It is the year 1926. The United Kingdom has just created the cartoon Winnie the Pooh and Scottish inventor M. John Baird demonstrates his new machine, the television, which is capable of the moving pictures using a cathode ray tube. Back home in America, boys are losing interest and leaving their family farms. A man by the name of Walter Newman has just proposed the creation of an organization that offered farm boys "a greater opportunity for self-expression and for the development of leadership." Henry Groseclose, known as the Father of FFA, developed the constitution and bylaws for the organization, and in April, the Future Farmers of Virginia was formed.
The National FFA Organization has endured many changes throughout its history. This past week, Jessica and I had the privilege of attending State President's Conference in our nation's capitol. Throughout the week, we enjoyed fellowship with other state officers and had the opportunity to have a hand in shaping our organization, as we crafted the delegate committees for National Convention. As we reviewed different proposals made by various state associations, topics such as diversity, servant leadership, and official dress were discussed. At National Convention, 475 delegates from all 52 associations will have the opportunity to make changes for the betterment of our organization focusing on such subjects.
Be vulnerable, Chaela Minor Indiana FFA State Secretary | ||||||
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Empower Your Vulnerability
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Fair, Food, Fun!
Fair food scents fill the air, friends and families enjoy
the numerous activities, and 4-H’ers showcase the projects that they have
worked so hard on. County fairs are the highlight of summertime, embracing all
of the events, activities and moments that make summer so fun! Hopefully, you
have had an opportunity to visit a county fair. Our State Officer team has had
the honor to travel to our teammate’s county fairs to celebrate their
achievements and to experience the place that we have heard so much about.
We had the opportunity to visit the Clay County 4-H Queen
and Princess Pageant and celebrate our 2014 Clay County 4-H Princess, Chaela
Minor. Not only were we able to honor Chaela’s reign as princess, but experience
her home community and congratulate the newly selected royalty. It was a great
opportunity to meet Chaela’s family and friends while supporting Chaela as she showed
her heifer and sheep and her many achievements throughout the 4-H program.
Newton County welcomed our team with open arms as we traveled
to Kentland, Indiana for our teammates Logan and Nathan. We celebrated with
Logan and she received her 10-year member awards and showed her hogs. Our team
had the opportunity to meet both family and friends of Nathan and Logan. To
conclude the day, we were able to enjoy the tractor pull – and were even
announced during the pull! Thank you to South Newton FFA for the lemon
shake-ups and North Newton for the delicious food.
Although Franklin, Indiana is a quick 15-minute drive from
the Indiana FFA Leadership Center, Johnson County is the place that I call
home. I had so much fun showing my teammates everything about my favorite
county fair and meet my family and friends. I am so thankful for their support while showing my steers, receiving
my 10 year awards and celebrating my project achievements with me. We had the
honor to have a float in the Fair Parade, serve milkshakes at the Farm Bureau
Building, enjoy Indian Creek Ice Cream (Thank You to Indian Creek FFA!), attend various events and even participate in Farmer’s Olympics.
We are looking forward to cheering on Sneha as she competes
in Public Speaking in Hamilton County, hearing Leah’s stories from her time in
Hancock County 4-H and heading to Boone County for Jessica’s county fair.
Three different fairs, four teammates and more to fairs to
come within the next week – but this represents something greater than fair,
food and fun! We have experienced where our teammates call home, the places
that they have made memories, interacted with FFA members, and celebrated our
teammate’s achievements at their county fairs.
The saying ‘Always Famous in your Home Town’ rings true
throughout these experiences. At each stop, we have seen supportive and loving
communities who truly care about their ‘hometown hero’ and the entire team. Seeing
where our teammates come from, hearing about their stories and diving deeper
into exploring the beautiful state of Indiana has held great value through our
country fair experience. From meaningful conversations to free food and
attractions to new friendships, these communities have amplified the
opportunity to embrace us and make us feel like we are a part of their home.
In conclusion, thank you to each and every community for
being a part of the village that it takes to raise a child. Thank you for
including us in your county fair celebrations and sharing each teammate with us
this year! We are so thankful for the communities and county fairs we have
visited and are looking for to continuing to visit the remaining within the
next week. It has been an honor to come and to be included in your activities.
So thank you, for not only the days we have spent with you, but the teammate
you have given us.
As county fairs continue to conclude, the State Officers
look forward to seeing you during the Indiana State Fair Work and Experience
Days! The State Fair is quickly approaching and YOU have the opportunity to
come help set up the FFA Pavilion during Set-Up Days and interact with the
public during State Fair Experience Days! Please ask your advisor or contact
any of your district officers with any questions. The State Officers cannot
wait to see you amplify FFA at the Indiana FFA State Fair!
With Gratitude,
Emily Dougherty
2016-2017 State Southern Region VicePresident
| ||||||
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Hungry and Humble
The
Conference Center at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center was split into four
different sections. Each of the four
sections had some hungry, hungry FFA members. Members had the chance to play a
human version of the classic childhood game, Hungry Hungry Hippos. Colored
balls were set up in the center of the room for members to “eat” with a laundry
basket. As one group member would put on their helmet and lay down on a scooter
their teammate would be reeling them in and out with the string attached to the
scooter. The first goal was to lift up their basket to collect as many balls as
possible, but eventually the goal became more challenging. Students were then
assigned a color and would only get points for the balls in their basket that
were that color. While this was challenging for students, they remained hungry
and used that challenge to motivate them.
