A Joke A Day Keeps the Blues Away!

So far in my year of service, my schedule is full of long days, late nights, and miles upon miles of travel. I love the work I get to do and the impact I get to make, but being more than 200 miles away from home can make some days feel a little longer than usual. Luckily, I have a support system back home that never lets me forget where I come from—especially my little brother, Sawyer.

Sawyer is in the fifth grade, but he already carries himself with the enthusiasm of someone ready to make a difference. He’s incredibly smart, thoughtful, passionate about everything he does, and quite possibly one of the funniest people I know. He wants to follow in my footsteps by being in FFA someday, so he tags along to as many events as he can, always ready to learn, make new friends, and be my biggest cheerleader (even asking countless times if he can live with me and my teammates). While the miles Sawyer has traveled to see me mean the world, one of my favorite ways Sawyer supports me is with his jokes. 

Some days, right when my teammates and I need a little boost in morale, my phone lights up with a call from Sawyer. And without fail, he always has a joke ready to go. Some recent highlights include: 

• “How much did Santa’s sleigh cost? Nothing—it was on the house.”

• “What do you call a cop in bed? Undercover.”

• And the one he said I would like best: “What car did Jesus drive? A Christ-ler.”

But it’s more than just jokes. When Sawyer came as a guest to my banquet, he surprised both my teammate Calvin and me with two of his own Tech Decks that he was willing to give away to make us happy. For those of us who don’t know what a Tech Deck is, it is a miniature and functional skateboard you can play with. He also writes me letters, sends me little gifts, and leaves sweet messages reminding me how much he misses me back home. 

Each one of these small acts means a world more than he knows. They bring a bit of home to me, making the busy days and long drives feel lighter. Sawyer doesn’t know this, but his acts of kindness remind me why I do what I do, and who I do it for.

I hope that someday, when he puts on the blue corduroy jacket himself, he knows that he has already embodied everything FFA stands for: leadership, service, and heart.

I couldn’t be prouder to call him my little brother.

Love you Soy Boy, 

Erianna Vela 

2025- 2026 Indiana FFA State Northern Region Vice President

The Beauty in the Journey

One of my favorite things to do is go on car drives or walks while listening to music and looking at the beautiful nature around us.  No matter where I’m headed, there’s always beauty in the journey. Throughout my life, I’ve had the gift of traveling-whether across the state, the nation, or even different parts of the world, and there’s always beauty to be found in every road you take. I believe this reflects one of life’s most important lessons: finding beauty in the journey. In today’s world, everything moves so fast. We have so many distractions and a million things pulling us in different directions, and we often take the beauty of a journey for granted. “Be where your feet are.” This quote hangs on my prayer board and fills the pages of my journal. It’s a daily reminder to slow down and truly experience the moment I’m in. I’m guilty myself. Growing up, I always kept myself busy, and my mom constantly reminded me to “slow down.” She was right, we all just need to slow down. It reminds me of one of my favorite songs, “Things That Matter” by Josiah Queen: “Slow me down, this world is moving faster, But I don’t want to miss the things that matter.” It’s a reminder that even though the world moves fast, the journey is in our hands- to slow down and take in what matters most. These quotes and sayings flow through my mind often, reminding me to be present and enjoy the journey. It takes me back to high school. Everyone always says high school will be the fastest four years. As an incoming freshman, I didn’t believe this. I thought high school would drag on and feel like the opposite of the fastest four years. Turns out, I was so wrong. Four years flew by, but I’m forever grateful for the memories and people who filled my journey. The decision was up to me throughout high school- to slow down with all the business and enjoy the journey and the people around me. By slowing down, I was able to make genuine connections with the teachers, friends, and people who make my village. I was able to “be where my feet were” and live in the moment without constantly thinking about what was next. I’m forever grateful younger Lauren took her mom’s advice to “slow down” and take in the things that matter. I found the beauty in all the parts of my journey by doing so. No matter our age or stage in life, it’s important to find the beauty in our journey. Every season brings new people, moments, and beauty, but each one holds moments worth noticing. When we slow down and pay attention, we start to see how even small experiences shape us. Life will always move fast, but we don’t have to. We can choose to step off the gas, slow down, notice what’s around us, and find beauty in the journey. Just like on those long car rides, the beauty is already there, we just have to look. Finding beauty in every step, Lauren Argotte 2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Secretary

