Bittersweet Blessings

Time is short, each moment fleeting

However I can’t help but repeating

Another thank you for the moments well spent

New memories made with every event

Keeping those close is where my thoughts are always sent

You made me stronger and refused to let me fall

Over and over, you helped calm my fear

Under every circumstance you have taught me to stand tall

Filled with moments that shaped who I became

Over the year, you helped kindle my flame

Reflect on the work and how far we came

Before my last 20 days in this blue jacket elapse

I reflect on the last 343 days with Indiana FFA

Through friendships and service, we’ve grown side by side

Together we laughed, we failed, we tried

Each moment a memory I’ll never forget

Reminders of pride with no regret

So many faces, so many names

We stood as one through losses and gains

Every goodbye carries weight in my chest

Even as I know we all gave our best

This chapter will close, but I won’t call it the end

Bittersweet farewells, but stronger we stand

Leaving behind more than banners in hand

Each step forward carries all that we’ve known

Smiles that show just how much we’ve grown

So here’s my heart in this simple phrase

I sincerely thank you for these golden days

New seeds of service continue to bloom

Gratitude deep for all this year brings

See you in 21 days, with joy that still sings!

Making the days count,

Christina Caldwell

P.S. Read the beginning of each line ;)

A Legacy in Blue

Exactly a year ago, I was sitting on my bedroom floor, sorting through my things—preparing for what would be either my first year of college or a year of service with Indiana FFA. I was deciding what to donate, what to pass down to my siblings, and what to keep. That’s when I found my FFA memory box.

Inside were lanyards from past National Conventions, buttons from State Conventions, and every happy gram I’d ever received. I stayed there, sitting on the floor, reading through them as tears filled my eyes. For five incredible years, I had been surrounded by a network of blue corduroy best friends—people I met at the leadership center who believed in me long before I believed in myself.

I pulled out my very first happy gram bag, and on the front, I had written: “I want to be a state officer.” Five years later, that dream came true.

But my FFA journey wasn’t a straight line. I didn’t fall in love with FFA because I knew exactly where it would take me—I fell in love with the late-night bus rides home from convention, the monthly meetings where I got to welcome new members, and the rush of competing in a contest I had poured my heart into for months.

FFA became my home. And I was lucky enough to call it home for one more year—a year filled with traveling across the state, hosting conferences, and witnessing the incredible growth of our members.

Now, with only 27 days left until the final gavel tap, my heart is full. Sad, yes—but mostly full. Indiana FFA, I am so grateful. Grateful for the memories, the friendships, and for the privilege of being part of something this extraordinary.

For the final time, 

Your Indiana FFA State Reporter 

Sienna Alexander 

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