From Chapter to Chapter: Why the Blue Jacket Matters

There is something special about walking into a school wearing a blue jacket.

Every chapter visit is different. Different buildings. Different students. Different advisors. But the heartbeat is always the same: agriculture, opportunity, and people who care deeply about their students.

Over the past several weeks, the team and I have been visiting with different chapters across the state of Indiana. I have had the opportunity to visit Indian Creek, Corydon Central, Crawford County, Paoli, Woodlan, and Lakeland FFA, and each stop has reminded me why this organization is so powerful.

At Indian Creek, Mr. Dunn and Mrs. Ulrich demonstrated flexibility and commitment to their students. Even with a busy schedule, their willingness to combine classes and encourage collaboration between middle and high school students showed intentional leadership in action.

At Corydon Central, I was reminded that leadership is often built in small moments. Whether it was facilitating teamwork conversations, helping Brayden with homework, or playing chess with Kyler, those one-on-one interactions reinforced how strong relationships create strong programs.

At Crawford County, Mr. Howell and his students made the day one I won’t forget. Watching welding students push themselves outside their comfort zones was a powerful reminder that growth rarely happens in comfort. The “Pasture of Strengths” we created together still sticks with me as a visual reminder that every student brings their own unique strengths to the classroom.

At Paoli FFA, their commitment to creating opportunities for students was evident in their swine operation. They provide members with the chance to purchase a quality hog at a great price. Their willingness to invest in hands-on experiences shows how agricultural education can equip students with responsibility, work ethic, and confidence that extends far beyond the barn.

At Woodlan FFA, Mrs. Hammon and her members welcomed us with incredible hospitality. Spending time with their officer team over lunch and seeing their willingness to try new things showed me what trueleadership looks like.

At Lakeland FFA, Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Bateman opened their classrooms and allowed us to work directly with their students. Their advocacy for agricultural education was evident in every conversation, and I left encouraged by the students' engagement.

Each chapter visit teaches me something new. Sometimes it’s about teamwork. Sometimes it’s about perseverance. Sometimes it’s simply about showing up and being present.

What has stood out most is this: the blue jacket may say “Association,” but it represents something much bigger than one person. It represents every advisor who stays late. Every student who takes a risk. Every member who steps into a contest, workshop, or leadership role and is unsure of what might happen next.

And the journey isn’t over.

The team and I are excited for the road ahead, and I’m looking forward to my upcoming visits to Churubusco, Columbia City, Whitko, Warsaw, Shoals, North Daviess, Washington, Gibson Southern, and South Knox. I’m excited to meet new members, hear new stories, and continue learning from the incredible people who make up Indiana FFA.

Chapter visits aren’t just about delivering workshops or facilitating activities. They’re about connection. They’re about listening. They’re about reminding students that their strengths matter and that their future in agriculture is full of possibilities.

Every time I leave a school, I drive away grateful, grateful for the advisors who pour into their students, the members who engage and ask questions, and the opportunity to serve.

Because at the end of the day, it’s never just about the miles traveled.

It’s about the people met along the way.

Always striving,

Calvin Myers

2025–2026 Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice President

Unwritten

“A few weeks ago, my English teacher gave us an assignment: choose a song and analyze it

through the lens of various "issues of literature," exploring both its meaning and purpose. As

soon as I turned to my best friend to begin working on the assignment, we already had one

song in mind: "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield.

Now, a little background about my friends and me: we love to listen to music whenever we

hang out. But if our friend group had a Spotify Wrapped, "Unwritten" would definitely top the

list as the most played song. We’ve sung along to it countless times without really thinking

about its deeper meaning.

As my friend Grace and I sat down to analyze the lyrics for the assignment, something clicked

for me. Even though we had both listened to the song over and over, I’d never really studied

its lyrics before. That’s when I realized - so many of the lyrics felt like they were speaking

directly to us, at this moment in our lives. The song’s message resonated with where we are

right now, and I began to see how it could be interpreted in different ways, depending on

where someone is in their life.

"Unwritten" talks about the unknown, the future that’s still a blank page. And as I thought

about it, I saw how this mirrored our current stage in life. My friends and I are at a point where

our futures don’t have a clear, defined path. Some of us have already committed to a college,

found roommates, and made plans for what comes next. But others are still uncertain -

unsure about what to study, where to go, or what the future holds. And you know what? Both

situations are completely okay.

