A Different Kind of Farming

     FFA used to stand for Future Farmers of America, and my team and I definitely like to embrace the "farmers" part of that when it comes to one thing...  Road farming!  If you're not familiar with the concept (and I definitely wasn't at the beginning of the year!), here's a good example:

     Yesterday Gianna and I spent the day at the Randolph County Farm Bureau Leadership Day.  It was a great day to get away from all the convention planning details, escape the office, and spend some time with a lot of members we had never met before!  We went through ropes courses, zip lined (my personal favorite activity of the day), facilitated an activity about service, and overall had a fantastic time with all of the Randolph County FFA members.  The day at Camp Yale ended a little after 3 with a good talk with the staff, but the day out of the office had just begun.

     "Do you want to take a tour of Winchester?" asked Mr. Snyder.  Yes.  The answer to any advisors asking if you want to tour their town should ALWAYS be yes.  Mr. Snyder took us to Silver Towne, a local company that trades silver, where we met one of his former students and were able to look at the old coins and hold a pound of silver.  Next we went to the highlight of the road farming adventure...  Mrs. Wick's Pie and Restaurant.  Mr. Snyder was kind enough to buy Gianna and I dinner and pie (I had the cherry with ice cream at the recommendation of one of the regulars) and we also met Luke Messer while we were there.  You never know who you are going to run into on one of these adventures!

     After talking for a while, we parted ways with Mr. Snyder in search of the Ohio state line, which we were promised was less than ten minutes away.  We crossed the line, got root beer in Ohio at an A and W stand we were told we had to visit, and headed back toward the center.  On the way back we found the Highest Point in Indiana and made a pact to avoid the interstate since that wouldn't make the trip any longer. We also had to stop (twice) at stoplights so that Gianna could step foot in the county as she works toward her goal to go to every county in Indiana.

     Road farming is the perfect way to liven up a lot of long trips and add some excitement to what could become the monotony of being on the road every day.  Perfect for this year and great for any other time, all it takes is a little time and the ability to appreciate the little things you come across!  You just never know what experiences you will harvest from a road farming adventure.

April Showers bring June Leaders

It's hard to believe that it's already April.... About a year ago my 6 teammates and I were coming together for the first time.. but not as an officer team yet..

There were 21 outstanding students that decided to run for the position of the 2011-2012 Indiana FFA State Officer.. As a "State Officer Candidate" all 21 of us were asked to be at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center for an entire weekend to help out with State Convention preparations, Spring CDEs and of course attend the State Officer Candidate Open House, to learn more about the positions we were seeking for. It just so happened to be a beautiful weekend in April.

This weekend in April, it's not so beautiful.. A little on the rainy side.. but again 21 candidates are coming together to find out more about a position they are seeking out.. a spot on the 2012-2013 Indiana FFA State Officer Team..

It's crazy to think that a year later these new outstanding students are here to do the same thing that Rachel, Jake, Gianna, Ross, Sarah, Travis and I were doing last year at this time..

The seven of us have been forever blessed because of the opportunity we received to serve the Indiana FFA... Throughout this year we have made countless memories with FFA Members, Supporters.. and most importantly with each other...

I can't help but be filled with excitement, anxiousness, and pride for these new 21 candidates that in just about 50 day will be taking the spots of my team..

Even though it's bittersweet... I am so proud of the individuals that have decided to dedicate the next year of their life to service..

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth."- Gandhi.

 Last year's "State Officer Candidates"

The Lucky 7 that were selected to be the 2011-2012 Indiana FFA State Officers

To all of our followers and supporters.. THANK YOU for this amazing year of service :) 

Working hard to Influence and Impact

Long time no see!!! Actually scratch that yo, Long time no talk! How have you been? How’s the family? How’s your local FFA Chapter? How’s Indiana FFA? Wait I know the answer to that! Indiana has been extremely Productive, on the move, extremely fun, Inspiring, Impacting community’s, competitive, and preparing!