In
life, there are times where we want to lose that hunger for success. Times
where we become discouraged because we do not reach our goals and dreams, or
that loss of hunger may even come from someone else saying we are not capable of
achieving our goal. Your goal could be anything from being awarded a Grand
Champion Banner to beating your records at the next sports game or winning an
FFA Career Development Event. Whatever the goal may be for you, remember to
stay hungry for success. Do not let others discourage you and certainly do not
discourage yourself. One may not achieve their goals the first, second, or even
the hundredth time, but they could easily be on the brink of success and
achieve their goal the next time they try.
During
Summer Challenge, attendees had the chance to look into a different meaning of
hunger throughout the Hunger for Innovation Project. Participants discussed
that many do not get access to quality nutrition and that 40% of all food in
the United States is wasted. Through a poverty dinner, tracking food waste and
group discussions members began to realize that the statistics related to
hunger are more than just statistics. The statistics represent real people that
are hurting not only across the globe, but also right in our backyards. Facilitator
Jacob Mueller said, “If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a
roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.”
While we continue staying hungry, never forget to stay humble. Many of the
things we take for granted are what others would do anything to have.
Just
as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson once said, “Be humble. Be hungry. And always be
the hardest worker in the room.” FFA members, supporters and stakeholders always
remember the importance of remaining humble during successes, hungry during
failures and hardworking always.
Hungry to grow and
humbled to serve,
Leah Jacobs
2016-2017 Indiana FFA
State Reporter
Monday, July 4, 2016
The Envelope
|
There I was, sitting in the back row of the 4th
general session of the 87th Indiana FFA State Convention. To me it was the
longest, most dreaded session of convention, but to over 400 FFA members, it
was an exciting, exhilarating, and adrenaline filled experience. To them it was
there chance to be recognized, the Hoosier degree session, where they received
one of the highest honors the Indiana FFA Association awards. To me it was the
session before I opened that anticipated envelope.
The fourth general session was stressful for every state officer
candidate. I sat shaking my leg, holding my Hoosier degree chain in my hand,
rubbing the charm with my thumb, waiting for that tap of the gavel, so I could
head to Stewart 218 and receive my envelope. The walk from Eliot Hall to of
Music to the Stewart Center was even worse, with the sun setting, the breeze
flowing, and the adrenaline building, my heart began to pump that much harder.
I walked up the stairs to the Stewart Center, looked around, saw my friend and
anxiously walked towards him. Only four of the State Officer Candidates were
waiting at the door when I got there. I spoke briefly with my friend, then
began to pace around the hallway. Mr. Martin and Mr. Hays finally showed up and
unlocked the doors to the room. We slowly filed in and awaited the arrival of
the "envelopes".
Before we were handed our envelopes, Mr. Martin made sure
to tell us something. This is something that really struck a chord with myself.
He made sure to tell us that no matter which names where on the paper, that we
were all great kids and that we were all very special. I was handed my envelope
and quickly left the room. My plan was to walk down to the basement of the
Stewart Center and open my envelope in the freight elevator. However, I was
unable to await the anticipation, so I opened the letter as I was walking down
the stairs. As I was reading the paper I noticed four names before I noticed my
own. So, the anxiety was built strongly. That moment I read my name I
experienced drastic change. Ever since I witnessed my name on that paper,
everything has flown by so quickly. I was installed, moved out of my house,
moved into the State Officer House, been assigned jobs, met staff, swung off a
rope swing into the lake, set up my office space, and done much more.
The week since I have be elected as the Indiana FFA State
Treasurer has flown by extremely quickly, but has been exciting as well. Us
State officers had under 48 hours to pack our belongings and arrive at the
Leadership Center. Since arriving, we have gone over the simple procedures of
being State Officers, met the center staff, swam in the lake, gone to
Trafalgar, and begun Blast Off Training. To say the experience has been mind
blowing would be a drastic understatement. Being elected as a State Officer is
filled with a great amount of enthusiasm and excitement, but that eventually
turns into stress, busyness, and anxiety. We have jumped right into our roles
as officers and taken on a great deal of responsibility. That is however, what
us State Officers are here to do, take responsibility, teach responsibility,
and showcase responsibility. We are and we will be required to be the leaders
of the Indiana FFA Association and that is a lot to take in, in such a short
amount of time.
Being
elected as an Indiana FFA State officer brings a lot of gratitude and
enjoyment, but the opportunity has such a greater meaning. We don’t become
State Officers just because we want that title. We become, or try to become
state officers because we want to be that voice, that figure, or that
personality that leads the organization and its members. I know without a doubt
that the State Officer team three years ago had a lasting impact on myself. The
officer team was a body of individuals that I personally looked up to and the
source of much of my inspiration. In fact, that team is responsible for much of
my involvement in this great organization. With that being said, the 2016-2017
Indiana FFA State Officer team is looking forward to working with all of the
Indiana FFA members to make an impact on their lives and to help them find
their own envelope, whether that be chapter office, district office, state
office, or even congressional office.
The seven state officers are extremely excited to be
serving the Indiana FFA association. We are pumped to be ambassadors of
agriculture, energetic about the 11,856 Indiana FFA members, and most
importantly humbled to have been given the opportunity to advocate for agriculture.
Indiana FFA, get ready to go through a transformation in your experiences and
become involved in the world of agriculture.
 State Treasurer, Nathan Blume |
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