Turning the Page

One of the most frustrating things I’ve come to realize is how much I despise a cliffhanger. Whether it’s reading a book or watching a movie, when the story leaves me hanging, it’s like being on the edge of something big and not being able to see what comes next. It feels almost cruel, like the universe is daring me to be patient. But I never understood just how frustrating it really is until now. Because, in a way, this chapter of my life is coming to an end, and I’m left here, standing at the edge, waiting. There’s no sneak peek into the next page, no foreshadowing to ease my mind or guide me forward. All I can do is wait for the next chapter to unfold.

I first slipped on that blue corduroy jacket back in the seventh grade, and it’s been a part of me ever since. Stitched carefully with my dad’s name and office in yellow, it was more than just fabric. It represented a connection—his world, his presence, his expectations. Under the collar, I tucked in my mom’s FFA scarf, a piece of her history from when she was a part of the organization. It was a symbol of the legacy she passed down, one that I wore proudly, competing in contests, volunteering in the community, and striving to make a name for myself in the Indiana Association.

And yet, here I am now, standing at the edge of that chapter, trying to make sense of what comes next. The clock keeps ticking, the pages of this chapter fill up, and I can’t help but wonder: What’s next for me? What does the next chapter hold? There’s this unshakable feeling of being on the brink of something important, but I don’t know where the story is going.

For so long, I’ve defined myself by what I’ve done—what I wore, what I competed in, the role I played in the community. But now that the ink is drying on these pages, I’m left with an open book, one I’m not entirely sure how to fill. It’s as if I’ve reached the point where the past no longer has the answers, and I’m faced with the daunting task of writing my own future.

So, what do I do now? How do I take that jacket, those memories, and what I’ve learned from them, and translate it into something new? It’s a question that hangs in the air, unanswered, like the lingering promise of what’s to come next. I know I can’t keep looking backward. The past has shaped me, but it’s the future that I need to write. And for the first time, I’m not sure what the next chapter will bring. But somehow, that uncertainty feels like both a challenge and an opportunity—an invitation to keep turning the page.

Onto the next chapter,

Kyatalin Baker

Making The Most Of The Moment

The season of change is upon us. Some might be graduating, others finding a new job for the summer, and even still some might be getting ready for a summer break ahead of them. Just like everyone else, that change for me is approaching soon as we get closer to the month of June. The countdown is on as we approach the 96th Indiana FFA State Convention. The Indiana FFA State Convention is always a time of celebration: celebrating award recipients, celebrating the talent of Indiana FFA members, and celebrating the newly elected Indiana FFA State Officer Team. But, above all, it gives each attendee the opportunity to reconnect with and meet nearly 2,000 of their closest friends. 

But with this celebration comes change. After all, change is inevitable. 

As I prepare to transition from my crazy busy life as a state officer to a simple college student (Boiler Up!), I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness for this great organization and all that it has done for me. 

I am beyond grateful for spending this year serving each of you—I am so thankful to have made 14,500 relationships, bonds, and friends. As the time ticks down to state convention and we elect a new state officer team, I’m making it a priority to make each moment count. As my time in the blue jacket comes to an end, I can’t help but be thankful for all of the great memories. But, it’s not over yet. Now is as good a time as ever to take advantage of each moment, both good and bad, and enjoy it while I can. 

Whether your big moment of change is state convention, graduation, or a new job, I hope you will make the most of each moment and take advantage of all of the opportunities open to you right now. Enjoy each moment as if it’s your last and don’t take anything for granted. After all, you will never experience this moment in time again, so make the most of it!