This time of the year is a special time for Indiana FFA and likewise Indiana FFA officers! I know I can speak for the whole time when I say we have been productive! We have been on the road and in the office getting everything ready for the 83^rd Indiana FFA convention. We are working to make this convention the best yet. Maybe its Anchorman references, techno and dance music, Great keynote speakers that will leave you in tears (laughing so hard),  an opportunity to give clean water to those in need, giving blood to save a life, and so much more! This year’s state convention will be one that you will never forget. If you haven’t made your plans to attend state convention, talk to your advisor today.

Inspiring and impacting. Two words that we use constantly in Indiana FFA! But we really do own up to those very words. Whether it be Princeton and Gibson southern FFA chapters supporting their community’s by purchasing a grain rescue tube and saving a local life. Or Shenandoah’s Snug harbor prom where they invite those with handicaps and disabilities to attend prom at their high school or Scottsburg and Hoosier Hills FFA chapter helping fellow Hoosiers affected by tornadoes.

Likewise this week in Indiana FFA numerous amounts of competitions will be happening.  Sections will be finding out who is best in Parliamentary procedures. The state officers will also be see Star farmers SAE’s.

Indiana FFA is truly on the move and is hard at work to improve the lives in the youth of Agriculture.  

FFA Members, Why Are We Here?

As I sit in the office at the State Officer House, I will occasionally glance at the countdown clock that hangs on the wall to the side of my desk.  With every glance, I see a number lower than the one before.  With every glance, I realize that this crazy adventure is winding down.
On April 5th, Sarah and I tagged along with Rachel to the Crothersville Banquet.  When we walked in to the cafeteria, we were greeted with tables that were extravagantly arranged with placemats, programs, and freebies for guests to take home.  Their camouflage theme was incorporated all over the room.
The banquet first started off with a delicious meal followed by the start of the awards banquet.  It was exciting. As the president tapped the gavel to start opening ceremonies, the butterflies fluttered in my stomach.   Even after 6 years, I still get butterflies whenever I hear opening ceremonies.  As the gavel tapped three times, all of the FFA members in the room stood up and recited in unison "To practice brotherhood...." I looked around the room as we were standing and saw familiar faces.  I saw the face of the girl who was at the first FFA conference I went to; I saw the face of a member who I had talked to when we went to the Crothersville Food-Drive 4 months earlier; I saw the face of one of my best friends; and I saw the face of the boy I had just met earlier that evening.  If there's one moment in FFA where I feel most connected to members, it's during this moment in opening ceremonies.  Everybody in the room has a different background, different reasons for being there that night, and different futures; but during that one moment, we are all connected with the same thing on our minds - making sure we don't mess up the one line of opening ceremonies that almost all FFA members know. :)

As the banquet continued, door prizes were handed out, Rachel gave a wonderful speech about serving others, and awards were given to the Crothersville FFA members.  It was neat to see FFA members awarded for their work and passion.  I will never forget when they announced the person who won the Most Improved Middle School Member award.  Based on his reaction, one could tell that he deserved every bit of it.  It was also obvious that this award had inspired him to put in even more effort into making his FFA career the best it can be.  It's amazing how recognizing an individual can be so motivating for them.

It's moments like these, when we're all standing during Opening Ceremonies and watching others being recognized for their accomplishments, that make me reflect on the crazy FFA journey that has taken place in my life for the past 6 years.  Whenever I glance at the countdown clock, I know it's coming to an end, but I also know that there are still many memories to be made.

Tractor to Truck, Trafalgar to D.C... It's National Ag Week!