But here's the thing: your future is yours to create. "Unwritten" reminds us that, though the

road ahead is unclear, it's up to us to write the next chapter. Everyone reading this might be

in a different spot in life - whether you're an underclassman feeling the stress of choosing

your next classes, preparing for a contest, an interview, or contemplating an FFA opportunity.

Throughout my time in the National FFA Organization and countless extracurriculars, one

belief has continued to shine through everything I do: "Just going for it" can unlock countless

opportunities and ventures. The decisions you make are the stepping stones to your future,

and sometimes, taking that first leap- no matter how uncertain - leads to growth, new

experiences, and unexpected rewards. The future may seem daunting at times, but just like

the song says, it’s unwritten - and you have the power to fill the pages.

Whether it’s running for a leadership position, competing in a contest for the first time, or

taking on new challenges, the act of stepping forward - without knowing exactly where it will

lead - opens doors to growth and experiences you could never have expected. Each leap I’ve

taken has written its own unique page in my story and has shown me that the “rest” of my

journey is still unwritten. Just like in "Unwritten," the best parts of life are the ones yet to

come, and by embracing opportunities, we become the authors of our own stories.”

This blog was written a year ago for District IV FFA, but it doesn’t show what was happening

behind the scenes at the time. While I was writing about the future being unwritten, I was

quietly questioning where my own story was headed. I found myself wondering whether I

should run for State Office, and more so, whether I was even worthy of running at all. The blog

doesn’t capture the thoughts racing through my mind, the doubt, or the hope, that maybe I

was capable of more than I realized.

It also doesn’t show that after it was published, my advisor, Ms. Katelyn Rudolph, sent me a

portion of it when I was unsure about running for State Office. As I read it, I realized I already

had the answer all along- I just didn’t yet have the courage to take the step.

What the blog doesn’t show is the night before State Officer rounds, when my friends and I

had a girlhood night- unknowingly calling it ‘The Rest Is Still Unwritten.’ We knew that when I

returned to Lebanon after State Convention, the State Officer Candidacy chapter of my story

would be written, even though we didn’t yet know how it would turn out.

Right now, you may find yourself in some of the same shoes I was in last year. You might be

contemplating running for State Office, trying a new contest, or deciding whether to take on

an opportunity that feels exciting yet intimidating. My advice: take that step. You are the

author of your own story, and you are enough just as you are. Sometimes trusting the plan

and taking the leap leads to new chapters you never imagined.

One thing has become clear since I first wrote this blog: you don’t need every answer before

taking the next step. After all, the rest is still unwritten, and the future is full of blank pages

that we get to fill with joy and courage.

Thank you for being the best part of our story,

Lauren Argotte

2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Secretary

Write That Down!

If you know me, you know I LOVE the show How I Met Your Mother. I watched all nine seasons and fell in love with the characters. The premise of the show is that the main character, Ted Mosby, is telling his kids the story of how he met their mother. He teaches them lots of life lessons through these stories. He is telling them this HUGE story so that he doesn’t forget how it all happened. 

Throughout my year as a state officer, I have taken up journaling. I try to journal every day and I usually do it before I go to sleep. I write about what I did that day, how I’m feeling, and of course all of the fun stories I’ve collected that day. I also collect random items from the day to include in my journal. Anything from the wristband for an event to my visitor sticker form the school I visited that day. It’s my time to relax, unwind, and capture the best moments of this year so I never forget. 

This season of my life is flying by faster than I ever could’ve imagined. Much like Ted in How I Met Your Mother, each one of my days if FILLED with stories I never want to forget. From late nights at the Great Indiana State Fair to ice cream runs with my teammates to FFA members that I meet traveling on chapter visits, I write it all down. I even find myself throughout the day making mental notes of important things I want to be sure make it into my journal that night.

The other day I looked back at my journal entries from a few months ago, and I noticed how many fun times and stories had become jumbled in my memory. However, because I wrote it all down I can relive those memories anytime just by opening a book. 

No matter the season of life you are in right now; fast paced, laid back, or anywhere in between, I encourage you to write it ALL down. Someday you’re going to look back and wish you could remember it all exactly like it was. Because if Ted Mosby taught me anything, it’s that someday you’ll want to tell the story, and you’ll be glad you remembered every single detail.

Collecting the memories,

Kaitlyn Maruszewski 

2025-2026 Indiana FFA State President