Dead Last to Top Five

Nothing beats the feeling of walking into the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fair. The nerves set in as “nice, cool seventy-two degrees” gives you the chills as you feel the air shift from the August heat outside. The pressure is on.

As I rounded off my seventh year of 4-H, my family and I exhibited three steers at the Indiana State Fair. Our expectations were high. My family genuinely believed we had three rockstars that would stand out in the show ring. Our hopes were soon crushed by disappointment.

The first steer I took into the coliseum placed fourth in class. The second steer stood fifth. We hung our heads low as we walked up to the coliseum for the third time. As we waited in the make-up ring, I found it impossible to smile. My father tells me, “It can’t get any worse than this” to cheer me up. It did get worse. My steer stood dead last in class. My family left the coliseum devasted and heartbroken. I was overwhelmed with emotions thinking, “How was it even possible for our family to stand at the bottom of a class?” I wanted to give up.

After we left the ring, my parents and I headed to the top of the coliseum. We reflected on what went wrong. We concluded that we had fallen into the same pattern. We had gotten comfortable buying the same type of steers every fall, feeding the same feeds, and using the same hair products. We knew we needed to make a change, but we were uncertain how to make these changes. My brothers and I had used the same tricks for thirteen years. We realized we needed guidance.

That fall, my family and I set out to find the “perfect” show steer and a team that would support us. My family found a steer located at Josh Streitmatter Cattle. Josh and Marissa not only guided my family in the show ring, but they became lifelong friends. They stood by my family through wins and losses giving insight on how to improve. Our two families became one team. One team with the same dream: make the top five at the Indiana State Fair.

This past August, my family exhibited both the 3rd and 4th Overall Steer at the Indiana State Fair. My family would not have been able to achieve this goal without Josh and Marissa.

As we navigate through life, we need people who support us unconditionally. People who will support us through our highs and lows. People who will guide us and bring out the best in us. These people are rare and hard to find. Appreciate them. They are on your team no matter what.

Find your team,

Stephanie Berenda

Indiana FFA State Northern Region Vice President

Enjoying Every Moment

Enjoying every moment. That is what I decided on day one, and it is going to be my major goal throughout state office. This year is something I only get to do once and I want to remember all of it. The Great Indiana State Fair showed me how hard this goal was really going to be but how worth it every moment would be too. 
I love the state fair; I look forward to it every year. Traveling up with my family to walk around the state fair or to compete in rabbit showmanship or public speaking is one of the highlights of my year. There is just something about the atmosphere that is energizing even on the hottest days of summer. This year was no different. 
Though we had longer days and later nights, this year's state fair was my favorite one yet. Being up there for three weeks meant that I got to meet so many FFA members of districts all across the state.The long days were made quicker by constant connections with FFA members across the state.The late nights were my favorite part because they were spent learning more about my fellow teammates and the country market workers.The early mornings allowed me to be productive and start my morning off right. 
Plus if you know me then you know I love food, trying all the new things but especially eating all the junk food. Being up at the state fair for three weeks allowed me to eat my way around the fair and eat my fair favorites multiple times. If you get the chance I highly recommend Ben's pretzels, the dole whip place shaped like a pineapple, or anything from the fried Oreo place outside the coliseum.
From the fair vibe to the friends to the food this year at the Great Indiana State Fair was nothing short of phenomenal. 

“The pavilion is now closed. Please join us again next year in August 2025. Enjoy your night at the Great Indiana State Fair”

Enjoy every second,Christina Caldwell Indiana FFA State Secretary 

Futuristic Eyes

The worst day of my life. I remember sitting on my back patio and telling my mom that this was the worst day of my life. In Eighth grade, I had a huge friend group, like ten girls, and every single one of them played volleyball. I knew I wasn’t great, but I had put in so much work that summer, I went to private lessons, every summer practice there was, and even practiced in my backyard. Finally, the day came and we all tried out for the team. I was nervous and excited and when it was my turn to talk with the coach and she was already crying I knew it wasn’t good. She told me my efforts didn’t go unnoticed, but she just didn’t have a spot for me and when I found out every single one of my friends were on the team my entire world felt like it was tumbling down around me. 

I went home that night and cried to my mom about how “This isn’t fair” and every time she came back to me with the same response, “Everything happens for a reason”. I brushed her off and rolled my eyes as any thirteen year old girl in my position would do and went to play on the trampoline with my younger sister. We played popcorn, and tag, and all of the games you could think of and then the begs of “please double bounce me” came about. I agreed, and on the third double bounce my sister came crashing down, landed on her leg wrong, and had broken it in two places. She was only four years old. My heart sank. How could this be happening to me? Could this day get any worse? I already got cut from the volleyball team and now I just broke my four year old sister's leg? How is there a reason for this? 

Little did I know that the “worst day of my life” would completely change the trajectory of my life. You see, it was when I got cut from the volleyball team that a teacher at my school, who just so happened to be a past state officer's mother, saw potential in me and introduced me to FFA. My parents were never in FFA, I had no obvious ties to agriculture, and I had never even heard of FFA before, but she took a chance on me. I am now a first generation FFA member, the first Hoosier degree, district officer, and state officer since my chapter has been rechartered. If only I could have seen how the worst day of my life would have subsequently turned into one of the best. 

With Futuristic Eyes, 

Sienna Alexander 

Indiana FFA State Reporter

Some Things Never Change

“There’s my girl”

The last words my ears heard

“There’s my girl”

A saying she would say almost every time I walked through the door

Followed by a gentle hug

This time was different

No hug was shared

But a simple brush of her hand on my cheek to say hello

And a tear streaming down my face

We didn’t play the usual card game

Or get some ice cream out to make a milkshake

We didn’t have time to sit and break beans that afternoon underneath the big tree

I even forgot to grab a handful of peppermints that always sat on the counter

The idea of her making biscuits and gravy the next morning for me and dad was not a thought in my mind

A walk down the road the road after a nap didn’t seem appropriate that day

Looking through pictures and listening to stories was difficult as I sat next to her

Seeing her helplessly laying in a bed that wasn’t even hers is not how I will remember my Granny

I will remember her competitive attitude when she would whisper “yahtzee” into the cup of dice

Or how every visit consisted of me reading her one of my new poems

Whenever my dad sings one of her favorite hymns I will be flooded with all our good memories

The day I went to see her, a lot had changed

But as I held her cold and brittle hands 

“There’s my girl”

Something that never changed. 

Some things never change,

Ky Baker

Indiana FFA State Treasure

Celebrating Tradition

    It’s official: the greatest fifteen days of summer are quickly approaching! Whether you're used to exhibiting livestock, riding rides, or visiting booths and exhibits, there is something for everyone at the GREAT Indiana State Fair. For my family, the state fair has established a long-lasting tradition over the course of three generations: my family has always shown pigs at the state fair. Since 1852, the Indiana State Fair has been providing families with their own personal traditions. One of my favorite traditions when visiting the state fair as a child was playing putt-putt in the FFA Pavilion with my brothers (for the record, I always won). While always stuck on the south side of the track in the swine barn, I would beg my parents each and every day to take me over to the FFA Pavilion to play a round of putt-putt. Most importantly, however, I always looked up to the members serving in the pavilion. I couldn’t wait until it was my turn to work in the pavilion as an FFA member myself. 

    This year, I have the unique opportunity to serve in the FFA Pavilion in a way I never deemed possible: working in it as an Indiana FFA State Officer. This experience will provide me with the opportunity to interact with the public and advocate to them on behalf of agriculture, agricultural education, and FFA. However, this opportunity isn’t just exclusive to me. Each Indiana FFA member has the ability to serve in the FFA Pavilion at the State Fair!

    Whether you have been to the Indiana State Fair and experienced the FFA Pavilion or not, you and your chapter are encouraged to sign up for your experience day at the state fair. If you apply, you are sure to learn something new, establish long-lasting friendships, and advocate for agriculture to the public while also having the opportunity to establish your own tradition.

