Indiana FFA is on FIRE…

Indiana FFA Members were ready and excited to kick off FIRE 2010… Opening Session started as the Members shouted DESTINATION EXCELLENCE and the music played as they ran through the doors. At that moment perfection had been reached. Members filled the Indiana FFA Leadership Center with excitement and enthusiasm for the weekend’s journey. 

The excitement not only carried on throughout the weekend, it increased! The first night members enjoyed opening session, a social (which included ice-cream), then a round of Wolf (a version of hide n’ seek) and we ended the night with reflections by Janna, Nellie, and Morgan Dawson. Each revealed an obstacle they had overcome.  

Saturday’s schedule was jam packed and we were ready to keep the members busy from breakfast until cabin checks. A big breakfast of pancakes was served and we traveled into Megan and Nellie’s Session dealing with Advocating Agriculture. Together they revealed the importance and the opportunity agriculture has within our communities, our nation, and our world.  My Personal Growth session with Janna gave the members’ time to think about their own personal journeys. Letting them write down what happened in their past, what is happening now as juniors and seniors and to think about their future goals and plans for the future.

Saturday continued outside where the members had a set challenging activities they had to solve and after they had to complete a series challenges on the ropes course.

Rain chased us inside for the remainder of Saturday. Morgan Gadd and Micah’s session was a continuation from outdoors over the importance of teamwork and trust in one another. We continued the evening with our Annual FIRE Banquet and Auction.  We closed out our busy day with a dance…FFA Style! Before cabin checks we ended the day with the remaining officer’s reflection.  Morgan Gadd, Micah, Megan, and I each shared our obstacles.

Sunday Morning was too short after cleaning up and packing to head home. The members came through those doors one last time.  Memories were shared, friends were made, and I Kelly Blackburn, Indiana FFA State Reporter was truly changed because of FIRE 2010! When the closing tradition/song closed out the session I knew we had reached DESTINATION EXCELLENCE!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

 

Destination Excellence

What does the number 9,400 mean to you? While that may just be a number to some, to myself and six other individuals living in Trafalgar, that number means so much more. In the Indiana FFA we are at approximately 9,400 FFA members state wide. So, to my teammates and I, 9,400 represents the Infinite Potential that the Indiana FFA has.

Serving this year as the Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice-President, I am blessed to be serving each and every one of those FFA members every single day! Throughout the year, we are presented with numerous opportunities to impact the FFA members throughout the state. One of the most exciting ways that we can make an impact is through our leadership conferences. After countless hours spent getting ready, the time is almost here for an action packed weekend. Filled with fun, excitement, agricultural education, and leadership training, our 2010 F.I.R.E. (Foundations In Reaching Excellence) Conference is finally here!!

My fellow teammates and I are excited to welcome nearly 200 FFA members to the Indiana FFA Leadership Center this weekend for an adventure to “Destination Excellence”. Throughout the weekend we will have everything from an ice cream social, personal growth session, agricultural literacy session, and we can’t forget the famous “Ultimate Challenge” filled with messy, fun, and fast paced team activities. Most importantly, this weekend will serve as a way for students to network with other FFA members across the state, learn valuable leadership skills, and develop and prepare themselves to become the future generation of leaders in the agricultural industry. Be sure to check out the blog next week to hear more about the F.I.R.E. Conference.

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

FFA State Officers Hit the Road Again!

After a weekend home with our families and friends, the Indiana FFA State Officers are hitting the highway again!  For a girl who is familiar to the central part of the state, I took a road trip to the south where there is still color in the leaves, believe it or not!  I was about 6 miles from the Kentucky state line.  I recently traveled to Lanesville High School on Wednesday November 3, 2010 for their annual Fall Banquet.  To start off the night the Lanesville FFA Officers opened the banquet with opening ceremonies.  We were then dismissed for dinner which consisted of a pot luck style dinner, which was delicious.  I spoke to the administrators, FFA members, parents, and supporters about the Importance of FFA.  I highlighted how I became involved in the FFA and how it became of importance to me.  I talked about the opportunities I encountered as well as what opportunities are available to members.  FFA members at Lanesville received their Discovery, Greenhand, and Chapter FFA Degrees as they have met the requirements needed to do so.  They are well on their way to receiving their next degree degree.  It was great to visit other chapters to see what they have accomplished as well as visit with so many supporters of the Lanesville FFA Chapter.  I cannot wait to visit more chapters throughout the state of Indiana in the upcoming months!