12. Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Of all the videos I have posted, this one is my absolute favorite. If my jacket could talk, where would it say it has been? Well, for starters it would say, Indianapolis, Indiana. Manhattan, Kansas. District Banquet. Chapter Banquet. CDE's. And much much more! Oh, The Places You'll Go!!!!

I remember reading the Dr. Seuss book, Oh,  The Places You'll Go! when I was young and I read it

again for class recently. I think this book applies to the FFA as well. My favorite part is, "You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don't, because, sometimes, you won't."

If you've got a passion, follow it. If you've got a dream, chase it. I followed my passion and chased my dreams through this organization and bettered myself, my future, and my career. The opportunities are truly endless with this organization!

11. They Both Wear the Blue Jacket

After listening to several National FFA Officer Team members make their retiring address, the one that made the biggest impact on me was Joenelle Futurell's address made at the 86th annual National

Convention and Expo. Joenelle talked about the importance of letting your light shine and how letting your light shine on someone in a dark place can change their whole life. She also made it clear that is is FFA members are capable of letting their light shine through this great organization by taking advantage of the endless opportunities they are given. Joenelle said, "When you let your light shine you unconsciously give others permission to do the same." I couldn't agree more. For example, when you let your light shine during a livestock judging contest by ranking among the top placing individuals in the contest, you give permission for the rest of your team to do the same.

The part of her speech that I liked the most was towards the end when she answered the question why is FFA so special, why should i join it? She painted a clear picture of why it is important and summed it up better than I ever could. Joenelle said, "An answer to a question I have been asked by hundreds of parents, members, and supporters alike- what is it that makes FFA so neat and so special that I should join it or support it over any other organization? Simply put, what is it that makes FFA great? My simple answer, we can take any member from anywhere, any day, and give them the opportunity to let their light shine. The valedictorian, the special needs student, they both wear the blue jacket. The quarter back, the one who didn't make the team, they both wear the blue jacket."

I couldn't have said it better myself, we ALL wear the blue jacket. When we put that jacket on and come together for certain cause or event it is a feeling unlike any other. Being surround by members with a common purpose, a common goal, and a desire to succeed is what makes FFA great. Right now you can find thousands of blue jackets and bright futures in Louisville, Kentucky attending the National FFA Convention and Expo. A fun fact about those members, only 27% live in rural farm areas.

10. I Believe in the Future of Agriculture

25 years ago FFA membership was facing a steep decline. With the number of active members declining some were worried about the future of agriculture and agricultural education classes. Where would we be with out agriculture? How would you survived without agriculture? Now, I'm not saying that FFA members are the only people with the potential to carry on the legacy of the agriculture industry, but they are a large part of it. Many people were wondering if these Ag Ed classes were still relevant. Do the kids like what they are learning? Are they learning useful information? How can we get them more involved? One way was to start promoting the organization. They needed to show the kids how this organization can benefit them and what it has to offer. From my own experiences, I have found that a large number of people don't fully understand what the FFA does and why it is so valuable to its members. Most people from the outside looking in think it is just livestock judging contest, or studying horticulture and trying to figure out how to get the best crops off of your land. Although, you can learn all of those things in an agricultural education class, that is not all the organization has to offer. 

I can tell you I learned more in ten minutes talking to my advisor about anything under the sun, from agriculture, to college, to fundraisers, than I did spending hours in classes that didn't strike my interest. FFA Advisors have big shoes to fill and they all have a basic knowledge about anything and everything, they know all the ins and outs of the agriculture industry. They are there to share their knowledge and help you be successful. They have impressive leadership skills, they can public speak like there's no tomorrow, they are trustworthy, and they are dedicated to your education and bettering you. They know potential when they see it, from selecting a bull that will be most beneficial to their herd, to selecting a student that they know would be great at public speaking. 

So now the question is, what can we do to ensure the FFA membership doesn't face another decline? Within the next ten years a lot of FFA Advisors are going to be retiring and the new generation of agriculture is going to be taking over. How are we going to make sure the membership counts stay up? I don't have all the answers to those questions, however, spreading the word and showing the true colors of this organization is going to help kids get involved. I'm just one person, but together we could change the world. I believe in the future of agriculture. Do you?

