"I knew I wanted to go right way," Ogle said of her response to the invitation sent to FFA presidents in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. "I told my adviser that it was really cool and I wanted to go. I filled out the paperwork and that was it."

Ogle leaves Dec. 29, and will join the other FFA representatives to put the finishing touches on the club's first-ever Rose Parade float. Then, on Jan. 1, she will walk beside the 75-foot float as it makes its way through Pasadena, a course of 5.5 miles, before a crowd anticipated to number more than 1 million on site, 42 million television viewers across the United States, and more than 100 million in 82 countries around the world.

The float's theme, "FFA Today," reflects the organization's emphasis on a wide range of educational opportunities and careers, while also honoring its roots in agriculture. Cost of the float is being underwritten by RFD-TV, which also will be broadcasting the parade live that morning.

"When the Rose Parade announced this year's theme, 'A Cut Above the Rest,' we knew this would be the perfect opportunity to showcase the FFA and America's premier youth organization," Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of RFD-TV, said in a press release. "The float was designed to represent the more than 506,000 members and more than eight million FFA alumni."

This is Ogle's third year in FFA. She was elected state president in April, and credits FFA for numerous opportunities.

"I've developed skills in public speaking, traveled around the United States and met lots of people," Ogle said.

She has taken advantage of training activities offered by FFA, was a national delegate at FFA's convention in Indianapolis in October, and, as the Alaska president, is visiting all the other chapters in the state, encouraging their engagement in the organization and providing workshops. Ogle also is helping organize Alaska's 2010 state convention, which will take place in Palmer April 1. From her involvement in FFA-related events, Ogle already knows many of the other FFA representatives also traveling to Pasadena for the New Year's Day event.

Although it began as Future Farmers of America, FFA's focus has broadened to include fields and skills related to agriculture and natural resources.

"You learn important life skills for any career that you might be going into," said Ogle, who is considering pursuing a career in agriculture education.

Kristen Kuehl, a first-year HHS science teacher and instructor of the school's natural resources class, an educational component of the FFA program, is the Homer chapter's adviser.

"Before coming to Homer, I had heard of the FFA, but had little knowledge of what it was and did not realize that it was active in Alaska," Kuehl said. "I had the great pleasure of chaperoning four of our students to the national convention in October, and I learned a great deal about the program nationally and from speaking with other Alaska advisers."

Corinne Ogle

The local chapter has 10 students, including two more state delegates in addition to Ogle Ben Blue and Emily Henkelman and chapter president Lindsey Seneff.

RFD-TV's coverage of the parade will be preceded by a one-hour television special on the making of the FFA float. RFD-TV is distributed on DIRECTV channel 345, DISH Network channel 231 and on local cable throughout the state.

A countdown to and coverage of the parade also can be seen on RFD-TV's Web site, www.rfdtv.com.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.