Indiana FFA is on FIRE…

Indiana FFA Members were ready and excited to kick off FIRE 2010… Opening Session started as the Members shouted DESTINATION EXCELLENCE and the music played as they ran through the doors. At that moment perfection had been reached. Members filled the Indiana FFA Leadership Center with excitement and enthusiasm for the weekend’s journey. 

The excitement not only carried on throughout the weekend, it increased! The first night members enjoyed opening session, a social (which included ice-cream), then a round of Wolf (a version of hide n’ seek) and we ended the night with reflections by Janna, Nellie, and Morgan Dawson. Each revealed an obstacle they had overcome.  

Saturday’s schedule was jam packed and we were ready to keep the members busy from breakfast until cabin checks. A big breakfast of pancakes was served and we traveled into Megan and Nellie’s Session dealing with Advocating Agriculture. Together they revealed the importance and the opportunity agriculture has within our communities, our nation, and our world.  My Personal Growth session with Janna gave the members’ time to think about their own personal journeys. Letting them write down what happened in their past, what is happening now as juniors and seniors and to think about their future goals and plans for the future.

Saturday continued outside where the members had a set challenging activities they had to solve and after they had to complete a series challenges on the ropes course.

Rain chased us inside for the remainder of Saturday. Morgan Gadd and Micah’s session was a continuation from outdoors over the importance of teamwork and trust in one another. We continued the evening with our Annual FIRE Banquet and Auction.  We closed out our busy day with a dance…FFA Style! Before cabin checks we ended the day with the remaining officer’s reflection.  Morgan Gadd, Micah, Megan, and I each shared our obstacles.

Sunday Morning was too short after cleaning up and packing to head home. The members came through those doors one last time.  Memories were shared, friends were made, and I Kelly Blackburn, Indiana FFA State Reporter was truly changed because of FIRE 2010! When the closing tradition/song closed out the session I knew we had reached DESTINATION EXCELLENCE!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

 

Destination Excellence

What does the number 9,400 mean to you? While that may just be a number to some, to myself and six other individuals living in Trafalgar, that number means so much more. In the Indiana FFA we are at approximately 9,400 FFA members state wide. So, to my teammates and I, 9,400 represents the Infinite Potential that the Indiana FFA has.

Serving this year as the Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice-President, I am blessed to be serving each and every one of those FFA members every single day! Throughout the year, we are presented with numerous opportunities to impact the FFA members throughout the state. One of the most exciting ways that we can make an impact is through our leadership conferences. After countless hours spent getting ready, the time is almost here for an action packed weekend. Filled with fun, excitement, agricultural education, and leadership training, our 2010 F.I.R.E. (Foundations In Reaching Excellence) Conference is finally here!!

My fellow teammates and I are excited to welcome nearly 200 FFA members to the Indiana FFA Leadership Center this weekend for an adventure to “Destination Excellence”. Throughout the weekend we will have everything from an ice cream social, personal growth session, agricultural literacy session, and we can’t forget the famous “Ultimate Challenge” filled with messy, fun, and fast paced team activities. Most importantly, this weekend will serve as a way for students to network with other FFA members across the state, learn valuable leadership skills, and develop and prepare themselves to become the future generation of leaders in the agricultural industry. Be sure to check out the blog next week to hear more about the F.I.R.E. Conference.

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

FFA State Officers Hit the Road Again!

After a weekend home with our families and friends, the Indiana FFA State Officers are hitting the highway again!  For a girl who is familiar to the central part of the state, I took a road trip to the south where there is still color in the leaves, believe it or not!  I was about 6 miles from the Kentucky state line.  I recently traveled to Lanesville High School on Wednesday November 3, 2010 for their annual Fall Banquet.  To start off the night the Lanesville FFA Officers opened the banquet with opening ceremonies.  We were then dismissed for dinner which consisted of a pot luck style dinner, which was delicious.  I spoke to the administrators, FFA members, parents, and supporters about the Importance of FFA.  I highlighted how I became involved in the FFA and how it became of importance to me.  I talked about the opportunities I encountered as well as what opportunities are available to members.  FFA members at Lanesville received their Discovery, Greenhand, and Chapter FFA Degrees as they have met the requirements needed to do so.  They are well on their way to receiving their next degree degree.  It was great to visit other chapters to see what they have accomplished as well as visit with so many supporters of the Lanesville FFA Chapter.  I cannot wait to visit more chapters throughout the state of Indiana in the upcoming months!

