It was my tenth year at my county fair. I was spending my last nights in the barn, attending club meetings, and staying up late finishing that extra project I had never tried before. I remember receiving the tenure award banner and my ten-year plaque in the arena, in front of a full audience. I stopped and thought about the long days, the hard work, and all of the times I wanted to give up and throw in the towel.
In this moment, a couple of images popped into my head. I saw myself putting on my official dress for the first time, saw my eyes light up when I first stepped into the show ring, and remembered the excitement I felt when I turned in my very first project. It has never been, and never will be, about the ribbons, plaques, or titles. It's about those people just like us that we get the opportunity to serve, the lessons we learn, and the chance to be a part of something greater than ourselves.
Just like Lauren reminded us, we all have a “village” of people who pour into us. Just like Kaitlyn said, keeping a positive mindset makes the hard days brighter. And just like Erianna shared, even the moments of exhaustion are worth it when we remember the dream that first brought us here.
For me, FFA has been all of that and more. It has been family, faith, and friendships. It has been late nights, early mornings, and the satisfaction of knowing the work means something.
So as we step into another busy season of service and opportunity, I hope you can remember this: the effort is worth it, the people are worth it, and the journey to where you want to be is worth it. Keep showing up. Keep believing in the impact you can make. And never forget that someone, somewhere, might be looking at you the way you once looked at others – as a reminder of what is possible.
Always striving,
Calvin Myers
2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice President
Well said Calvin. So proud to be your mom.
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