    The Indiana State Fair and FFA Pavilion are full of tradition and YOU have the ability to be part of its enduring legacy. I have the chance to add a different perspective to my state fair traditions and I hope that countless Indiana FFA members will be a part of them. I encourage each of you to sign up today to afford yourself this educational experience and embrace a legacy that goes back for generations!

Celebrating tradition,

Cale Williams

Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice President 

Breaking Barriers and Building Relationships

There I was in the heart of South America, in the great Andes mountains, just outside of the highest capital city in the world, La Paz, Bolivia. At an elevation of 13,615 feet, more than twice that of Denver, I was lost…in a crowd of people. Not to be anticlimactic but I was looking around for my cousin, Cade, outside a church because I don’t know much Spanish and it was a little bit difficult to communicate with people. After finding Cade we made our way to my uncle when we stumbled into a man we will never forget. You see this was the fourth trip I had made to Bolivia, due to the fact that my uncle, aunt, and cousins lived there as missionaries making it an epic place to journey to. I had seen a lot in Bolivia through my first three trips but something I had never experienced was Easter there, which is the reason that I wound up where I was. 

    Now while we headed towards my uncle we came across a man who spoke to us in a native language that Cade couldn’t speak which led to an interesting conversation of trying to piece together the bits of Spanish and lots of laughter. This was undoubtedly the most entertaining conversation I can remember, especially with someone I just met. Later my uncle informed us that the man we had talked to was a well-known member of the congregation and that we could expect to see him more in the next few days. Every other time I made contact with him we waved and just started laughing, sometimes to the point where it was hard to breathe due to the altitude. I enjoyed every moment of seeing and greeting him despite not having a way to do much verbal communication. Those days I learned that the most exciting connections can be made no matter the barriers that may seem to be in the way.

    I will never forget that relationship I made when it seemed difficult to converse with anyone. With all this being said I encourage everyone to always be open to building new relationships no matter what the barriers there may seem to be, whether that be attempting to talk to someone who speaks an entirely different language in a foreign country or maybe a younger member in your FFA chapter that you think you have nothing in common with. You never know, breaking barriers and building relationships could lead you to unforgettable moments.

Break Barriers and Build Relationships,

Ethan Wolheter

Indiana FFA State President

Coming Back Home

This past week I got the privilege of heading back home for my county fair with my team. As a team, we were asked to work the Johnson County Indiana Farm Bureau's milkshake booth. This was a far different experience than what I had ever had at this fair, however. 

Growing up I was never in 4-H so the fair to me was all about the rides. I loved riding these rides with my family growing up and I have fond memories of the midway with them. As I got into high school and joined FFA my freshman year, something that I got the honor of doing the summer of that freshman year was work at Indian Creek FFA’s Ice Cream booth where we served, what we had called “the kool thing”, homemade ice cream to the fair goers. I continued to work this booth throughout my FFA career and grew memories right there making ice cream alongside my teammates and friends. 

As I went back to my county fair this time in a different role as a state officer I got to do many different things and experience things I never thought I would. I watched my first queen contest ever, listened to my teammates' experiences with their animals at their fairs, and also experienced a fair for the first time as an adult. While I was working at the Farm Bureau’s booth I couldn't help but look over to Indian Creek FFA’s tent, watching the kids who are in the same shoes I once was in. I found myself thinking, “What does their fair experience look like compared to the experiences I have had? Where will their journey lead them in life?” I look back on my time inside that same exact tent and reflect on what my experience was like and how it helped me get to where I am today. Some of the best experiences I have had with supporters and members have come from inside that tent. Where you come from doesn't define you but what it does do is help you find your home. 

What the Johnson County Fair taught me was that my home wasn't my physical house or anything like that. It was the people around me, it was the FFA members that I had such a strong bond with, it was the mentors that helped me get to where I am today. I challenge you to think to yourself, who is my home?

Find your home,

Garrett Bolin

Indiana FFA Sentinel