SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell congratulated Beau Williamson of Fresno on his election as the 2006-07 President of the National FFA Organization.

"I am so pleased that a California student has been selected for the honor of leading FFA," O'Connell said. "Agriculture is a vital component of our state's and the nation's economy. Involvement in FFA gives young people excellent opportunities for hands-on learning in the agricultural sciences. I congratulate Beau Williamson on his election to lead this great organization. And I encourage students who are interested in careers in agriculture to take advantage of the great career technical education programs offered by FFA."

Williamson is a past State FFA Sentinel and is currently a student at California State University Fresno. As the FFA National Organization president, Williamson will lead the organization's nearly 500,000 members. This is the third time in the past five years that a California student has been elected president of FFA.

During his term as FFA president, Williamson and his teammates will travel to Japan, visit the President of the United States, meet with industry leaders, develop more than 100 lessons, and travel more than 100,000 miles representing the organization.

The national FFA officer selection process is intense and represents an assessment of years of academic and intra-curricular accomplishments made by each student running for office.

The National FFA Organization was organized as the "Future Farmers of America" in 1928 in Kansas City, Mo. In 1988, the official organization name was changed to "The National FFA Organization" to reflect the broadening field of agriculture, which today encompasses more than 300 careers in everything from agriscience to biotechnology to turf grass management.

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. There are 495,046 student members of FFA, with chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Island. Students in this organization are preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture.