Tenbarge

Tyler Tenbarge is well on his way to becoming a world traveler. Although only a Purdue freshman majoring in agricultural economics, Tenbarge has already visited 10 U.S. states and Japan as the 2007-08 national FFA Eastern Region vice president.

“After I return to Purdue in January 2009, I hope to bring real-world, hands-on experiences and knowledge I couldn't have learned in the classroom or lecture hall,” Tenbarge said. “Because I am majoring in agricultural education, I can directly apply my experiences this year to my academics in the future.”

His responsibilities include providing personal growth and leadership training for students, setting policies that shape the future of the organization and promoting agricultural literacy.

Tenbarge, a Gibson Southern High School FFA member from Haubstadt, Ind., was one of six national officers selected in October at the FFA national convention in Indianapolis.

As an FFA member, Tenbarge worked on his family’s dairy and grain operation. He has placed individually and as a team member in 12 different career development events, including parliamentary procedure, land evaluation and crop evaluation.

After graduation from high school, Tenbarge delayed his Purdue career for a year in order to serve as Indiana FFA president. Not only is Tenbarge meeting and learning from agricultural leaders around the world, he’s had an opportunity to “trade paint” with one of them.

“We got to meet Jerry Rose, corporate vice president of Cargill (headquartered in Minneapolis, MN). Mr. Rose did NASCAR simulation rides with us at the Mall of America and then spent the day with us at their executive offices. Being able to sit down and talk about life, the future, the industry  of agriculture, and even bump each other on the simulated racetrack was an experience I will never forget.”

FFA is a national youth organization with 500,823 student members — all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture — in 7,358 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Contact Tenbarge at ttenbarg@purdue.edu