Agriculture Day at the State House

After months of anticipation, we zipped up our jackets, loaded up our cars and walked up the limestone steps of the State House. Gov. Mitch Daniels proclaimed March as Indiana Agriculture Appreciation Month, and stakeholders of FFA and Indiana Agriculture attended a celebration Monday, March 7th to kick of this month of appreciation.

From conversing with legislators, lobbyists and agricultural businesspeople, to remarks from Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, the day was full of educational opportunities and fuel for the passion of all agriculturists in attendance.

Thank you to everyone who made this day possible. Whether you were able to enjoy fellowship with us in downtown Indy or not, we appreciate everything you have done. We look forward to hearing your stories, seeing your impact and making our agricultural industry better than ever.

Keep a look out on Facebook, Twitter and ISDA for updates on Indiana Agriculture Appreciation Month!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

The Life and Times of Morgan Dawson during FFA week!

FFA Week – the best week-long holiday of the YEAR! This week, I am spending my time in the southwest corner of Indiana – District X! I took off on Monday morning with no idea of how much fun I was going to have and how much I was going to be impacted by the members and types of celebrations I have ran into!

Monday, February 21^st:  Tecumseh FFA, Lynnville, IN – What a celebration they have going on there this week! I was able to present to about half of their Chapter during homeroom time after enjoying some pizza with them! We discussed opportunities – whether those be in FFA, in school, in our churches, and in our communities – that are available to us and just waiting for us to take! Our three points were being aware, knowing what’s available, and then taking action! Members were so willing and ready to get FFA Week rolling, and it was evident during the presentation! Their hospitality was incredible – they were so kind as to give me a Chapter t-shirt and a jar of honey! While I thought my week couldn’t get any better from there, I soon discovered I was wrong!

Tuesday, February 22^nd:  Mt. Vernon @ Mt. Vernon FFA, Mt. Vernon, IN – Since I have become close with many of their members this year, I was very excited to visit their Chapter for the first time and during FFA Week! We enjoyed the same opportunities presentation as well as cupcakes for their Mr. Reese’s birthday, who is the Chapter Advisor! I also was introduced to their principal, who is a huge supporter of FFA! To promote FFA Week to their entire school, they decorated a display case with signs and other décor promoting “Infinite Potential,” which is our State theme this year and had a GIGANTIC sign attached to a wooden frame that had the dates of FFA Week and the theme on it! After presenting to the Chapter, two members and I went to the Mt. Vernon Kiwanis Meeting and Luncheon.  It was held at their Country Club and had all of the Kiwanis members there along with their “farmer” friends! I was honored and privileged to speak to the group about the future of agriculture, hitting on the points of youth, education, and technology! What a great time it was! Thank you, Mt. Vernon @ Mt. Vernon FFA, for a great morning and afternoon!

After visiting Mt. Vernon, I made my way over to the District X Dodge Ball Tournament held at Heritage Hills High School! District X is known for having many different kinds of sports tournaments between the Chapters in the District.  This dodge ball tournament had 17 teams, and Tecumseh FFA came out on top! It was wonderful to see members having fun and practicing healthy competition! Congrats to all who participated and enjoyed themselves!

Wednesday, February 23^rd:  Gibson Southern FFA:  It was quite the sight going into Gibson Southern High School and seeing students in Official Dress – EVERYWHERE! I was so blessed to present to two wonderful classes who were not afraid to show what they are made of and do anything asked of them! Even though many of them were anxious and nervous about the District X Chapter Meeting that was going to be held later that evening, they still gave it their all! Congrats to Gibson Southern FFA for placing first in both the Novice and Senior Chapter Meeting CDE last night and advancing to the Section Contest in April!

Perry Central FFA: Children and farm animals = HILARIOUS! The Perry Central FFA held their annual Petting Zoo yesterday in their ag. shop for all preschool and elementary students to come visit every fifteen minutes! Some of the animals the children enjoyed were two dogs, llamas, sheep, cows, pigs, ducks, chickens, and a turkey! They students did a great job exhibiting the animals to the youngsters and letting them have a great time! After school, they had their first ever After School Bash, which turned out to be a great success! They grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and had a cornhole tournament! My partner and I won our first game, but then had to play advisor, Mr. Springer, and his partner! Needless to say, we lost after Mr. Springer put all four cornhole bags in the hole on one turn! Thank you, Perry Central FFA, for allowing me to truly celebrate FFA Week with you!

District X Chapter Meeting:  Parliamentary Procedure…a very scary thought to many! Last night, District X faced any fears of parli. they may have had and competed in the infamous Chapter Meeting CDE held at Boonville High School! In the Senior Division, Gibson Southern FFA finished first, followed by North Posey FFA, and then Mt. Vernon @ Mt. Vernon FFA for second and third! Gibson Southern FFA also took first in the Novice Division with North Posey coming in second place! Congrats to all participants!

Thursday, February 24^th:  North Posey FFA:  One of my favorite things of State Office is all of GOOD FOOD we eat! After presenting to two classes this morning, my idea of “good food” was changed! Once again this year, North Posey FFA held their Pork Chop Lunch for all members, teachers, and a few others! The meal included a HUGE pork chop, a baked potato, cabbage, a roll, and drink! Never have I EVER had such a wonderful, delicious, melt-in-your-mouth pork chop…sorry, Mom! Ha! Thank you, North Posey FFA, for allowing me to be a part of your annual Pork Chop Lunch tradition!

While this week has flown and it’s already Thursday, it’s not going to slow down for me! Tonight, I am looking forward to attending the Posey County Farm Bureau Stockholders meeting, spending time with South Spencer FFA and Forest Park FFA tomorrow, and then wrapping it up with a steak dinner fundraiser for Give Hope held by Gibson Southern FFA on Saturday! I can only hope that everyone has had an FFA Week as wonderful as mine has been! While doing a lot of driving by myself, I have done much thinking about how FFA has impacted me and how I have no idea where I would without it…right now or in the future! So I ask you, what does FFA mean to you?! Think about it while enjoying the rest of the best week-long holiday there is, National FFA Week 2011!

FFA Week with Nellie

National FFA Week is in full swing and I am seeing blue corduroy in countless Facebook profile pictures. More importantly though, I am seeing the “Infinite Potential” in FFA chapters everywhere I go! On Tuesday I was excited to travel to my “Neck of the woods”, in District IX, and visit with members of the Hagerstown FFA, my home chapter. It was exciting to have the chance to spend some time with such driven FA members. Throughout my week, one chapter that sticks out in my mind is the STAR Academy FFA chapter. I visited this chapter today for their Middle School Ag. Day and I was completely impressed. The chapter officers presented an awesome session about removing the road blocks that keep us from being the best leaders that we can be. The day was filled with fun games, breakout groups, inspiring conversations, and a session filled with a challenging message. This chapter shines as they strive to invest in their students. 

Throughout the rest of the week, my teammates and I will me making the most of National FFA Week by visiting as many schools as we can throughout Indiana. Tomorrow I will be visiting the Central Nine Career Center and then heading down to Paoli, Indiana. On Friday, I will be presenting at the Paoli FFA chapter and visiting with the members. I will wrap up the week in Gibson County spending some time with the members of the Gibson Southern FFA chapter. I am very excited to have all of these opportunities to see some of the FFA chapters and members that make the Indiana FFA so great!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

Breakfast for the FFAmily

Saturday, February 26, the Mt. Vernon @ Fortville FFAmily hosted its third annual FFA Week Breakfast at the Mohawk United Methodist Church. The doors opened at 6:30 a.m. and community members filled the cafeteria until 10:30. FFA members and parents served biscuits and gravy, pancakes, fruit and pastries to their friends and neighbors, raising over $2,000 with free will donations.

It was incredible seeing these FFA members celebrate the bounty that agriculture brings with the folks they’ve grown up knowing, working alongside, and promoting agricultural education and leadership with. Micah and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the members and supporters, and feel so blessed that we were able to partake in such a great event.

As much as FFA promotes student development in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education, we witnessed first-hand the impact that community involvement has on individual members.

Mt. Vernon @ Fortville, thank you for allowing us the privilege of joining you this morning! It was an unforgettable experience we both will cherish forever!!!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

Queen of Hearts

Driving through the hills of Southern Indiana is a beautiful and scenic route especially when that route takes you to Switzerland County High School and the annual Queen of Hearts Contest hosted by Switzerland County FFA. Every year the Switzerland County FFA Chapter beautifies their school by allowing any young women in their school the opportunity to fill out an application and pay a twenty-five dollar entry fee to enter the contest.  Each contestant has a sponsor in the community and a platform.  The platforms are some kind of community service project ranging from awareness about child abuse, domestic violence, giving back to veterans, or fighting cancer.  Whichever young, talented woman is crowned Queen of Hearts will then promote her platform throughout the year with the help of the Switzerland County FFA Chapter. 

