Reconnecting

State Fair Set-Up and Partnership Visits

August 2, 2008

After returning from State Presidents’ Conference—still chanting, “Em-em-em-empower, em-em-em-empower…” all the way back, I arrived at the Indiana State Fairgrounds to help with our 25,000 square foot FFA Pavilion. The Indiana State FFA Officers, state staff and hundreds of FFA members have been working hard to get our largest annual public relations event created and ready to educate adults and children alike. I also traveled to New Jersey and Pennsylvania for a few partnership visits with FFA sponsors and visited Marian College where I will most likely be attending school this January, before returning for another day of work. While I spoke with many friends in Indiana FFA and from other states, one in particular this past week stopped me in my tracks.

As we painted walls, put up ponds, built structures and moved golf holes, I did a little catch-up work on some forms and documents concerning FFA travels and events before taking a lap around the building in the afternoon. As I passed the front doorway, I noticed Travis, one of my good friends who is also an active FFA member, sitting on a picnic table waiting for his ride home. We met two years ago at his chapter’s state fair set-up day, and we had become close friends since. I took a seat with Travis, and we began to chat. Like most, we had small talk about what has happened over the summer, what school classes will be like this fall, how his friends are doing and caught up on all the happenings from state FFA convention in June. Then, we began talking about how we cannot believe how these FFA connections really happen.

I had just been elected to serve as a state FFA officer and was collaborating with my teammates to set up the FFA Pavilion when Travis and I met literally two years prior. Through FFA conferences, conventions, chapter visits and other events, we had not only grown as fellow FFA members, we became friends. Travis and I have shared successes in FFA and defeats. We have gotten together to hang out when I come back to Indy, and we have texted back-and-forth when I have been on the road. Never, never did I realize that when I shook that sophomore’s hand two years ago, we’d become the best of friends.

FFA connects agriculture with the consumers, leaders with future career opportunities, alumni with current members, and connects young people with others every single day. Countless connections build young people in this dynamic organization, but these connections are only the beginning to incredible life-long friendships.

Your fellow FFA member,

Tyler