Share What You Love!

This week for my blog I wanted to share something I love with our readers. Ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil I could be found sketching to the point where people thought my hand might fall off. I had a born love for the arts. I have a passion for drawing, painting and analyzing art work.

This is the first drawing I ever did, which is of a ladybug. It is strange because I truly don’t remember drawing it, but my parents said I was beyond excited to have finished it.

Going through elementary and middle school I always had an art class; I never had to worry about not being able to fit it into my schedule. However, once I started high school it became very difficult to have my required core classes, ag classes, and art all on my schedule. I hated having to tell my art teacher that I was going to have two years without an art class.

~2015~

My art teacher is a woman who I trusted when it came to art. If I could improve my art work in any way, shape, or form she would never hesitate to tell me. Not only was she trusting, but she was understanding. I know how much my love for FFA and agriculture bugged her, but she never forced me to choose between art and ag. I promised her my freshman year of high school that I would be back in the art room my senior year, and I held up that promise. She helped guide me to creating some of the following art pieces shown below.

~It's Bigger Than You~

This was the first piece I drew at the beginning of senior year. One of the biggest things we learn about art is that it should be able to speak for itself. Not everyone will view it the exact same way, but people should be able to create a personal conclusion of the artwork. 

Steam Punk! This was the area of art that this piece had to span from. This cat really tested my patience while drawing it. The ability to mimic realistic cat hair takes tons of pencil strokes against the paper. 

My art teacher had a hay day with this piece. She knew that my comfort zone was in black and white pencil drawings(easy to control). Yet she challenged me to draw something with oil pastels(nearly impossible to control). I yelled at this project a heave amount while executing it, but it's now one of my favorite pieces in my collection. 

I can't help but smile when looking at this painting. All I think of is how much experimentation went in to complete it. Over half of the techniques used in this painting I had never done before. It was so fun to try a million different things. 

A lot of times it is hard to juggle all the things you love. Many times it's even more difficult to make people understand why you have these different passions. I chose to share one of my loves with you simply because it's close to my heart. I challenge you to share your passions with the people in your life. I challenge you to also never give up on those passions. 

~Decide to remain true to yourself~

Chyenne :)

Don't Waste the Little Things

“You’re going to miss this, you’re gonna want this back, you’re going to wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast.” Trace Adkins, being the well acclaimed artist that he is, made this hit song famous back in 2007. As a kid I listened to the words but never fully understood what he was getting at. As I got older and heard it on the radio, I listened to the words closer and closer. It wasn’t until senior year that I realized the words to be true. I miss the days of car rides with my mom, playing baseball everyday of the week during summer and usually playing until it was dark out. Having little worries and just being a kid. Once senior year came around, I realized it was all coming to an end. I would have to make adult decisions, look at colleges and decide on what I would do with my future. The night before I graduated, I sat on the porch looking across the road and reflected on my life, the easier days, and how in less than 24 hours I’d be walking across the stage with a diploma in hand. Shaking my head, it seemed too soon. I had missed out on all those opportunities because I was focused on growing up way too fast, and at that moment I yearned to go back. On the afternoon of graduation my friends were smiling and ready to receive their diploma, but as we got within fifteen minutes of the ceremony I wished to go back and do it all over. For years I watched my friends complain about how rough school was and how they wanted to leave the little dot on the map we called home. We never realized how good we had it until it was over. Regardless of if you are a freshman who has four years or a senior who has four months until you graduate, take time and reflect. Slow down and appreciate

what you have. Take your classes seriously, don’t take advantage of the friends whom you see day to day, and enjoy the little things. In FFA terms “ Once the gavel taps and high school adjourns…. You’re gonna miss it.”

Regards,

Nathan D. Deatrick

Review & Look Forward

First Six Months

Team: Being on the Team, Sami

I’ve been on many teams before: sports teams, chapter officer teams, student council and more. However, I have never been on one like I am on now. I live and work with my team, which has taught me a lot. I love the relationships I have built with my teammates. We can be serious and professional but we can also let loose and have fun. I am also going to be very honest, being on a team like this is not always easy. Disagreements may occur, but working through them has helped me and the team grow so much. Whether it was waking up early to water plants at the State Fair, orchestrating opening skits for conferences, or taking car rides to business and industry visits, it’s safe to say I have six best friends that I get to have this once in a lifetime experience with.