Leaving Your Mark

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend an event at my home chapter, Tri-Central in Tipton County, IN. The event was called the TC Ag Fest, and the night consisted of a chicken noodle dinner from chickens the chapter raised, a small career fair, and an SAE work experience auction. My teammate, Calvin, was able to come along too and was even able to serve as the auctioneer for the night. It was so much fun and very rewarding to see a lot of familiar faces and reconnect with old friends. 

At the end of the evening, while we were helping clean up, a member of my chapter, Braiden, pointed out the wall where all the state officers who visit our school sign their names. It was officially my turn to sign it. This moment crept up on me and was not something that I was expecting to do while I was there. All at once I was hit with many emotions, but the heaviest ones were gratitude and pride. 

Gratitude for my home chapter who sparked my passions.

Gratitude for the people who have poured into me.

Gratitude for the community who has supported me through everything. 

And pride in being able to leave my mark on the place that has truly shaped me.

Being influential enough to (literally) leave my mark on a place that has influenced me so much was a surreal moment, and it made me realize that my influence was only possible because of those who had supported and pushed me into who I am today. 

Who are the people that have poured into you and pushed you to be who you are today? I would bet that many of them work without much of a title, position, or praise, because sometimes true influence comes from those behind the scenes. The people who see every breakdown, hard day, and challenge. These people, our mentors, friends, parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. They are the ones who have left their mark on us, and they prove that most of the time it doesn’t come with a physical mark, but instead a feeling, change of behavior, or new way of thinking. 

As I looked at my name joining the signatures of those who came before me, I couldn’t help but think about how each name represented a story, a season, and a legacy of impact. It reminded me that influence isn’t measured by how many people know your name, but by how many lives are better because you showed up.

Leaving your mark doesn’t require a title, position, or role. It takes encouragement, service, time, and dedication. Who will you leave your mark on? 

Leaving my mark with gratitude, 

Kaitlyn Maruszewski 

2025-2026 Indiana FFA State President

The Chocolate Bar Chronicles

When I was a freshman in high school, I began competing in a few FFA

contests. One of them was dairy judging, where you evaluate dairy cattle based on udder

quality, frame, dairy strength, feet, and legs. Over the years, dairy judging helped me

grow both my knowledge of dairy cattle and my ability to speak confidently in front of

others. I was lucky to be coached by Mr. Glen Jones, a retired ag teacher, and Mr. Jim

Wildermuth, who took over after Mr. Jones when he retired.

I was always excited to learn and practice, especially when my friends were there with

me. One of my favorite memories was traveling with Jack and Riley to the All-American

Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the national dairy judging contest. When we

arrived, we spent time practicing at a few local dairy farms. Afterward, we toured the

Hershey’s Chocolate Factory, and then went to the gift

shop, where my buddies and I bought some funny stuff. Riley bought a pair of socks,

Jack picked up a four-pound box of Jolly Ranchers, and I proudly carried out a four-

pound chocolate bar.

Later that night, after supper, I put my chocolate bar in the hotel freezer. But, that didn’t

last long. Jack decided the chocolate needed to be “tastefully broken in,” and body-slammed it with

his elbow on the hotel bed. Then Riley finished the job with a one-inch punch, just like a

martial arts master. The room was full of laughter…and chocolate pieces were everywhere.

Those are the moments that remind me how special these experiences were. The

friendships, the laughter, and the memories made along the way will always mean more

than any score or ribbon. I’m grateful to my coaches for giving me the chance to

experience all of it. At the end of the day, it’s about learning, growing, and remembering

to have fun along the journey.

Here's a verse from the book of Proverbs

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding – Proverbs 3:13

Stay Wismatic,

Jesus Santana

2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Sentinel

Soaking Up the Memories

As the 98th National FFA Convention has just ended, I am reminded of all my past National Conventions. I first went as a freshman, who knew only two out of the fourteen people going on the trip. Although I was really nervous, it turned out to be a great first National Convention, even though we had to sit on the bus for thirty minutes at the auto parts store waiting on a battery. 

That first National Convention is what encouraged me to apply to be a chapter officer and go again the next year. Every year that I went it just kept getting better. I look back on all my National Convention memories: from buying an outrageous amount of clothes at the shopping mall, going to the concert, and playing football with a shoe in the Texas Roadhouse parking lot, to meeting Dale Brisby and wishing I could go do it all again! 

Thankfully, I had the opportunity this year to go again and to go as a State Officer and National Delegate. While I was a little nervous this year wouldn't compare to all my past conventions, it turned out to be one I won’t forget. If you went to National Convention this year, I hope you were able to soak up every moment and have the time of your life. If you didn't get the chance to go, I encourage you to make it happen next year! It is truly an unforgettable experience.

Still soaking it all in,
Lily Sloan
2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Treasurer

Friendship Without Borders

“No distance can stop true connection.”

When I first met Alessandro, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I had never met him before, and I wasn’t even sure if we’d be friends. He came all the way from Italy to spend a year at my high school here in Indiana. The first time we interacted, I thought we couldn’t be any more different. But after a few days of soccer practice, it didn’t take long for us to become best friends. Before I knew it, we were hanging out constantly. He came to help feed cattle, grind feed, take care of my 4-H animals, and even helped during harvest.

Even though we grew up thousands of miles apart, we quickly realized how much we truly had in common. We both valued hard work, family, and faith. Agriculture became the bridge that connected two completely different worlds. Through long days on the farm, late-night talks, and hours of laughter, we learned that friendship and leadership don’t need translation.

Some of my favorite memories include when he came to my 18th birthday party, went with me to the National Farm Machinery Show, and cheered alongside me at a Harlem Wizards game. One of my all-time favorite moments, though, was during our school’s Halloween parade when we dressed up as Mario and Luigi. We laughed almost the entire time, and that moment reminded me how friendships can grow in the most unexpected ways. It didn’t matter that he came from another country. What mattered was the kindness, laughter, and shared experiences that made our lives better.

For me, FFA has been about that same kind of connection. It’s about building relationships that reach beyond borders or backgrounds. It’s about sharing what you love and learning from others along the way. The blue jacket reminds us that no matter where we come from, we can always find common ground through service, agriculture, and friendship.

As we move through another season of opportunity and growth, I hope you take the time to connect with someone new. Learn their story and share yours. I say this because sometimes the greatest lessons aren’t found in a classroom or an arena. They’re found in the friendships that remind us just how big this world can be, and how small it feels when we’re connected.

Always striving,

Calvin Myers

2025–2026 Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice President

The Power of Showing Up

This past weekend at the Seeking Opportunities and Achieving Results Conference, I had the chance to reconnect with someone who means a lot to me- my friend, Danayah. It had been a long time since we’d seen each other, with my State Officer schedule keeping me constantly on the move. However, when I saw her walk into the conference, it felt like no time had passed at all.

I even shared about Danayah in my reflections at the conference. I shared the story of how I got to mentor her in Prepared Public Speaking and how much she taught me in return. I remember the hours we spent practicing together, working through nerves and fine-tuning every word in her speech. When competition day came, I didn’t take home the title, but she did. Seeing her succeed made every moment worth it. It reminded me that true success isn’t just about winning yourself, but about helping others shine too.

What made this reflection even more meaningful was knowing that before I ever wore this blue jacket with “Association” on the back, Danayah was there for me. She supported me, believed in me, and helped me grow when I was navigating the process of running. She’s been one of those people who quietly makes a difference, and seeing her again reminded me how important it is to appreciate those who lift us up along the way.

When she heard me mention her in my reflections, she was filled with emotion, and honestly, so was I. It was such a powerful reminder of why I do what I do in FFA: to build connections, serve others, and celebrate those who have shaped me along the way.

Reconnecting with Danayah at SOAR reminded me that no matter how busy life gets, it’s always worth taking the time to show up for the people who’ve shown up for you.

Keep showing up, 

Erianna Vela 

2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Northern Region Vice President