9. It Gives Back

After hearing about all of the cool things FFA can teach you to better yourself and your career, I thought I would tell you how this organization gives back to you. First, did you know the FFA Organization gives out approximately $2 million dollars in scholarship money each year? A few of the sponsors of these scholarships include, AGCO Dealers, John Deere, RAM Trucks, Firestone Dealers, and Ford Dealers. I was lucky enough to receive a Built Ford Tough scholarship sponsored by Zeck Ford out of Leavenworth, Kansas. On top of receiving the scholarship I got to walk across the stage at the 86^th annual Kansas FFA Convention to receive a certificate,  and meet the owners of Zeck Ford who presented me with a plaque. My scholarship helped make it possible for me to come to Washburn University.

On top of scholarship opportunities, my junior year of high school I received my State FFA Degree. Basically throughout your FFA years you can earn different degrees. In the order of, Discovery Degree, Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degree, State Degree, and American Degree. The Discovery, Greenhand, and Chapter Degrees are all recognized within your chapter at chapter banquets. The State Degree is recognized by the State FFA Association, they choose the top members from the state and present them with the State Degree. To receive the American Degree, you have to be recognized by the National FFA Association and selected from your state.

Besides getting the opportunity to walk across the state at your state FFA convention why are these degrees important? Receiving you State Degree opens many doors for yourself and your schooling. Including my State Degree on scholarship applications, college applications, and job applications, increases my chances of getting into that school or getting that job. Why? Because receiving your State Degree means you are driven to succeed, you enjoy giving back to your community, you are hard-working, and you are successful. Does that mean I got accepted to that school, or got that job solely because of my State Degree? Absolutely not, but it does put the odds in your favor. Giving your all to this organization does pay off, it gives back and helps further your education.

8. Welcome to the Farm

I have tried to make it clear that FFA is more than just livestock and farm living. But it is important to remember that farmers feed the world, they work hard so we don’t have to. Farmers don’t get to call-in in the winter after a bad snow or rain storm, I promise they are up first thing in the morning

checking their livestock and equipment. They have to make sure their livestock is in good shape, make sure they survived the harsh weather, and break ice so they can get water, among all the other daily chores. It’s just another day at the office for them. Coming from a small rural town it is common to see people out checking their herd after a snow storm, it’s common to hear the equipment being moved down to the next field for harvest, and it is extremely common to get stuck behind a tractor for several miles on your way to town.

Knowing all the tasks farmers are responsible for on a daily basis, I wanted to know what makes them wake up every day and love what they do. What keeps them motivated after a long harvest season? Why do they love farming? I asked a couple farmers from home and these are some of the answers I received: One said “Being a part of one of the largest employing jobs in the country and knowing I am helping to feed the world is what keeps me going every day.” Another said, “Being in the great outdoors, knowing I am feeding a growing world’s population is rewarding in itself. When I am driving that tractor across the hay field

on a hot summer’s day there is nothing else I’d rather be doing.” For the younger generation I asked another question. I wanted to know how growing up on a farm either with livestock or crops has helped them become a better person? I got some really awesome responses with this one. One said, “It has shown me responsibility and how to work hard as well as how to care for something and have a passion for it.” Another said, “It taught me the value of hard work, not everything is going to come easy but I would not want it any other way.”

As you can see, growing up with an agricultural background benefits the younger generations in many ways, teaching them valuable life lessons that they will use for the rest of their lives, such as, hard work, responsibility, and determination. Farming might not be a career path for everyone but the farmers that I spoke with would not have it any other way. Being part of the great outdoors, feeding the nation, and teaching the younger generation, is all in a hard day’s work for these guys. 

7. Past, Present, & Future

What do you see when you look at the FFA emblem? Do you see anything? I see the future of agriculture, the past, present, and future, all in one place. Each symbol is equally important and they all serve a purpose. The most recognizable symbol for the FFA Organization is the FFA emblem. It was created as a symbol of vocational agriculture two years before the organization was formed. The emblem contains five symbols that stand for the history, beliefs, goals, and future of the organization. So can you name all five symbols on the emblem?

Cross section of corn:

The “circle” that houses all of the symbols is actually a cross section of corn. The corn symbolizes unity because corn is grown in every state in the nation.

Rising sun:

The rising sun symbolizes progress and opportunity, it is located behind the owl in the center of the emblem.

Plow:

The plow is the symbol of labor and tillage of the soil without labor neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much. The plow symbolizes the foundation of our country’s strength. The plow is located in the center of the emblem.

Eagle:

The eagle symbolizes freedom and ability to explore new horizons for the future of agriculture. The eagle is at the top of the emblem.

Owl:

The owl is the symbol of knowledge and wisdom that is required to be successful in agriculture. The owl is sitting on top of the plow. 

6. It's Harvest Time!

 Fall is officially here! Chilly weather, football games, pumpkin spice everything, and the leaves changing colors are just a few of the reasons why I love this season! Fall also marks the beginning of a busy season for many FFA members. There are several members from the Tonganoxie FFA 

Chapter who are helping with harvest right now. Harvesting corn means spending long nights in the corn field, then waking up early for school, just do to it all again the next day. The dedication and work ethic these kids have never fails to amaze me. FFA members are among the hardest working kids in the community and often times their work goes unrecognized.

Besides harvest, preparing for Halloween and getting ready to help with a Safe Trick-or-Treat at the Tonganoxie Elementary School is another task they are working on. Members volunteer their time to dress up in costumes and hand out candy in the hallways of the elementary school. It is a great way to get your kids’ fix of Halloween candy while staying warm and having a good time. Another event the members will be participating in is FFA Night at Culvers. Culvers is a big sponsor of the FFA, last year they donated money to help our chapter with National Convention Funds. In the evening, on October 14^th from 5-9pm you can find members from the Tonganoxie FFA Chapter serving at Culvers at the Legends in Kansas City.

Besides a few judging contests this month the main focus of the chapter and FFA chapters across the country is last minute National Convention planning and preparation. The trip is approaching quickly for the members and lots of excitement is boiling. With all of these exciting events the members are working on, keeping up on their school work, maintaining their jobs outside of school, and enjoying high school, these kids are extremely busy. Harvest is taking up a lot of time but FFA members and farmers across the country but are doing their part to help feed the world. These kids are dedicated, determined, and ready to work!

Here's a good look at the corn harvest process

5. Life Lessons

As I have said before, the FFA Organization isn’t all about farmers, ranchers, etc. However, it does support the agriculture industry. As a former member I learned the importance of giving back to the community, giving back those less fortunate, and lending a helping hand whenever possible. As a kid, I remember my parents volunteering my siblings and I to go help my grandparents clean their fish

pond, help grandpa with his landscaping, or anything else they might need. My parents still do that today, they volunteer my brother and sister and I to go help out whenever we can. As a kid I hated that, who wants to go help with a landscaping project on a hot summer day? Not this girl. Or help dad build fence for my horses, I mean, they’re my horses but building fence was not my cup of tea.

As I got older and started my FFA career I realized my advisor started volunteering members to go help out in the community or around school. That was when I realized the character traits and qualities my advisor and my parents were trying to instill in us. They weren’t volunteering us to do all of these things to be mean, they were doing it to teach us that helping others and giving back to the people in need is more important than focusing on ourselves. I can’t count the number of times my grandparents have come to watch and support me, from birthday dinners, market lamb shows, National Honors Society banquets, graduation, to coming to see a new horse my parents bought me, my grandparents have done it all. Giving back to those who have bent over backwards for me is something I should want to do, not be forced to do, that what my parents wanted me to learn.

When I finally realized the lesson my parents and my advisor were trying to teach me it put all of those little tasks in a new perspective. Being an FFA member means, lending a helping hand, being respectful, working hard, being a leader, and doing what is right even when no one is watching. Being a good citizen requires all those things as well. My advisor was teaching me many life lessons about being a good FFA member and a strong leader. My parents were doing the same thing but teaching me to be a good person who can stand on my own two feet. My parents expected a lot of us kids when we were growing up, I’m sure I thought they were being mean somewhere along the lines but the reality of it is, they were teaching me that there are more important things in life than what is going on inside of my little world.

Now that I am older and a college student living on my own I 

completely understand why my advisor and my parents held

me to such a high standard and had high expectations for me. All of my achievements and character traits that I now have, help me in life every day and all of those traits came from my parents, grandparents, and my advisor, making me do things I did not always want to do. If you don’t want to be a farmer or a rancher that’s fine, but being a good citizen is something we should all work towards and FFA will help you do that. Being a good FFA member and citizen is about leadership, it's not a position or a title, it's an action and an example.

4. From Corn Fields to Congress

"There are two things that make goose bumps go up and down my back: one is Old Glory flying over the nation's capitol when I walk by it at night, and the other is when I see FFA members in their blue jackets. I get an emotional feeling because FFA lifted me out of the depths of poverty and personal problems to the halls of Congress." -Wes Watkins, former U.S. congressman from Oklahoma and former president of the Oklahoma FFA Associaton

This is one of my favorite quotes that I often refer to. FFA members are also familiar with the saying “Blue jackets, bright futures.” I think I have made it clear in my previous posts that FFA has made a positive impact on my life and my future, it makes me happy to see how it has had the same effect on other former members. As I said before, the FFA Organization has so much more to offer than just “farm life.” The FFA Organization helped make a former congressman who he is today, the hard work these past, present, and future members put in truly pays off. If you give your all to this organization, it will return the favor for the rest of your life!

How does FFA benefit a congressman? Well, as I mentioned before there are many public speaking contests members are able to compete in throughout their FFA years. 

Speaking in front of a crowd ranging from three people to hundreds of people helps you step out of your comfort zone, it gives you stage presence, and offers constructive criticism to help better yourself in the future. Parliamentary Procedure is another contest event offered by the FFA Organization, I personally love this contest, it helps teach members how to effectively and professionally communicate ideas during a meeting. Another important and valuable contest is the Job Interview contest. Members compete and test their skills and abilities in the job interview process, they compete in over the phone, one-on-one, and panel job interviews. The learning experience, and countless opportunities to better yourself in any of these contests is probably the best part about them. The judges not only tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are but they offer tons of advice and tips to better yourself. As I discussed before, it’s not all plows, sows, and cows. From the corn field to the halls of congress, this program is designed to benefit everyone, no matter the path you take. 

3. Go All Out!

The countdown has begun! 36 days until the 87th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo kicks off in Louisville, Kentucky! I am proud to say that my former advisor along with 12 lucky members from the Tonganoxie FFA Chapter will be in attendance! The theme for this year’s convention is "Go All Out!" Go all out is exactly what these 12 members have done. Going all out means attending as

many judging contests as you can, attending all of the fundraisers and activities the chapter puts on, and going above and beyond to help out when needed. So why is it such a privilege to attend National Convention? You, along with 60,000 FFA members from across the country will be in one city for four days competing in career development events, attending speeches, leadership workshops, educational tours, honoring members with awards and certificates, and celebrating the past, present, and future of agriculture!

I was lucky enough to attend National Convention twice, my sophomore and junior year of high school but Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana at the time. (The location changes every seven years.) No matter the location it is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, of courses you can

watch it on T.V. but seeing it live in person is truly amazing! Being among a sea of those blue corduroy jackets is a feeling unlike any other. Just don’t lose your group because there are 60,000 of you all dressed the same. But if you do get lost, you are not alone, with 60,000 members sharing the same love for the organization as you do, you can strike up a conversation with just about anyone!

As much fun as National Convention is, there is a lot of hard work and planning that goes into the trip months before you can go. The Tonganoxie FFA Chapter officer team meets pretty regularly in the months leading up to National Convention. They are in charge of planning the tours, scheduling the whole week, figuring out the driving time, booking a hotel, ordering concert tickets, the whole nine yards! This year one of the big highlights the kids are talking about is touring

Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby! How cool is that?!  Justin Moore with Easton Corbin are in concert Wednesday night and Scotty McCreery with Danielle Bradbury are in concert Thursday night.

Attending the National FFA Convention is one of the highlights of my FFA career, and I’m sure many other members would say the same. The friends and memories you make along the way last a life time. In fact, my first day of class at Washburn University I sat by a girl and we got to talking, turns out we met at National Convention two years ago. Approximately 36 days from now you can expect a blog about the kids’ journey to National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky! Until next time, remember Go All Out!

Check out some of the Career Development Events (Judging Contests) FFA members can participate in at National Convention.

2. It's more than Cows, Sows, & Plows

Speaking from my personal experiences in High School, I have found that the majority of the kids who are not active in FFA think it is only for kids who show livestock, or work on farms. They think  they can’t be in FFA because they don’t fall into either of those categories. However, that is not the case. As Joe Martin from Indiana FFA Chapter said “The organization has grown to be more than cows, sows, and plows; the modern FFA is about beakers, speakers, and job seekers.” Talk about hitting the nail on the head, he could not have summed up the FFA Organization any better.

Kids who participate in FFA have the option to learn about livestock and judge them at contests, they can compete in public speaking events, leadership workshops, community service projects, and the sky is truly the limit for these kids.

I was blessed to have grown up around agriculture all my life. Living in a small rural town in Kansas has taught me more about life and who I am as a person then the city could ever teach me. FFA was a pretty big deal in my high school, we have a decent sized chapter, and our advisor worked hard to make sure we were successful. The opportunities we were given have helped me get jobs, get into college, get scholarships, and even internships.

I love public speaking, I’m surprisingly pretty good at it. That has not always been the case, my freshman year of high school my FFA advisor informed us that we had a public speaking contest coming up, of course I wasn’t going to go. The thought of speaking in front of people terrified me, but my advisor signed me up and made me go. That was the day I discovered my hidden talent so to speak. The point I am trying to make is, the opportunities are endless for these kids. My public speaking skills will help me throughout my life, I am comfortable in front of large audiences, and with the career path I have chosen speaking in front of people will be a daily task for me. If it wasn’t for my advisor pushing me to try something new and step outside of my comfort zone I never would have tried public speaking and I would not be where I am today. Until next time, remember it's more than cows, sows, and plows.

1. Are You Blue Enough?

Often times you will hear a K-State Wildcat fan say "I bleed purple." Do they literally bleed purple? Of course not. But figuratively the love and support they have for their team is so strong it runs through their blood. FFA members are no different, we are familiar with the saying “Forever Blue.” Forever Blue refers to the blue corduroy jacket worn by FFA members everywhere, the jacket is a piece of the Official Dress which members are required to wear. The pride a member feels when wearing this jacket is indescribable, it is a feeling unlike any other. The jacket is an everyday reminder of the friendships you made, opportunities you were given, leadership skills you developed, knowledge you gained, and ultimately it symbolizes your success.

As I spent many years as a member of the FFA I discovered that there are only a hand full of people who fully understand what the FFA Organization does and what it stands for. Often time’s people are too quick to judge the organization, they think it is only for farmers and kids that raise livestock, however, that is the farthest thing from the truth. Of course the FFA Organization does promote the

agriculture industry but it also goes way beyond agriculture to help you grow as a person. The motto: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve” really sets the tone for the organization and what it means to be a member. As a member you will gain knowledge to help accomplish things you never thought would be possible, you will be assigned tasks that aren’t always easy but designed to teach you a valuable lesson, and you are living to give back to your community. Living by this motto is beneficial to better yourself, your community, and the people who surround you.

My purpose for writing this blog is to give my readers an inside look at the FFA Organization and some of the opportunities members are given. Promoting agriculture is a great thing, after all, farmers feed the world. But promoting the FFA and the opportunities you will be given as a member is another extremely important task. Once you join the FFA Organization, you will be Forever Blue. As many present and past members will say, once you put on the jacket for the first time it never really comes off. So my question to you is, are you blue enough?