It’s Halloween time! In America, that usually consists of dressing up for trick-or-treating, classroom parties, and fall break for youngsters and teens!  At the Jay County FFA Chapter, it means something much different! Every year, they hold their Greenhand Initiation and Induction Ceremony around the time of Halloween! Along with this, they also have a pumpkin carving contest, which gets pretty competitive! Though I was not there last year, I was told that a member brought a motorized knife to carve his pumpkin – he was clearly in it to win it! 

Luckily I, along with Megan Klotz, Kelly Blackburn, and our new Program Specialist, Ms. Lindsey Calhoun were able to attend and join in on the celebration this year with Jay County FFA!   During the pumpkin carving contest,  we got to hang out and carve pumpkins with members as well as be the judges at the end! The creativity the members exhibited in carving their pumpkins was phenomenal! The first place pumpkin had the face of a pig with “FFA” coming out of its mouth! Another had a pirate symbol on the front with the word “ARRRRGRICULTURE” on the back! Combining my inexperience with carving pumpkins and my lack of creativity and imagination, mine simply had “FFA” on it! Ha! It was so cool to have fun while carving pumpkins and be able to share the positive message we are consistently striving to share…agriculture!

Along with enjoying fellowship with members, we also were given the opportunity to tour the Jay County Agricultural Department!  WOW! What a facility! With three agricultural education teachers, three classrooms, a computer lab, two shop areas, an animal and aquatic center, and an SAE study room, it is evident that they are supported and they are investing that support in the future of their students!  While we are hearing everyday that agricultural education and FFA is in danger due to budget cuts and lack of support, it is extremely encouraging to see programs like Jay County’s that are growing and prospering despite hard times!

It was once again a blessing to visit the Jay County FFA Chapter and just hang out with the advisors and members, which is definitely my favorite part of being an Indiana FFA State Officer! The enthusiasm and excitement for FFA that their Chapter Officers and younger members possessed was yet another reminder of how purely blessed I am to be in the position I am this year and why I thank God every day!

I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Halloween! I advise you to take the opportunity to share with a child how a pumpkin grows or what their candy or costume is made from! Share and spread the message of agriculture – whether it be with a trick or a treat!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

The 83rd National FFA Convention is officially underway in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana!  Over 50,000 proud FFA members in their blue jackets have taken over the city as they embark upon the many opportunities that the National FFA Convention has to offer them this year.  Life-long memories are being made and amazing experiences are being had by everyone attending the convention whether it's visiting the career show, attending each of the sessions run by this year's National FFA officers, competing in one of the many National FFA Career Development Events, congregating with other FFA members from all across America, or seeking out other opportunities that the greatest National Convention of any youth organization in America has to offer.  This year at the National Convention, FFA members are learning new ways to discover and unleash their "Infinite Potential."  My State Officer team and I have had the honor in participating in each of these endeavors as well as representing the great State of Indiana as Indiana's National Delegates.  Come check out the breath-taking "Infinite Potential" that is swarming downtown Indianapolis!

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture

Welcome to FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture! We are so excited you have taken the time to join us to learn how the agricultural industry makes an impact in YOUR life.

The youth of our agricultural industry is lead by many individuals, however we are lucky that seven of them, our Indiana FFA State Officers, are joining us on the website to share some of their experiences and hopes for agriculture. 

Morgan Dawson, is currently serving as the 2010-2011 Indiana FFA State President!  Hailing from the Scottsburg FFA Chapter in Scottsburg, Indiana, she is proud to be a southern gal, representing the beautiful southern Indiana land!  

Megan Klotz, your Indiana FFA Secretary is devoted to carrying out the Indiana FFA mission statement: to promote premier leadership, personal growth and career success during her year of service to the FFA and the agricultural industry.

Morgan Gadd, your Indiana FFA Northern Region Vice President, is a proud member of the Hamilton Southeastern FFA Chapter. With the support of her parents Sharek and Ra Gadd, she looks forward to connecting young agriculturists with their interests and opportunities.

Nellie Bell, your Indiana FFA Southern Region Vice President, who proudly hails from the Hagerstown FFA Chapter looks forward to helping the FFA members serve by offering their best talents and skills.

Janna Oxford, from Cloverdale, is currently serving as the Indiana FFA State Treasurer. She is very excited to be serving the more than 9,400 Indiana FFA members this year!

Kelly Blackburn, from the Prairie Heights FFA Chapter, is serving as the Indiana FFA State Reporter. She is ready to share her passion and love for Agriculture and the FFA to everyone she meets!

Micah Matlock, son of Marty and Robin Matlock, is a proud graduate of the Knightstown FFA. He is eager to help members of the Indiana FFA reach their Infinite Potential.

From FFA: Following the Future of Agriculture