Adventures in April

The 500,823 members in the National FFA Organization earn over 4 billion dollars from their experiences in the science, business, and technology of agriculture in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in preparation for the 17% of our country’s workforce involved in some aspect of agriculture. That’s quite a mouth-full, right? I had thought after being a FFA member for six years, I would begin to actually grasp all of the positive influence FFA has on students the more involved I have become. Seeing so many beneficiaries of FFA programs this past month, I am still in awe of the impact.

Finishing out at the University of Maine Presque Isle the end of March, I hopped on a plane for my first state FFA convention of the year. I arrived in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and during those seven days, I spoke to more than a dozen audiences ranging from 15 to 2,567 people. Those few days in, “The Volunteer State,” were some of the absolute best days thus far.

Following Tennessee, I was given the opportunity to stop at Crothersville High School in Crothersville, Indiana for their Chapter FFA Banquet with about 150 in attendance, and from there, my teammates and I reconvened in Indianapolis after weeks apart. Mark Reardon, professional speech trainer and high school principal, helped us learn more about our upcoming National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO). We will be traveling in pairs to different regions of the United States presenting these week-long conferences to state officer teams this summer.

After a short stint in Hoosier country, I moved on to my next big adventure in Twin Falls, Idaho. Their state FFA convention was another great week of meeting FFA members, speaking to and facilitating groups of all sizes and ages, and seeing other beautiful features of our nation. Upon completing my time with the 1,300 in Twin Falls, I spent a couple extra days in Idaho to sight see with a ranching family before returning home again for a great week of fun, family, and friends.

Just before my departure for my next state FFA convention, I visited the Prairie Heights FFA Chapter in LaGrange, Indiana to attend their banquet with about 65 others. Then, I was off to the cold, natural wilderness of Alaska. In Fairbanks and surrounding areas, I experienced the diverse food, fiber, feed, fuel, and natural resources these FFA members and professionals cultivate. Their convention was like most others, though very personal. In fact, when I departed after six days, every one of the 94 students gave me a hug as I said goodbye, and I addressed each by name. It was a neat experience I won’t soon forget.

A few long flights through the night got me to Minneapolis, Minnesota for my fourth state FFA convention this past month of April. I gave a keynote address about living out your beliefs to the convention body of 3,428 FFA members, agricultural educators, and guests. Upon the completion of my three-day stay in Minnesota, I embarked on another adventure to Washington, DC.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency sponsors an essay competition on managing risks in agriculture. Of the hundreds of submissions, ten students receive a four-day trip to our nation’s capitol. There, we met with some congressmen—including Senate Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell, toured the city, met with Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Shafer, and other USDA staff, and we even got to tour the White House with two former National FFA Officers—current White House employees. While in the White House, we looked out to the south lawn as Marine One arrived and President Bush stepped onto his helicopter for Missouri. Wow!