Making the most of each moment,

Cale Williams

Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice President 

Going The Distance

Over spring break, I had the incredible opportunity to spend a day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While there, my family and I were able to visit the iconic Rocky statue at the base of the legendary steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which appear prominently in the Rocky movies. As we ran up the steps and took pictures with the statue, I was reminded of the first movie, which I had watched for the first time just a few days earlier.
For those unfamiliar with the film, Rocky Balboa gets the opportunity to box against one of the greatest fighters of the time. As he prepares, he decides that—win or lose—he wants to do one thing: go the distance. That means fighting through every round without being knocked out. This is no easy task—continuing to take punch after punch without bowing out or hitting the mat takes extreme resilience.
Rocky's story has been an inspiration for years, and I believe it still holds a valuable lesson for us today. In life, we will face struggles and hardships, taking plenty of metaphorical punches along the way. But resilience is crucial because, as Rocky says, “Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.”
We can achieve success when we make the choice to keep fighting, keep trying, and keep working—to go the distance. Whether we are facing self-doubt, maintaining relationships, or staying true to our values, it’s important to push forward no matter how many times we get discouraged. As the engraving on the Rocky statue reminds us: “It’s not about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward—that’s how winning is done.”

Go the Distance,
Ethan Wolheter
Indiana FFA State President

Woods to Words

Recently, I had the chance to spend some time with the South Newton FFA Chapter during their retreat at the center. After a great dinner together, someone had the idea to kick off a round of ChatGPT campfire stories—and of course, most of them ended up involving mysterious adventures in the woods.

Inspired by the stories, a few members decided they actually wanted to head into the woods themselves. So, a few of us state officers thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a hike out to the Vesper Bowl—a special spot at the center where reflections are often held during conferences.

The thing about the Vesper Bowl is... it’s deep in the woods. And, well, none of us state officers could quite remember exactly where it was. After a few false alarms of, “This is it!”—only to realize it definitely wasn’t—it’s safe to say some of the members started to question if the Vesper Bowl was even real.

But eventually, we found it.

And once we got there, something powerful happened. We started talking. Then, one by one, members began standing up and giving impromptu speeches—completely unplanned, but full of heart. Watching them speak, I was reminded just how incredible our members truly are. They had the courage to stand up in front of their peers and share words that meant something.

One speech, in particular, has stuck with me. A member shared a simple, yet meaningful message: "Life is like a box of chocolates. Sometimes you're going to get the caramel ones—and maybe you don't like caramel. But there's always more chocolate left that you will like."

They used this metaphor to describe not just life, but FFA. You might try a CDE or LDE, change something about your SAE, or attend a conference—and it might not be your favorite. But that doesn’t mean the whole experience is ruined. You just have to keep going, keep exploring, and eventually, you’ll find what you love.

So, think of your FFA journey as a box of chocolates. Even if one piece isn’t your favorite, the next one might surprise you.

Life is like a box of chocolates,

Garrett Bolin

State Sentinel

Women In Agriculture

For the longest time, I hated the phrase “Women in Agriculture”. I hated the idea of categorizing a minority. I felt like the phrase was an excuse or a plea for attention. Growing up on a farm, with two older brothers, I was expected to do the same amount of work as any boy on the farm. It did not matter if we were bailing straw, changing boxes on the planter, or picking up rocks in the field. If my brothers could do it, I could as well. 

The expression “Women in Agriculture” never made sense to me. Why should women be told to look up to other women? Why not just look up to a man? After all, in the production agricultural industry, men dominate leadership positions. Most farmers are men. Most seed salesmen are men. Most judges at a livestock show are men. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I understood the importance of the term “Women in Agriculture”.

At my county fair that year, the beef cattle judge was a woman. A woman who spoke smoothly and confidently as she delivered reasons for a class. A woman who dressed fashionably but modestly. She was the embodiment of the perfect balance of feminine and confident.  

I knew my dream of one day judging a county fair was possible but unlikely. Seeing a woman judge my county fair made my dream seem real. It felt like an attainable reality. 

The woman who judged my county fair was Marissa Streitmatter. I am very fortunate to call Marissa a friend, mentor, and role model. As I have gotten to know her more, I admire many qualities Marissa possesses, like her talent for evaluating livestock and fitting cattle. What I admire most about her is Marissa’s ability to balance her family and professional life. Marissa is a leader and very successful in her professional life, all while being a loving mother and wife.

I realized the phrase “Women in Agriculture” is a testament that anything can become a reality. The agricultural industry is male-dominated; however, that does not mean that girls cannot hold the same positions or qualities. Women can be farmers, livestock fitters, welders, engineers, and CEO’s. When we look hard enough, we can find women who already occupy those positions.

