Pass it Forward

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the 50th Annual Alaska FFA State Convention, and it truly was the experience of a lifetime! From talking with FFA members, to workshops, to pre-session games, there was no shortage of fun and excitement. I have so many memories from my week, but my biggest takeaway has to be the kindness I was shown by Alaska FFA members, volunteers, and guests.

“Hey! Where are you from?” is how I typically start my conversations with FFA members I haven’t met before. Once you know where someone is from, there are so many questions to ask and things to learn after that! But one thing that surprised me about these FFA members is that not only did they tell me where they were from, they were excited for the opportunity to make a new connection. In each conversation, I got to learn about their background, their FFA story, and their passions and interests. What astounded me even more was that they would then ask those same questions right back to me.

In a world where it can be easy to move quickly from one thing to the next, these moments reminded me how powerful it is to simply slow down and be present with others. This made me realize that a lot of the time, we forget to reciprocate the kindness that is shown to us. But when we choose to pass it forward, our relationships, experiences, and even our world become more positive!

Beyond just conversations, these FFA members were always willing to do the simple acts of kindness. They held the door for the person behind them, helped someone pick up something they had dropped, checked in on each other, encouraged one another in their CDE/LDE contests, and even made sure to ask me how I was enjoying my time in their state. Although I was 3,000 miles from home, I felt like I truly belonged, and it was all because of the kindness I was shown. By slowing down to help and show kindness to others, these FFA members created an incredible environment. It takes thirty seconds to hold the door for someone else, but how many times have we skipped that small act of kindness because we were moving too fast?

As I reflect on this experience, I’m challenged to carry that same intentionality into my everyday life; to be more present, to ask one more question, and to take those extra few seconds to show kindness.

What places in our lives can we slow down and pass that kindness forward? Because even a little bit of kindness can make all the difference!

Passing it forward,

Kaitlyn Maruszewski

2025–2026 Indiana FFA State President

Plantin’ Season

As spring starts to get a little bit closer, I’m starting to feel that familiar itch that most farmers do around this time. I feel the itch of planting season. I am ready to get out in the field and plant and see new life grow. Honestly, I am ready to do anything outside. The planting season is the start of something new. But as much as I am ready to start planting, there are a few things that every farmer has to do before they are ready to get out in the field and plant. Before anything, you have to go out in the field and clear the field. Throughout the winter, whether because of snow or storms, there are a lot of limbs and sticks that end up in the field. First order of business is to get all the sticks out so the equipment doesn’t get broken and you can get as many seeds as you can into the ground. Sometimes you also have to pick up rocks out of the field. After you clear the field, you then have to prepare it. Some farmers like to till the ground and make sure to get all the ruts out from harvest. Or to better prepare the soil that way the seed grows better. Either way you have to make sure that the soil and the field are ready. Picture: Braden Bailey, Jennings County FFA, tilling a field. Next you have to prepare the equipment. I mean the planter has probably been sitting since last year during planting. You have to grease it up and change some parts. Maybe the disc needs to be changed or the planer boxes. If your equipment isn’t ready, then you’re not ready to plant. Or if you don’t fix what broke last, planting might not go as smoothly as you planned. Picture: Dawson Baker, Switzerland County FFA, fixing a tractor Now you’re ready to pick up the seed. Some might argue this is the most important step because if you don’t have seed, then you’re not going to plant anything. When ordering seed, you have to make sure that you order enough but you don’t want too much because it’ll go to waste if you don’t use it. You have to take into count how many fields you are going to plant in either corn or beans. Then you have to know how much seed your planter puts out. And you might want to order a little extra just in case you have to replant. Picture: North Decatur FFA at a seed dealer. Once you have ALL of this done and the weather is just right, you are ready to plant! All of your hard work in preparing has come to fruition and you finally get to put the seed in the ground.  Picture: Andy Vogel, Jennings County FFA, planting a field. You might be wondering how this applies to me. I’m not a farmer and I don’t need to know any of this. Well, it is the same way in life. The school year is almost over and summer is on the horizon. Some might be getting ready for college while others have a couple more years of high school. Maybe you’re getting ready for an FFA contest or you’re ready for a summer job. All these steps in planting apply to whatever chapter of life you’re in. Wherever you are ready to go, first make sure that it is right for you. Just because it seems right on the outside doesn’t mean it is. Go out into the “field” and make sure it meets everything you need. If it’s college, go visit the college and make sure you like campus as well as the classes they have to offer. If you are looking at a new FFA contest, make sure it’s something you are interested in. Or if you’re just ready for summer, coming up with the perfect summer plan. Prepare the equipment. Now that you’ve made sure the “field” is right for you, you prepare. Whatever is going to be your mode of transportation, make sure it is ready. For college, it might be getting registered for classes and finding a roommate. For an FFA contest, it would be going to practice. For summer, double checking that you can actually do whatever your perfect summer plan was. Picking up seed. This is where it starts to get more real. For the FFA contest, it would be getting all the materials needed and continuing to learn all that you can. For summer, it would be reaching out to friends and buying new summer clothes or seeing when the pool opens. For college, it would be buying things for your dorm and school supplies. This is the meat and potatoes of what your next season is going to look like. Planting! You are now ready to do it! You have everything you could possibly need to be successful in this next season!  Whatever season you are in or whatever chapter you are ready for next, make sure that you are ready to plant! Waiting for the next season, Lily Sloan 2025-2026 Indiana FFA State Treasurer