Published: July 02, 2008 04:49 pm            

Local man works with youth, celebrates music

When Bill Stagg of Zionsville was in college he didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up — until he spent a day developing film with a “six-foot-four crusty gentlemen” in a darkroom. And a lightbulb went off.

Stagg was a student at Virginia Tech when he fell in love with photography. He soon created his own darkroom in the bathroom of his college apartment and spent more time developing pictures than in class. His life’s dream was to travel the world as a photographer for National Geographic magazine. His first gig was a little closer to home, working with his mother in Alexandria, Va., at the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America. He was a photographer for FFA New Horizons magazine, and then soon the editor. While he never made it to National Geographic he said the FFA magazine allowed him to travel extensively throughout the United States.

Stagg settled in the Village 10 years ago, only miles from the FFA national headquarters on 86th Street. In November, he will have been with the organization for 30 years — a company loyalty uncommon in today’s workplace — where he is director of information services.

“I love telling our story and seeing something help kids,” he said.

FFA Chief Operating Officer Doug Loudenslager describes Stagg as “passionate” about his work. Stagg said he has also stayed with FFA for so long because he continues to find new challenges. For example, moving from the magazine to communications gave him more of a leadership role, and even though he missed photography and traveling dearly, he embraced his new position.

“(It’s like) going from playing an instrument to being the conductor,” Stagg said.

He also believes in the organization’s mission to develop youth and teach young kids to become leaders. Founded in 1928, FFA is an organization for students of agriculture, until they are 21. The organization has more than 500,000 members — mostly high school students — who enter fields such as agricultural research and marketing, environmental science, agricultural law and policy, and agricultural engineering. It is a misconception that all members are farmers or future farmers, Stagg said. Unfortunately, he said, there are no agricultural classes taught at Zionsville Community High School, so there are no FFA members from Zionsville; there is a strong membership base at Western Boone Jr-Sr High School, though. He said there may have been a stronger base in Zionsville when it was a farming community and he would like to see it reinvigorated.

Even though Stagg finds fulfillment with his job at FFA, every now and then he likes to “shake it up,” and this amateur guitar player has become involved with a new music trend called “Free Range Concerts.” These are intimate concerts hosted by homeowners throughout different communities.

Stagg and his wife, Kim, who were married in April, will host Indiana musicians Gordon Bonham and Jes Richmond from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 13, in their home on Pine Street. It will be the first of a series of concerts. Stagg said it is a way to support the local music scene, with a recommended $15 donation from music lovers who attend the show. For more information about future concerts e-mail Stagg at freerangeconcert@aol.com.

“It’s original music to die for,” Stagg said.

        

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