     National Ag Week...  Seven days to celebrate our nation's agricultural pursuits and all those people who work to keep us fed, fueled, and clothed.  As FFA State Officers, we are blessed with the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for agriculture and agricultural education on a daily basis, but this nation-wide event adds some extra events and some extra excitement!
     This morning Gianna Hartman and I got to take two of our teammates, Rachel Schmitt and Ross Newton, to the airport.  They are headed to Washington, D.C. with Indiana Farm Bureau to celebrate National Ag Day and to meet with our senators and their representatives.  I'm sure that they will have a great time and represent us well, and I can't wait to hear more from them!
     The rest of the team, myself included, will be spending tomorrow in Indianapolis at ISDA's Tractor to Truck event.  We will be presenting awards to the Indiana Family of Farmers Essay Contest winners as well as spending some time sharing agricultural facts with the public at food trucks downtown and hanging out with some local celebrities.  I cannot wait to share some of agriculture's story in an urban setting or to see some familiar faces tomorrow!
     If you're going to be in the Indianapolis area tomorrow, stop by Scratch Truck, Scout's Treats, Tacos without Borders, New York Slice, West Coast Tacos, or Some of This, Some of That for lunch and see us!

New Programs and More Fun!

                This has been a spectacular week for Indiana FFA. We are extremely excited about the future of Beech Grove who has just begun their own agriculture program. What is even more exciting is that the excitement that we have is nearly doubled by the students and faculty of Beech Grove! Students will be able to begin classes in the fall of 2012! We are so happy for this program to begin!

                Also this week we traveled up to Clinton Central Where we put on a shortened version of our conference S.O.A.R.!  We had an absolutely fantastic time speaking with our friends about FFA opportunities, conversation skills, and authenticity! We are looking forward to the upcoming weeks as well! We have LDW #2 coming up next week, then of course NATIONAL FFA WEEK, and finally Indiana Young Farmers Convention!

Make sure you keep coming back for more of what’s happening in Indiana FFA!

Campbells Soup, Meat Lockers, and a Trip Home

     This past week has been a little different than most since we've taken office.  Well, that statement would lead to a conclusion that there is a such a thing as a typical week, which there definitely isn't, but this past week has been different mainly because we literally did a completely different activity every day.
      Gianna and I went north to Western Boone's officer induction on Monday.  Western Boone's advisor had retired just a few days before, which led to the unusual situation of their vice principal acting as their advisor.  The attitudes of the staff and students to keep the program growing and going in a positive direction were definitely reassuring, only second to their well run and well organized meeting.
      Tuesday the entire team switched gears and we headed to the statehouse to meet the Wawasee FFA's agricultural issues team.  They were visiting the statehouse to build their team's resume for the competition in which they will be presenting about the pros and cons of large scale livestock production.  Many of us formed new friendships that day and none of us were complaining when we were taken to Buca Di Beppo for lunch.
      Wednesday meant another trip north.  We ventured into "flat lander country," as my southern teammates refer to it, for a tour at Rose Acres.  It was an awesome visit with some very knowledgeable guides who told us about everything from Campbell's Soup to recycled pallets as they related to Rose Acres.  After the tour I left to go home to the Miami County Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Meeting to congratulate members of my home chapter on their success in soils this past year, chat with a ton of people I hadn't seen in a while, and listen to Mr. Bechman's keynote on the importance of family.
      Thursday was a day of catching up in the office.  We are planning out our personal schedules for FFA week right now, and I can't wait to visit all the schools I've made plans with!  Rachel, Ross, and Jake left that night for a banquet in Rensselaer.
      Friday the rest of us left in the afternoon to stay in Hageman family's guest house.  The house was beautiful and the team enjoyed the time together before making the much shorter trip to Purdue the next morning.
      Saturday's meats and dairy foods contests were amazing.  I had never seen either contest before, and I must say that meats is the coolest contest ever both figuratively and literally.  Students spent a couple hours in meat lockers judging and grading various carcasses and cuts of meats.  As a livestock showman it was very interesting to see the practical side of what I spent the last ten years feeding, fitting, and leading through the show ring.  It was also great to catch up with the friends we have made throughout the year that were competing as well as meeting some new people.
       Though it sometimes felt like we were going thirty directions at once, this week was great for all of us.  We got to see more members than we have seen since our last conference, and it was awesome to do so much.  I am continually thankful for this experience and will definitely count this week as one of my favorites even if it didn't include any huge multi-day events.