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Young Professionals After a brief orientation and warm welcome to the vendors,
Corner students began to roll into the vendor area. The organizers
Corner
Corner
informed us the students would come in waves throughout
the day in between their various events and competitions.
We found this to not be the case in the very best way. As
soon as students began to enter the room, we immediately
had an interest in the booth. The students tended to come
Representing the Surveying Profession in groups of their prospective FFA organizations. Christian
and I would welcome the students and start the conversation
at Future Farmers of America by inquiring where they were from and if they knew what
Convention land surveying is, and t0 my many students that already
By Keith Burley, Young Professionals Committee Chair hadknowledge of land surveying. It was a very successful day,
as students flowed through our booth at a steady pace.

Earlier this year, Christian Cernauskas from the National We struck up casual conversations and discussions with
Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying individuals as well as groups as they came through to check
(NCEES) contacted me and introduced an opportunity out our setup. As most visiting us were agricultural students,
for a representative of the NYSAPLS Young Professionals we did our best to relate the profession of land surveying to
Committee to be a part of the Beasurveyor.com booth at the farming and agriculture work. I related the work I do in the
New York State Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention Finger Lakes Region working directly with various farms to
in Buffalo. Christian is currently working on a national buy, sell or develop their farm land. In addition, Christian
outreach program for the profession of land surveying. As and I had students describe what development and/or
part of his outreach efforts, he attends events throughout the construction they witnessed on their travels to the convention
country hosting the Beasurveyor.com booth. I was extremely and related the construction sites they saw and how surveying
excited for an opportunity to be a part of the event in Buffalo played a role in that construction. During our conversations
after experiencing much of my own outreach success with my with the students, they were often very engaged, attentive
local FFA students. and genuinely interested in the profession. Many students
asked great questions in regards to the profession of land
The New York State FFA Convention was held at the Buffalo surveyors to include, life style, working conditions, pay, type
Civic Center May 2nd-4th. I was honored to attend the of work we do in the field, and what is required for schooling.
first day of the convention and help Christian represent the
profession of land surveying. Students from across the state Overall, I was ecstatic to have had an opportunity to speak
were participating in various activities and competitions to and engage with such ambitious and interested students
throughout the three day convention. A large vendor room during this event. It is apparent through this experience at
hosted various businesses, colleges and universities from New the FFA convention that there are great opportunities for
York. Our booth was located at the center of the vendor area outreach for our profession with FFA students throughout
and was full of great swag and materials. Christian brought a not only New York, but the entire country.
DJI drone simulator which was a great addition to the swag Although I attended only one day of the event, Christian
that included stickers and sunglasses. In addition, there were informed me the rest of the convention had great attendance
a few brochures and pamphlets showcasing the two and four at the Beasurveyor.com booth as well as excellent student
year surveying programs throughout the country and a QR engagement. Moving forward, Christian will be looking for
code scanner for students to quickly access the website. I other surveyors to represent their prospective states at future
brought along one of our Carlson GNSS Rovers to show FFA events throughout the country and the National FFA
the students. convention in Indianapolis for 2025.

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 4 2024 • JULY/AUGUST 21