These women are happy to mentor young ladies as they understand what it is like to feel alone in an industry they love. I challenge you to find a mentor or a mentee and break down any barriers. Women belong in agriculture.

Forever and always supporting women in agriculture,

Stephanie Berenda

Indiana FFA State Northern Region Vice President

Perfect Little Things

“Most of life is just junk. It's filler. And then, there are these moments when all the randomness turns into something perfect.” - The Map of Tiny Perfect Things. This quote is from one of my all-time favorite movies! If you’ve never watched The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, it is about two people stuck in a time loop. They repeat the same day over and over again, visiting new spots in their town that typically go unnoticed but are practically perfect. Since watching this movie, I have started to appreciate the perfect little things in life. I’ve cherished everything from move-in day at the state officer house, to ranking random flavors of soda (dirt, grass, etc.), to watching scary movies late at night with the team. While I just started focusing on the perfect little things this year, I can’t help but reflect on previous years and see the perfect little things. Looking at some of the biggest moments in my life, I can now see the amazing memories in both the best and worst moments. Some of my best moments are only made better by noticing the little things. When I won my county’s master showmanship, it was not the winning that was so special; it was celebrating with my family afterward and getting to mentor future winners. But it is not only in the good times that I have learned to focus on the little things. I must also force myself to focus on the little things even during the hard times. The week I won master showmanship was also the week that my mother broke her leg. I found myself working through my fair week without the person who had helped me train all of my animals that summer. While it was hard, I can look back and appreciate the perfect little things that happened at the same time. That week, I got a banner for the first time ever with my cattle, was in the grand drive for cattle in both breeding and market, and most importantly, was surrounded by my fair family, who did anything they could to help me. 4-H members and parents in all barns helped my family out by making sure I could get my animals ready for show day, and the livestock directors did everything they could to ensure I was still able to do my best in the show ring. Focusing on the good doesn’t mean ignoring the hard moments – it means choosing to focus on the beauty that can still exist within them. The perfect little things are often small and easily overlooked, but when we take the time to see them, the good gets better. I can honestly say that when you focus on the good, the good does get better. So take time to notice the perfect little things; write them down, share them, celebrate them, and if at all possible, create them. Life may not be perfect or easy, but there’s magic in the moments we often overlook.

Advice To My Younger Self

If I could give my younger self some advice, there is so much I would say, so I have compiled it into a list to share with all of you!

1. Quality > Quantity of friends ALWAYS

You could have a million friends, but if they aren’t true to you and you don’t feel like a better version of yourself after hanging out with them, it doesn't matter. I know I heard it a lot when I was younger, but it was such a hard lesson to learn. It is also okay to grow apart from friends who don’t support you anymore.

2. You get back what you put out

This is SO, SO true! If you are being positive and putting out good energy to other people, then you will have that same energy returned to you… but the same goes for the opposite. I know that it can be difficult to be positive in negative situations, but sometimes that positivity is what you and the people around you truly need.

3. Don’t be afraid to try new things

You never know what you might love or what you might be really good at, so don’t be afraid to try new things! Looking back, I was also so afraid of what other people would think of me if I tried something new, but in reality, I should have jumped at any chance I got to broaden my horizons. There are so many things I wish I would’ve experienced, but I let fear hold me back.

4. You will always be your own biggest critic

I couldn’t even count the number of times I would take a test, give a speech, or leave a contest room and swear that I did a horrible job. I would sit and pick at every little thing I know I could’ve done better or that I had practiced differently, but I assure you that nobody will ever be as harsh as you are on yourself.

5. It is okay to put yourself first

Sometimes all we need to function better is a break and some time to ourselves to recharge— it is more than okay to do that! It can be so hard to always be on the go, and sometimes it seems like there is no time left to do the little things you enjoy.

6. Cherish your time with the people you love

You never know how much time you have left with those around you or what moment may be the last, so make each moment count and cherish every second.

7. Every trial is a step on the way to success

Although setbacks seem to happen often, they are all in good time to prepare you for success. The most important thing is that when you are faced with adversity, you don’t give up; you continue to push forward.

With love,

Sienna Alexander

Indiana FFA State Reporter