General Public: State Fair, Nathan

As we reflect on the last six months of office and look forward to the latter half of our year, my mind takes me back to some of the best weeks I had in August. The hot days and long, fun nights of the state fair. Whether it was interacting with the featured farm families, FFA members and the public, or the late nights spent with friends in the barns, the Indiana State Fair was one of my favorite things this year. Although we over watered, and killed many plants… the memories made were amazing.

Members: Chapter Visits and Conferences, Savannah

Everyone always talks about how time flies. That statement is very relevant when reflecting on the past six months of state office. Much of the first half of our year was spent with members. Whether

that was during September when we were traveling the state facilitating in many different FFA chapters, or the five weekends that members traveled the to the center during conference season. These interactions with members have been one of my highlights of state office. It’s amazing how we are all so unique in our interests, backgrounds, and perspectives, yet everytime I talk to a member I am able to connect with them and find common ground. I can’t wait to continue to build on these relationships over the next six months and make even more.

Sponsors: B&I Visits, Brittany

Indiana FFA has been continually improving since we were first established, and the officer team has witnessed first hand one of the reasons this is possible: our sponsors. December was filled with business and industry visits. We traveled the state to learn about the values and opportunities of each company. Visits often consisted of one-on-one interactions with employees, meeting with CEOs and/or founders, and getting a tour of the facilities. This was my favorite part of the first six months of office because it opened my eyes to the different ways I could see myself working in the agriculture industry. I honestly did not put much thought into internships or other career opportunities for the future. Now my teammates and I have taken a step into the industry and created strong relationships with businesses that we will foster throughout the rest of our year and going into college.

Last Six Months

Kick Starting the Year: Ft. Wayne Farm Show and FFA Week, Jarrett

Being on the other side of the veil: a phrase that you may have heard before. If not, it means that you’re seeing the inner workings and other perspectives of something you had experienced

previously. This opportunity has been made available to me as I travel back home to the Ft. Wayne Farm Show. For many years I went to the show with my FFA chapter and talked to people I knew who were promoting their businesses. Now I get to go help spread news of the Indiana FFA Organization to them and meet with members that lived just down the road from me. Then, I move on to members in areas of the state that I have never seen before with FFA Week. From meeting members for Page Day at the State House to speaking with members at their school, I am beyond excited to enjoy these experiences. Seeing state officers come to my school was something that intrigued me. Seeing them come and just casually mesh with the members; laughing, joking, and sharing their wisdom was fascinating to say the least. Now that I get the chance to do this, I should probably think of some profound advice to give and decently funny jokes to tell.

Traveling Indiana: Banquet Season, Austin

I remember being a sixth grader at my first chapter FFA banquet, I had not yet acquired an FFA jacket, so I was wearing a dark blue shirt in an attempt to fit in. I stood in the back corner of South Newton’s ag room examining the wall, on which all of the past state officer portraits were hanging. When my father came to find me he asked what I was doing, to him I declared, “I am going to do that one day.” The chapter banquet was my initial inspiration to strive for more in FFA; eating incredible food, socializing with friends, and looking forward to the year to come were the activities I loved. I am beyond thrilled to be conducting banquet travels, sponsored by CountryMark, around the state. I’m sure that visiting all the chapters, seeing their accomplishments, and enjoying the nights with their members will be a rejuvenating blast from my past.

Rounding off the Year: State Convention, Chyenne

It is crazy to think that state convention is less than six months away. My teammates and I have been brainstorming ideas since before we released the new theme, Surge! This week in June at Purdue University holds a time for FFA members to meet up with friends they made from earlier in the year, compete in their favorite LDE’s and see Elliott Hall of Music busting with energy. Our state officer team is beyond excited to recognize members for their achievements and dedication. Talking about the end of this year may bring a tear to my eye, but it is the beginning for seven new individuals. As we round off our year with state convention, we will be able to meet the 2019-2020 Indiana FFA State Officer Team!!

"We are ready for an amazing rest of our year!!" ~ 18-19 SO Team