Training, Training, Training

We are finally home from the National Leadership Conference for State Officers, and training with officers from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri was a great experience! Our team had such a fun time getting to know officers from other states as well as Clay Sapp, the National FFA President, who helped facilitate the event. We left on Monday, and after singing the whole 3 and a half hour car ride, we arrived at the Illinois FFA Center in Springfield. Once we arrived, we went to a social at the center with the other officer teams where we got a chance to get acquainted with each other. While the other officer teams were playing football and talking, leave it to Indiana to engage in a rescue mission. While Rebekah and I were showing up the boys at football (Ha!), we noticed a bird fluttering around in the grass. We decided to go check it out and found a baby bird who had not yet learned to fly. Thus, we did what any practical person would do: return it to the nest! With the help of a few officers from Missouri, we set out to find the nest. Once we found it, we had a new problem. The nest was located in a tree covered in long thorns which made it impossible to climb. Therefor, we called in our residential cheerleader, Miss Allie Abney to help us. With Ethan back spotting and Allie and I doing the heavy lifting, we hoisted Rebekah up to the nest. A few scratches later, the sounds of a baby bird chirping in its nest reached our ears, and we returned Rebekah to the ground.Thursday brought another fun night as we watched fireworks in Springfield for the 4th of July. Friday brought another 3 and a half hour car ride home after saying goodbye to all our new friends. I think I speak for the team when I say I can not wait to reunite with them at National Convention! Kayla 

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture