Memories

Now that everyone has returned back to school, work and our regular routines we begin to look back on our holiday break. There is no better feeling than being home with your family and friends for the holidays. Talking, telling stories and creating new memories are on the agenda for every family and friend gathering. My holiday break was a fun and exciting one that I do not take for granted. I hope you all don't take your breaks for granted either. My teammates and I did not let any opportunities pass us by upon returning to the FFA Leadership Center. We have been waiting all year for a big enough snow to fall so we could all go sledding down the dam. Over our break we got the snow we had all longed for. We all began piling on layers of socks, pants and coats, tied our snow boots and began the trek over to the dam with sleds in our arms. We all had a blast sledding down the dam even though there were a few close calls with some trees and the creek, it was all still worth the long wait. We created new memories as a team that I will never forget. I hope you all had similar experiences over your holiday break!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

Indiana FFA Paying it Forward!!!

Living to serve....My teammates and I were able to live up to the FFA Motto by serving meals to the less fortunate at the Wheeler Mission this past Monday afternoon for 2 hours. We all really enjoyed giving back to the community and helping others during the holiday season. It really made us think about and appreciate what we have and how easy it can be taken away. I challenge you all to "Pay it Forward" whether at school, home, church, or somewhere in your community. You will never know how much you can make an IMPACT in the lives of someone else.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

Living to Serve.....

Learning to do, Doing to learn, Earning to live, Living to Serve. That's the FFA motto that FFA members follow, Especially the Shenandoah FFA Chapter. This Past Sunday the seven FFA State Officers were invited by the chapter to help put on the Snug Harbor Christmas Party. It was a Christmas party for about 130 special people in the community to enjoy a meal and meet and receive presents from Santa! The Walker County Band even played Christmas songs to enjoy during the meal. The members and officers organized the event, served the food, and helped pass out the gifts doing all of this with a smile on their face. We had made an impact on the lives of those people and the community. The State Officers then made our way to the Hickey's to enjoy some amazing food, fellowship, and presents! It is days like these I will remember for the rest of my life....

For the past two and a half weeks the state officers have been traveling around the state on their Business and Industry Visit Tour. The team has thoroughly enjoyed visiting our partners and learning more about the agriculture industry! This tour would not have been possible without our sponsor of this year's Goodwill Visits, Ice Miller. A huge thank you goes out to them for such a generous and growing partnership! Beth Bechdol, an Ice Miller employee, even joined us on our visit to Indiana Packers of Delphi, Indiana. We truly appreciate our sponsors. Words cannot describe how much their partnership means to our organization! Their support provides FFA members across the state with endless opportunities and enables the Indiana FFA and its members to grow, learn, and experience success.

The Indiana FFA State Officers with Sikich and Ice Miller at an Agribusiness update!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

We were going to see SANTA! The excitement inside of me was pumping. After I realized I would not actually be able to see the jolly man himself, we still took time to enjoy all of the wonderful Christmas decorations and wonderful atmosphere.  While being on business and industry visits we have had the opportunity to visit many different agriculture businesses. I soon realized how many businesses had the same values and morals and how those played a factor in their company. It was also extremely exciting for me to see all of the different decorations in each business. Christmas is very near. Make sure you take time to remember the true meaning of Christmas and spend your Christmas with the ones that you love most!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

Showing Thanks Through Service

The FIRE conference 2012 was a great success! FFA members in attendance entered the Magical Kingdom and learned more about themselves and opportunities available to them in the future. FIRE was a blast, a special thank you to the members and advisors for making the weekend an enjoyable one. At FIRE FFA members had the opportunity to partake in a service project. FFA members made Christmas cards for troops who would be deployed over the holiday season. These cards allowed Indiana FFA members to not only wish the troops a Merry Christmas, but also thank them for all they do. About 500 cards were sent to Troops Missions in Lexington, Kentucky to be put in holiday care packages. Thank you to all those who participated! Giving thanks through service did not stop with the Christmas cards though. The State Officers and some of the Indiana FFA State Staff had the opportunity to attend Trees for Troops at Dull's Tree Farm in Thorntown, IN. Here Fedex, FFA, and various volunteers packaged 300 Christmas trees along with ornaments that would be sent to troops overseas. The event was an experience that I will never forget. There is no better way of giving thanks during the Thanksgiving season than by doing it through service! The FFA wishes everyone a good Thanksgiving and safe travels!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

The Nationals FFA Organization has teamed up with Kids Against Hunger to package over a million meals! On November 13, the Indiana FFA State Officers were joined with ten other chapters around the state and local community supporters to begin the packaging! In just two hours, with the combined help, we packaged over 200,000 meals! It was such a great feeling to be able to reach out to our community. Indiana FFA has taken action and is helping families around the world, as well as around the corner!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture