?
-For the Love of Landscaping
-Perfect Balance
-Gardening For A Cause
February 2009
-Blue-Ribbon Banjo Player
-FFA as an Art Form
-Wild About Animals
-Nessie Early
-Be a PAL
-Full Throttle
-Living to Serve
-Special Invitation
January 2009
-All About National FFA Week
-Paul Moya
-Justin Floyd
-Partners for the Planet
-Finding Balance
-Swimming in Aquaculture
-Breaking Records
-Take It Slow
December 2008
-National FFA convention to rotate homes
November 2008
-Dr. Al Snyder
-Scholarship Secrets
-Gear Up for National FFA Week
-Kari Boettcher
-Resist Peer Pressure
-Good to the Last Crop
-All Creatures, Great and Small
-Sparking Interest
September 2008
-Agriculture Accuracy
-Crissa Fruechte
-Brady Revels
-Get Up!
-Proceed With Caution
-All in Good Taste
-Clutch Performance
-Step Right Up
July 2008
-Take It to a New Level
-Deep-Rooted Interest
-Take a Deep Breath
-Tyler Tenbarge
-Inspired by FFA
-On the Right Track
May 2008
-In the Vault
-Your Money: Keeping Records
-National Officer Q&A
-We’re All Unique
-Best in Show
-Grab Life by the Reins
March 2008
-Call to Order!
-Reality Check
-Turtle Power
-By the Numbers
-Dale Darling
-A Token of Appreciation
-National Officer Q&A
January 2008
-National Officer Q&A
-Back Talk: Paul McCutchan
-Building Bright Futures
November 2007
-National Officer Q&A
-Back Talk: Corey Flournoy
-Biofuels Mean Business
-Go, Team, Go
-A Tractor Tradition
October 2007
-National Officer Q&A
-Back Talk: Kristie VerMulm
-Give them an A+
-Cranberry Crazy
-Racing to Indy
Contact Us
Let us know your thoughts on the new FFA New Horizons online.
Site Sponsor
Former Members Reflect: Dr. Dwight Armstrong
Kentucky alumnus comes full circle
January 2010
In a series of events he calls‚ coming full circle, Dr. Dwight Armstrong recently joined the National FFA staff as its chief operating officer.
Armstrong, a former FFA member from Kentucky, has enjoyed a successful career in the animal nutrition industry, with a recent emphasis on global markets. In 1999, Armstrong was reintroduced to FFA by being a part of the National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board, an experience he says helped him reconnect with the organization.
Now, he begins his new role of ensuring future FFA members have the same opportunities he had. Learn more about Armstrong’s FFA background and goals for the organization.
Q What motivated you to join FFA?
A Being a part of FFA was natural for my brothers and me. We grew up on a farm where tobacco, pigs and cows were our family’s primary source of income, so we were already involved in agriculture. And I must credit our agriculture teacher, Ray Fowler, for helping motivate my brothers and me to become involved in FFA. Because of his influence, my brothers and I all saw the value of being an FFA member. We each served as president of our local chapter, and my younger brother was a state FFA officer.
QWas your supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) focused on your farm work?
AI had several supervised agricultural experience programs, but the one that challenged me the most was when we remodeled our home. I worked with my mom on a home-improvement project, which took me out of my comfort zone – working in the field and with our livestock – and taught me something different.
QHow did FFA prepare you for your career?
AThe highlight of my FFA experience was being a member of the state-winning parliamentary procedure team in 1968. It was thrilling to win, but learning proper parliamentary procedure and working as a team were both experiences that have proven valuable in my career. FFA also taught me how to work with people who have diverse ideas, then work together toward a strategic goal and how to communicate, which is so important.
QWhat advice do you have for FFA members who are beginning to think about life after high school?
A When I left high school, I was very focused on agricultural education and FFA. College gave me a broader perspective, and people there offered me other campus activities and even different career paths to consider. Since I wasn’t around FFA any more, I had disconnected myself from it. I hope to encourage current members that Collegiate FFA and FFA Alumni are good opportunities to stay involved with FFA, after high school.
QYour previous careers have taken you to all parts of the world. What role do you believe FFA should play in the global marketplace?
A I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of countries in the global market, and I believe agricultural education has the opportunity to be an aligning force to educate consumers about agriculture. Through our leadership development, we can be a stronger advocate for today’s agriculture and be more global than we are today. My advice for today’s students is to take advantage of every global opportunity you may have. Take foreign languages, go on international experiences, study abroad. Every experience will help you in your career.
QWhat is one of your personal goals for FFA that you hope to achieve in your new position?
A We have nearly one million students enrolled in agricultural education, but only half of them are FFA members. One of my goals is to make sure those other students know the opportunities in FFA and that we encourage others to participate in FFA by increasing our diversity in all of our programs and services. I strongly feel that FFA can play a key role in helping align all the sectors of agriculture, in representing the positive influence American agriculture has on meeting our local, state, national and global food needs.
Recent Comments
Only members can view user comments.
Are you a member? If so, please log-in.
Not a member? Please register.
Have you forgotten your password?
The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit ffa.org
© Copyright 2008 by The National FFA Organization and Journal Communications Inc.
All rights reserved. No portion of this Web site may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.