Every candidate goes through a three minute interview, models sportswear and an evening gown, and is judged on a response to a leadership quote.  On the day of the contest, all the ladies arrive a few hours early to go through the interview.  After the interviews, the ladies change into their evening gowns and the auditorium fills with spectators.  Each spectator pays a three dollar entrance fee, which along with the twenty-five dollar entry fee each young woman pays, goes toward the Special Olympics in the local area.  The Switzerland County FFA Chapter Advisor, Mr. Curlin who also serves as the NAAE President, commented on how proud he was of his school.  The Queen of Hearts Contest has been going on now for 18 years.  Some of the past Queen of Hearts's platforms have even turned into annual traditions, such as the canned food drive which supports the local food pantry. 

This year's Queen of Hearts was the FFA Chapter President, Andrea, whose platform is to stop texting and driving in both teenagers and adults.  After learning the history of the contest and the impact the platforms make every year it is easy to see that Switzerland County and their FFA Chapter are beautiful inside and out!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

National FFA Week spent with future FFA members!

Untied shoe laces, stuffy noses, wondering eyes, and a willingness to learn!

One of my days during National FFA Week was spent with future FFA members.  Wednesday at Prairie Heights High School, I spent the day with Kindergartners, First, Second, and Third Graders.  Besides tying shoelaces and a small misfortune of throw-up, my morning was spent talking to the students about FFA.  Along with two members we explained the different levels within the FFA, which include: Chapters, Districts, Sections, State, and National.  We showed them the memorable blue jacket and a scrapbook of many FFA activities and events.  After lunch I traveled to every rotation taking pictures and listening to the high school members teach about the farm animals on the school farm, the aquaponics lab in the greenhouse, ag. safety in the shop, the importance of GPS systems, and sharing with them the use of farm equipment.

The kids were always excited to learn about the steer and calf, they discovered how much quicker they grow than humans and what they are fed each day.  Ag. safety was put into action when the kids had to wear safety equipment while learning about the equipment used within the shop.  Recently the P.H. Chapter constructed an aquaponics lab.  Members explained to the elementary students the process of raising fish and using their waste to fertilize and grow plants.  When the students traveled to the greenhouse they practiced hose to use handheld compasses and read direction on a map.  After mastering this skill they tacked understanding how GPS technology is used within agriculture.  And the favorite of many was the tractor safety rotation.  The parking lot was filled with tractors of all shapes, sizes, and colors.  Each student got to see the equipment up close and personal by sitting inside and viewing the controls and technology within the cab.

Even though I have helped with Elementary Ag. Day the past four years at my home chapter, each year it amazes me how much the elementary students enjoy and learn from a short ten minutes at each station.  And Wednesday I was reminded the joy of watching the kids take in this "small" hands on experience.  Some have never seen a farm animal close, or even been around farm equipment.  I'm glad we have had the opportunity to share agriculture and FFA with them each year during National FFA Week!

A piece of National FFA Week with Micah Matlock

Over 523,000 FFA members are celebrating National FFA week this week! My teammates and I have spread out all across the state of Indiana visiting dozens of FFA chapters as we celebrate National FFA week.  Monday, my teammate, Morgan Gadd and I had the opportunity to travel with the North Miami FFA Chapter as they went on their annual ski trip.

Each year, FFA members from North Miami FFA Chapter have the opportunity to go on a ski trip if they have achieved a certain number of points based on the chapter's participation points system.  By 6:30a.m. Monday morning, we had loaded up the school bus, departed from North Miami High School, and were heading north to Bittersweet Slops in southern Michigan.  Despite the early hour, the FFA members carried a high level of enthusiasm and maintained that energy all day long while skiing on the slopes until we returned home at 10:30p.m.  The ski trip was an amazing and unique way to celebrate our very own National FFA week.

All across the country this week, FFA members will be celebrating the fact that we are the future business owners, scientists, government officials, engineers, and farmers of our great nation.  This year, the National FFA theme, as well as the Indiana FFA theme is "Infinite Potential" meaning each and every FFA member has what it takes to accomplish anything we want to do.  The future belongs to the FFA members, just as it has since 1928...and it always will!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture