Summer 2012, FFA New Horizons

®

ffa.org/ffanation

SUMMER 2012

Cultivating His Future

North Carolina member grows his family’s nursery while studying criminology

plus: FIVE INSPIRING BOOKS TO READ THIS SUMMER

Going Global

U.S. agriculture exports reach all-time high

contents

Summer 2012

14

10 Features

Departments

10 Cultivating His Future

4 Scrapbook

North Carolina FFA member grows his family’s nursery while studying criminology

cover story

14 Mountin’ Man

Pennsylvania FFA member launches successful taxidermy business while still in high school

18 Going Global

World markets create new opportunities for U.S. farmers

Read news, jokes and more

6 FFA Faces

30 www.ffa.org/ffanation

Discover your leadership strengths.

Meet members from across the country.

28 Personal Growth

8 Ag 101

Curl up with an inspiring book.

Learn about the U.S. dairy industry.

22 National Officer Q&A See where your officer team is headed this summer.

24 All About FFA On the Cover Richard Apolinar, nursery operator and FFA member from Angier, N.C. Photo By Jeffrey S. Otto

26 Premier Leadership

Stay connected with National FFA, even when school’s out.

29 Career Success Get technical with a biotech career.

30 Living to Serve Indiana chapter helps livestock farmers after a tornado.

32 Reconnect FFA alumnus walks across America.

FFA New Horizons

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Volume 59 Number 4

The magazine of the National FFA Organization Editor Kim Newsom holmberg Associate Editor jessy yancey FFA Publications Manager Julie woodard FFA Communications Kristy Meyer Content Coordinator BLAIR THOMAS Proofreading Manager RAVEN PETTY Contributing Writers BEVERLY KREUL, CATHY Lockman, Jessica mozo, kirby smith Creative Services Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura gallagher, janine maryland, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS Creative Technology Analyst becca ary Color Imaging Technician alison hunter Photography Director jeffrey s. otto Senior Photographers Jeff adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers todd bennett, antony boshier Web Creative Director allison davis Web Project Manager Noy fongnaly Web Designer richard stevens Web Development Lead yamel hall Web Developer nels noseworthy Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants krystin lemmon, Patricia Moisan Accounting Diana guzman, maria mcfarland, lisa owens Executive Secretary Kristy duncan Executive Vice President Ray Langen Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester Controller CHRIS DUDLEY Distribution Director Gary Smith Integrated Media Manager rhonda graham For advertising information, contact Rhonda Graham, (800) 333-8842, ext. 324, or e-mail rgraham@jnlcom.com.

2011-12 National FFA Officers President Ryan Best, NM Secretary Jason Troendle, MN Eastern Region Vice President Ken QUICK, NY Central Region Vice President Alicia hodnik, WI Southern Region Vice President Cain thurmond, GA Western Region Vice President Seth Pratt, ID National FFA Staff National FFA Advisor steve brown Chief Executive Officer dwight armstrong National Treasurer Marion Fletcher Division Directors Mark Cavell, rob cooper, Dale Crabtree, bill fleet, Bob webster, Kent schescke, Vicki settle, lee anne shiller, Tony Small, Bill stagg

ffa.org/ffanation Visit FFA Nation to read past issues of FFA New Horizons, nominate a friend (or yourself) for FFA Faces and talk to other members in the online community!

digital magazine Tell your story Ever wondered if you could be featured in FFA New Horizons magazine? You can! Visit ffa.org/ffanation and fill out the form on the Contact Us page. We want to share your chapter’s stories and photos!

FFA Faces

National FFA Board of Directors – Members Chair, USDE, VA Steve Brown Treasurer, State Supervisor, AR Marion Fletcher State Supervisor, GA Chip Bridges Teacher/USDE, LA Alice DuBois Industry Representative/USDE, CA Matthew Gonzales State Supervisor, CA Bob Heuvel State Supervisor, WI Jeff Hicken State Supervisor, DE Karen Hutchison Teacher Educator/USDE, FL Brian Myers FFA Executive Secretary/USDE, NJ Erin Noble Subscription Information: FFA New Horizons (ISSN 1069-806X) is published quarterly by the National FFA Organization, 6060 FFA Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960.

Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art or any other unsolicited materials. For subscription information contact: FFA New Horizons Subscription Services, (317) 802-4235 or e-mail newhorizons@ffa.org.

Periodical postage rate is paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and additional mail offices.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to FFA New Horizons, P.O. Box 68960, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0960.

Copyright© 2012 by the National FFA Organization and Journal Communications Inc. The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Want to see past issues of FFA New Horizons? Visit the Digital Magazine page to flip through issues back to 2008.

Visit www.ffafaces.com to nominate a friend or yourself.

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FFA New Horizons

3

FFA scrapbook

FFA News From Across the U.S. A place to celebrate your FFA achievements, chapter successes and good deeds

books in flight Heather Leding, a former Arkansas FFA state officer and member of the Har-Ber FFA Chapter, has established a far-reaching connection – all the way to the Middle East.

Heather works for Dr. Kate Williams, a veterinarian who also serves as an active member of the Army Reserves. During Dr. Williams’ deployment, she worked with Afghan citizens to develop sustainable agricultural practices. Realizing a need for educational materials, she contacted Heather, who quickly organized a textbook drive.

Heather collected old agriculture textbooks from across Arkansas and sent them to Afghanistan.

Heather’s work is helping those citizens learn even more about sustainable agriculture practices.

ALBION FFA, NEW YORK

9,000 Pounds of Food Last year, members of the Albion FFA Chapter delivered 9,000 pounds of food to Community Action, a local food bank. This delivery was so enormous to the agency – every family throughout the county was able to prepare a meal for their holiday dinner, a first in history!

From freshmen to seniors, Albion FFA members reached out to local farmers, then sorted, boxed, loaded and unloaded the donated food. The donations included cabbage, squash, onions, snap beans, apples, potatoes, hams and grapefruit – most of which was grown locally.

–Reported by Nicole Nesbitt

4

FFA New Horizons

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Alwood FFA, Illinois

Learning My True Potential A personal FFA story by Josie Nickas of the Alwood FFA Chapter in Illinois: I was halfway through my junior year before I joined the organization that I had no idea would soon change my life. I was struggling in school and having problems with friends. One day, a friend of mine invited me to meet her FFA advisor, Mr. Terwilliger, and go to a trap shoot event the chapter was having. That experience sparked my interest in FFA, and I soon signed up for an agriculture class and joined FFA. I think back to the way I was before and I wonder what I would be like if I had never gone to that trap shoot, if I never would have joined FFA. Where would I be?

The people I used to be friends with have been going down the wrong path, have struggled with drugs and alcohol, and have been in trouble with the law several times.

Not only did FFA save me, but so did my advisor. He has taught me about the importance of agriculture, and he has shown me my true potential.

Sterling FFA, Michigan

Silo Safety One Michigan family is turning their own tragic loss into an opportunity to prevent future accidents. Last May, Tommy Osier, a member of the Standish-Sterling FFA Chapter in Michigan, was killed while working in a corn silo.

Since then, his family has formed the organization “Tommy’s Advocates for Silo Safety” to help educate others about the dangers of silos and importance of safety precautions.

That’s where you can help!

FFA chapters across the nation can request free signs, to be placed on silos in their local communities.

To learn more, visit www.tommysadvocates.com.

Keep us informed! This is your chance to be a part of FFA New Horizons. Send us a short article about your latest chapter activities, awards you’ve received or even your involvement outside FFA.

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Want an easy way to send your story? Email a photo, your story and contact information to newhorizons@ffa.org.

All photos need to be in color and a minimum of 1 MB in size.

your turn

Or, mail to: FFA New Horizons P.O. Box 68960 Indianapolis, IN 46268

FFA New Horizons

5

FFA faces

Meet Six FFA Shining Stars Wrangler, the sponsor of FFA Faces, will award a pair of jeans to featured members Jenna Kontney

Dustin Smith

Jenna, a high school senior, served as a chapter officer for five years and participates in her chapter’s agricultural literacy program. She has also been a part of both the Wisconsin and national FFA choirs.

This high school junior is passionate about the trap shooting team, and he has individually received the high shooter and top male shooter awards.

Dustin is currently serving as his FFA chapter’s chaplain.

Clayton Jerrell

Shandel Smith

Chapter: Stevens Point FFA, WISCONSIN

Chapter: Heath FFA, KENTUCKY

Chapter: West Plains FFA, MISSOURI

Chapter: Bear Lake FFA, IDAHO

Clayton has grown up showing horses, and it’s now his FFA supervised agricultural experience program (SAE). He serves as president of his FFA chapter and the Kentucky Quarter Horse Youth Association.

As president of her FFA chapter, Shandel enjoys helping those around her and putting a smile on others’ faces. She also participates in volleyball, basketball, track, choir, band and rodeo.

Emily Drastata

Brandon Sethna

Emily’s proudest FFA moment was winning third place out of 118 broiler chicken entries at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. She also serves as FFA chapter president and ranks first academically in her class.

Brandon has participated in the forestry, parliamentary procedure, livestock and food science career development events (CDEs). He plans to study agricultural engineering at Oklahoma State University next year.

Chapter: Canyon-New Braunfels FFA, TEXAS

Chapter: Teays Valley FFA, OHIO

Nominate yourself to be considered for FFA Faces by following the steps below.

Questions? Email ffanation@jnlcom.com.

1

Go Online Visit www.ffafaces.com and click on Nominations. You can nominate yourself or another current FFA member.

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FFA New Horizons

2

Describe Fill out the form to tell us about you – your FFA involvement, school activities, future plans and more.

3

Upload Find a great photo of yourself – head and shoulders photos work best – and upload it as part of the nomination form. www.ffa.org/ffanation

ag 101

Udder Delights Celebrate June Dairy Month with facts about milk and dairy products This June, raise a glass of ice cold milk and toast the more than 50,000 dairy farmers across the United States. It’s because of them – and the 9.1 million dairy cows that live on their farms – that we can enjoy milk with our cereal, cheese on our burger, butter on our toast, and best of all, ice cream to wash it all down. Learn more about this important agriculture industry.

Top Dairy States It’s little surprise that California and Wisconsin are the top two dairy states, but did you know that each has its dairy specialty? California is the No. 1 milkproducing state, and its “happy cows” represent more than 20 percent of the total U.S. milk production.

Wisconsin, however, ranks first in cheese production, and it’s said that the state’s lush grasslands and glacial water supply are perfect for cheese-making. Other top dairy states are New York, Pennsylvania and Idaho.

Cool Facts about Dairy Cows Learn some interesting facts about these bovine beauties.

1 2 3 4 5

All cows have four chambers in their stomachs, each of which handles a different stage of the digestive process.

One cow can drink 35 gallons of water a day.

That’s about how much it takes to fill your bathtub!

They also eat about 90 pounds of food a day.

Quite an appetite!

It takes two days for a cow’s body to convert food into milk.

Since cows consume large amounts of food, they also produce large amounts of manure. Each cow produces about 65 pounds of solid waste each day, which is typically used as a natural fertilizer to replenish the soil of cropland.

9 percent

July is National Ice Cream Month!

More than 9 percent of all the milk produced in the United States is used for ice cream production, and it’s estimated that 90 percent of all Americans enjoy eating ice cream at least once each year.

Source: International Dairy Foods Association, www.idfa.org

8

FFA New Horizons

www.ffa.org/ffanation

Richard Apolinar and his family grow plants, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, evergreens and hollies at their nursery in North Carolina.

10 FFA New Horizons

www.ffa.org/ffanation

CULTIVATING his

Future

North Carolina FFA member grows his family’s nurser y while studying criminology

www.ffa.org/ffanation

FFA New Horizons 11

Richard Apolinar’s father (on facing page) started his own nursery after working in the business for many years. It’s a family operation, so Richard and his siblings are actively involved in the day-to-day greenhouse work. The nursery sells wholesale to plant centers in four states and also sells retail locally.

F

work. All our greenhouses are handmade – we built five or Richard Apolinar of the West Johnston FFA this year in two months.”

Chapter in North Carolina, the excitement of C&J Nursery sells its plants and trees wholesale to seeing a tiny tree mature into a 7-foot giant plant centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia outweighs all the hard work it takes to operate and even New Jersey. a nursery. At his family’s 35-acre nursery in Angier, “Our customers drive all the way here because we treat Richard builds greenhouses, propagates trees and them well, and we dedicate our time to answering their shrubs, maintains climate control in the greenhouses, questions,” Richard says. “We strive to be the best at what and delivers plant orders to customers. we do, and we offer great-quality, affordable plants.”

“My dad has been in the nursery business for as long The Apolinar family also as I can remember,” Richard says. sells plants retail at the Raleigh “As a kid, the school bus would Flea Market on spring always drop me and my brother North carolina weekends at the North Carolina and sister off at the nursery my Richard Apolinar’s family owns State Fairgrounds, as well as at dad worked at, and we would help a nursery business about 20 the Raleigh Farmers Market. with fertilizing and taking orders miles outside Raleigh.

“I like seeing the plants for customers.” grow and being admired by the Richard’s father, Camilo, and people and professionals who mother, Juliana, both immigrants come to our nursery and say, from Mexico, eventually started ‘Now that’s a beautiful plant’,” their own business, C&J Nursery.

Richard says.

They raise between 600 and 800 Richard hopes to become varieties of plants, trees, shrubs, a police officer or sheriff and perennials, annuals, evergreens serve his community, but he and hollies. also wants to carry on his Today, Richard works full time parents’ business and make sure it has a successful at the nursery alongside his older brother Junior and future. Many nurseries went out of business during the younger sister Jessica. All three siblings have been recession, but the Apolinars sacrificed and continued to involved with FFA, and Junior even had a job invest in their business, which is paying off now as they landscaping for their high school while in FFA. Richard are seeing an increase in sales. studies criminology at Johnston Community College in “My dad has been dedicated to the nursery business the mornings before heading to the nursery to work with all his life, and I really admire him because he was an his family. immigrant who didn’t have the education – he did it the “I have one or two classes every day, and I come to hard way,” Richard says. “He had nothing, and he the nursery after school to give my parents a rest,” he became something. He’s living the American dream.” says. “I have three or four other guys who work with me, and my dad gives me the responsibility to put them to – Jessica Mozo

12 FFA New Horizons

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Somos FFA, We are FFA! Richard is a great example of the generations of contributions Latino FFA members bring to agriculture, agricultural education and FFA. Join us in celebrating Somos FFA, We are FFA! during the 85th National FFA Convention, Oct. 24-27 in Indianapolis.

To learn more, visit FFA.org/diversity. The celebration is made possible by title sponsor STIHL and supporting sponsor Farm Credit as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. www.ffa.org/ffanation

FFA New Horizons 13

’ mountin man FA member Pennsylvania F ssful launches succe ess taxidermy busin school h while still in hig

taxidermy 101 Taxidermy can be a long process, between work time and drying.

Ross says that most people bring the animal’s head with the hide still attached, so he starts by peeling the skin off and tanning it. He works the tanned skin onto a custom-made form and sews it together.

Ross uses clay for molding areas of the face, including the eyes, which are glass. He finishs up with painting and grooming.

14 FFA New Horizons

R

oss Rojik of Petersburg, Penn., always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur, but he had no idea that dream would materialize from an unusual Christmas gift his parents gave him when he was 15.

“I always loved hunting and fishing, and I loved seeing different animals mounted,” says 21-year-old Ross, who graduated from Juniata Valley High School in Alexandria in 2009. “My family even had a few mounts done, and I was intrigued. I had gotten into tanning the hides of deer and squirrel, so my parents bought me a squirrel taxidermy kit for Christmas.”

After successfully mounting his first squirrel with the taxidermy kit, Ross began mounting other animals, including raccoons and deer.

“It was a hobby, but then teachers at school began paying for the materials if I would mount their animals,” Ross says.

“When I was 16, I got my taxidermy license so I could legally do it as a job. I didn’t realize then it would end up being my career – it was just something I loved to do.”

Ross’s talent for mounting his friends’ and family’s prized hunting trophies spread by word-of-mouth throughout his community. By his senior year, he had a

steady flow of work coming in and began to realize taxidermy had career potential.

“My dad and grandfather are both self-employed, and I grew up seeing my dad run his own schedule, which appealed to me,” Ross says. “I loved taxidermy so much, I wanted to do whatever it took to get paid to do it.”

Ross built upon the knowledge he already had by entering a state taxidermy competition two years in a row, where he attended seminars and workshops to learn more advanced techniques. He also joined FFA his junior year and used his growing taxidermy business to participate in the National FFA AgriEntrepreneurship Program.

“I already had the business going when I jumped into FFA, but looking back, the Agri-Entrepreneurship Program helped broaden my experiences,” Ross says.

After graduating in 2009, Ross continued building his clientele under the business name Mountin’ Man Taxidermy, and it quickly became full-time. He runs it out of a squeaky-clean studio near his home, where he painstakingly takes lifeless mammals, birds and fish and makes them appear alive again.

“Most people think taxidermy is disgusting, smelly and rotten, but that www.ffa.org/ffanation

Ross Rojik owns his own taxidermy business, and he has mounted many different species of wildlife. He says that he especially enjoys doing unique mounts, like the coyote below, with the pheasant in its mouth.

pennsylvania

Ross Rojik owns his own taxidermy business, which originally started as a personal hobby.

“A lot of detail goes into an animal’s face – every eye and nostril – and you have to know a lot about anatomy. It’s an art.” messy part is actually the smallest part of the job,” Ross says. “Only the first couple hours of the process are messy, and after that point, it’s quite clean. A lot of detail goes into an animal’s face – every eye and nostril – and you have to know a lot about anatomy. It’s an art.”

People often ask Ross how he keeps his studio from “stinking,” but he says actually none of the original flesh remains during the taxidermy process.

“The finished product is basically tanned skin on a Styrofoam form, and the skin has been turned to leather,” he explains.

One unusual aspect of Ross’s taxidermy practice is that he maintains a climate-controlled, chest freezersized unit of thousands of Dermestid beetles, which he uses to clean the skulls of animals.

“You can find them out in the wild, and they eat the raw flesh of dead animals,” Ross says. “I can put the skull of a deer in the unit, and the beetles will chew everything off the bones, including the eyes and flesh. I leave it in there for about two weeks, and it’s clean.”

Many other taxidermists boil skulls to remove the flesh, which can cause chipping, cracking and shrinkage to the bone. That’s one of the reasons Ross uses his 16 FFA New Horizons

somewhat unconventional beetle approach.

“I’ve even gotten work from other taxidermists cleaning their skulls, because they don’t want to mess with it,” Ross says.

From start to finish, the taxidermy process can take up to six months. The price starts at about $100 for a squirrel and can go as high as $20,000 or more, depending on the size and complexity of the animal.

Ross also offers clean skull-only mounts for customers who can’t afford to have the whole head mounted.

“I’ve been fortunate to work on some neat projects,” he says. “I’ve done work with Penn State University on birds of prey as well as for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. And I’m working on some primates for PSU’s anthropology department and anatomy classes.”

Although he loves his job, Ross admits it’s not easy.

“Running a business on my own is tough, because I’m responsible for everything from labor to taxes to secretarial work. It takes patience, that’s for sure,” he says. “But it’s really rewarding to see a client satisfied. It re-creates that awesome hunting or fishing moment for them all over again.”

– Jessica Mozo www.ffa.org/ffanation

READ FFA NEw horizons on your computer!

CuLtiVatiNg His

future

North Carolina FFA member grows his family’s nurser y while studying criminology

richard apolinar and his family grow plants, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, evergreens and hollies at their nursery in North Carolina.

10 FFA New HorizoNs

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It’s a great way for family members, community leaders and alumni to stay in touch with FFA!

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It’s archived!

You can also access past issues (all the way back to 2008) in our Digital Library, located at www.ffanation.org/digital-magazine.

Each digital magazine features all the stories from the print version and can be e-mailed, downloaded as a PDF, printed or shared through social media.

FFA New HorizoNs 11

And it’s cool!

The digital magazine looks a lot like the print version, but it’s even better. Click the links to check out an advertiser’s website or to get more information on a story. State sections tell you more about other FFA chapters and associations.

And each page “flips,” just like the print version. Go try it out now!

GOING Global

World markets create new opportunities for U.S. farmers

18 FFA New Horizons

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W

hen Bill Long began farming in 1980, he didn’t spend much time thinking about export markets. Like many farmers at the time, he was focused on the day-to-day details of his work and on building a quality operation that would allow him to make a living doing something he loved.

What was going on thousands of miles away was hardly on his radar screen.

But 30 years later, things have changed for the agriculture community – and for Long. While the former FFA Star Greenhand and Star Farmer continues to build a quality agribusiness operation in Franklin, Ill., he has also turned his attention to identifying the challenges and promoting the opportunities that exist for American agriculture outside our borders. In fact, this past spring, Long, a member of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board –

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and several other farmers from Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska – visited the Netherlands, Germany and Hungary as part of a mission to explore international agriculture trade issues.

“With the growing population across the world, there is a big need for a variety of agricultural commodities, and U.S. farmers are in a great position to meet those needs,” says Long. “But while we’re focusing on developing new markets, we also have to ensure that we have the highest-quality products because, as we saw on our trip, the competition for supplying these markets is also growing.”

Data from the USDA confirms that the international market is a booming business, with a record-breaking $137 billion of U.S. agricultural products exported in 2011, up from $90 billion just four years earlier.

FFA New Horizons 19

Free trade agreements, defined Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are pacts between wtwo or more countries that establish agreed-upon behaviors regarding trade. FTAs reduce barriers to U.S. exports and protect U.S. interests. In 2010, more than 40 percent of U.S. exports went to FTA partner countries.

The United States has 12 FTAs in force with 18 countries. In addition, the United States has negotiated FTAs with Panama and Colombia, but these agreements have not yet been implemented. The United States is also in the process of negotiating a regional FTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Trading Places What are the top U.S. agricultural exports and which countries are the largest importers of those products?

top products Soybeans Corn Wheat Red meat

Cotton Tree nuts Dairy Poultry

That’s because for each dollar of additional income “There is no one in agriculture today who is not earned in those countries, a larger percentage is used to impacted by the global market,” says Tom Sleight, vice purchase food, unlike in the United States and other president of the U.S. Grains Council. “With 95 percent of developed countries where additional income is more the world’s population living outside of the U.S., the likely to go toward non-food opportunities that exist for purchases, such as housing, agricultural exports are transportation and massive.” And, he says, it’s not communication, as well a market that is likely to dry With 95 percent of the as recreational pursuits, up any time soon. “There has says Jiang. been a 528 percent rise in the world’s population living Exports not only translate middle class in developing outside of the U.S., the into sales and profits for countries, and with that individual producers, they growth comes increased opportunities that exist also create U.S. jobs. A spending power that impacts for agricultural exports USDA analysis indicates food and energy purchases.” are massive. that each dollar of U.S. Hui Jiang, an agricultural farm products exported in economist with the U.S. 2010 was responsible for Department of Agriculture, stimulating another $1.34 agrees.

Tom Sleight, vice president in business activity and that “Exports have been the of the U.S. Grains Council the total $115.8 billion of main driver of growth in the agricultural exports that year agricultural sector,” she says. produced nearly 907,000 jobs.

“Other than the booming biofuel sector, domestic In addition, exports are an important contributor to needs hold fairly steady, but in developing countries, commodity prices, second only to weather, says Sleight. the potential is much greater.”

20 FFA New Horizons

www.ffa.org/ffanation

South Korea

top markets Mexico

Canada

Egypt European Union Japan

China

Hong Kong

“About 25 percent of farm prices can be attributed to the export market. The demand that exports create significantly influences price, even for those producers who don’t export their grain.”

While agricultural exports are obviously good for the U.S. economy, American producers and suppliers aren’t the only beneficiaries.

“Trade is the answer to solving food security problems around the world,” Sleight says, because it moves food from areas of surplus to areas of need.

So with such significant benefits, how do we promote trade?

Policies that promote exports, like the National Export Initiative, which has a goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2014, are important steps. Free trade agreements, which make it easier and cheaper for U.S. companies to export their products, are another.

But it goes beyond just governmental focus. It also takes the hands-on efforts of individual farmers like Long and others across the country who share the message with their communities.

“It takes a very broad and engaged approach by everyone in the agriculture profession to be successful in maintaining and building export markets,” Sleight says.

– Cathy Lockman www.ffa.org/ffanation

Taiwan

Indonesia

Travel Abroad through FFA Each year, 12 of the nation’s top agriculture students are selected to participate in the International Collegiate Agricultural Leadership (I-CAL) Program, an opportunity that allows them to travel abroad to study international grain marketing and trade.

During the two-week trip, sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council and The Grains Foundation, students visit a variety of agricultural operations, including grain inspecting facilities; fruit/vegetable production farms; livestock operations; and open-air grain, meat and animal markets.

Previous groups have traveled to Spain, Morocco, Egypt, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Panama and Colombia. For more information, or to apply for the 2013 I-CAL Program, visit www.ffa.org/collegiate.

FFA New Horizons 21

FFA national officer Q&A

Get to Know Your National FFA Officers

Ryan: This summer, we will be leading National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO) trainings for state officers. We will also be attending the State Presidents’ Conference (SPC) in July to begin the delegate process for the National FFA Convention & Expo.

Jason: I am excited to be visiting some summer conventions and conferences, NLCSO sessions, and SPC. I also hope to get a tan, pick up some accents and maybe even get to do some fishing in all the travels!

Cain: I will be kickin’ the summer off with NLCSO trainings, then the West Virginia state FFA convention in early July, and finally the Big E Livestock Exposition.

Ken: My summer has a mixture of state FFA conventions, a week at Washington Leadership Conference (week 2) and NLCSO sessions.

Alicia: Summer is my absolute favorite time of the year! This June and July, I am blessed to be traveling to state FFA conventions in South Carolina, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina and Texas.

5.2 2 Average number of CDEs each officer has participated in

22 FFA New Horizons

Seth: I’ll be home during the last week of May to help my family take the cow herd into the mountains for the summer. All my other time is full of travel to state FFA conventions.

Q

We have a feature in this issue about our country’s role in feeding the world. What’s your state’s top agriculture product?

Ryan: My state’s top agricultural product is dairy. New Mexico ranks fifth in the nation for dairy exports, and we have the largest average herd size in the nation with 2,088 cows per operation.

Jason: Minnesota is the sixth largest agricultural

5.9

Q

What’s on your schedule for this summer?

Average number of siblings each officer has

exporter in the country and in 2010, exported $5 billion in agricultural products. The geography varies around the state, which allows us to produce a wide range of products from sugar beets to corn, soybeans to wild rice, beef to poultry, and hogs to dairy.

Cain: Most people refer to Georgia as the “Peach State.” But surprisingly, peach as a fruit is not our biggest commodity. Georgia leads the country in broiler (chickens for meat) production, and nearly half the state’s farm receipts come from broilers.

Ken: New York’s top agriculture product is milk, and it’s the official state drink. The state ranks fourth nationally for milk production.

Average number of agriculture classes they each took in middle and high school

2

Number of FFA ties or scarves each officer carries with him or her at all times www.ffa.org/ffanation

Alicia: Wisconsin ranks first in cheese, cranberries and snap beans for processing. The state also ranks first for corn used for silage, a common feedstuff for dairy cattle.

Ryan Best

Seth: Idaho’s top commodities are dairy products, followed by beef cattle and potatoes. The top export value is in vegetable products – thanks, Idaho potatoes!

This New Mexico native hopes to become an agricultural education instructor one day.

Q

Jason Troendle

national ffa president

What does the FFA jacket mean to you?

Ryan: My granddad, Wendell Best, earned his American Farmer Degree in 1951 at the 24th National Convention. My father and sisters were district officers in FFA, so my jacket meant that I was continuing with a tradition which has shaped my family into who we are.

Jason: When I see the blue jacket, I think of building.

We live in a broken world. We have a broken relationship with ourselves, with others and with the environment around us. FFA can help to restore these relationships through focusing on personal growth and leadership.

Cain: My FFA jacket means representation. Over the years, it has been a privilege to represent my chapter, state, and now national FFA. This representation has symbolized my belief in FFA and its ability to prepare the agricultural leaders of tomorrow.

“My jacket is a part of my life. It has given me faith, confidence, memories, the ability to network and the chance to share the story of agriculture.”

national ffa secretary

Hailing from Minnesota, Jason’s love for the outdoors and fly-fishing was his first connection to FFA.

Ken Quick

national ffa Eastern Region Vice President

Ken grew up on a dairy farm in New York, where he realized his career goal to work in agribusiness.

Alicia Hodnik

national ffa Central Region Vice President

This Wisconsin native hopes to research aquaculture genetics for her career.

Cain Thurmond

national ffa southern Region Vice President

Ken: The FFA jacket reminds me of what a group of teenagers can do and the future they will shape.

Alicia: My jacket is a part of my life. It has given me faith, confidence, memories, the ability to network and the chance to share the story of agriculture.

Seth: The FFA jacket is worth millions in brand recognition – like the Nike swoosh or Ford’s emblem. To me individually, the jacket represents growth. FFA experiences are challenging and help each of us realize new heights in personal growth and leadership skills. www.ffa.org/ffanation

Cain lives on an Angus beef cattle operation in Georgia, and he is pursuing a career in ag economics.

Seth Pratt

national ffa western Region Vice President

Seth grew up on a cattle ranch in Idaho, and his ultimate career goal is to return home to raise livestock.

FFA New Horizons 23

all about ffa

FFA News You Can Use Connect online with FFA this summer Follow the Blog.

Want the latest and greatest FFA info from across the country? We’re compiling it for you in the National FFA blog. Check it out at nationalffa.wordpress.com.

The blog features cool stories about unique FFA activities and posts by the national officers. You can even sign up to receive every post as an email, which makes it super simple to keep up with FFA news.

sign up for the Agricultural Career Network, sign up for a profile on FFA Nation (ffanation.org), follow FFA on Twitter (@nationalffa) or “like” us on Facebook (facebook. com/nationalffa).

We often ask our social media friends to weigh in on FFA issues, and your opinions help to shape important FFA decisions – national FFA convention plans, new programs and more!

Go Social.

Watch videos.

Don’t miss out on interacting with other FFA members this summer. Ask your advisor how to

Spend some time watching FFA clips on the official National FFA video channel at iHigh.com/FFA.

24 FFA New Horizons

The FFA channel, powered by Alltech and iHigh, features videos from the 2011 National FFA Convention and more.

Subscribe to the FFA Podcast.

One more way to stay connected is through the National FFA podcast.

This audio program is updated each week and focuses on highlights and accomplishments by FFA members. It also includes information about upcoming FFA events and deadlines.

Access the podcast at ffa.org/ pressroom/ffapodcast. www.ffa.org/ffanation

Premier Leadership

Showing Your Strengths Six ways to learn your personal leadership style

I

f you’ve been part of a team, group project or committee, you probably noticed that some people seem as if they were “born to lead.” Or maybe your friend can play the guitar or is an amazing artist.

We all have our own unique talents, and these strengths can be used in many ways. When we identify our own natural abilities,

26 FFA New Horizons

we can focus on doing what we do best, but our team will also be able to accomplish more. The benefits of assessing your talents and strengths can help you succeed now, as well as launch a lifetime of achievement.

Dr. J. Scott Vernon is a professor in the Agricultural Education and Communications Department at Cal-

Poly, San Luis Obispo. A former California FFA member, he is president of the Livestock Publications Council, serves on the advisory board of the AgChat Foundation, and is founder and executive director of “I Love Farmers … They Feed My Soul.”

As a leader in the industry, he weighs in on the role personal

www.ffa.org/ffanation

talents play in any team.

“Because of my leadership development, I recognize that you cannot lead unless there is a team,” Vernon says. “You must recognize your role in a team in order to optimize your leadership. You cannot do it alone.”

The best way to be a successful team member starts with knowing what you can contribute. Here are a few ways to assess your talents and strengths.

Interview someone you think is talented.

through your thoughts, you can discover perspectives you might not have otherwise.

dislike, you can more easily determine where your natural strengths lie.

Make a list of your likes and dislikes.

visit your guidance counselor.

Think about the teams and groups you’ve been in. What parts of that experience did you like? Which ones did you not? That’s a great start in identifying your role within the team. By separating the things you like doing from the things you

Formalized methods for determining your talents and strengths do exist. Meet with your high school guidance counselor to see if they can suggest an assessment.

– Kirby Smith

Reach out to people you admire, like your high school agriculture teacher, a parent or a career professional. Learn more about how they determined their own leadership styles and how that influences their daily lives.

Figure out what you’re good at.

If you don’t enjoy something, chances are you might not naturally excel at it. Make a list of the areas in which you really shine. Figure out how you can apply those talents in other ways.

Ask your friends.

Do you ever find yourself comparing your talents to your friends? It’s a safe bet your friends have thought the same thing about you. Ask them what talent or strength they most admire about you. By asking your friends, you add a fresh perspective to your search and may find something you overlooked.

Keep a journal.

A journal is the story of your life, and like in any good read, themes tend to emerge. By reading back www.ffa.org/ffanation

FFA New Horizons 27

personal Growth

Book It Curl up with a powerful read this summer

B

etween county fairs, FFA camps, summer school and afternoon swimming, take time to lose yourself in a good book.

Develop your premier leadership, personal growth and career success this summer reading some inspiring, motivating and challenging books.

Read on for some of our favorites:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People While conducting research on leadership, successful businessman Stephen Covey began to notice a series of habits that were common among leaders. In his book, Covey discusses the foundation for developing into a leader and successful person. Written in 1989, this book of short lists is far from outdated. In fact, it’s one of the most highly regarded leadership books available, especially since its universal rules are appropriate for readers of all ages and experiences.

How full is your bucket?

Looking for a short but powerful read? This book, written by Tom Rath and only 128 pages long, is based on the theory that life is a bucket and how happy you are determines how full your bucket is.

Happiness in life often lies in simplicity, and this clear, concise book of quotes and stories is the perfect summer-afternoon read.

The Last Lecture

The tradition of “The Last Lecture” at a university takes an

28 FFA New Horizons

inspiring turn when Professor Randy Pausch discovers he has six months to live. Instead of focusing on death, Pausch presents his students with a speech about living, achieving personal dreams, enabling the dreams of others and truly living each day as though it were your last.

Lose Your Cool

What are you passionate about?

Why? No matter your reasons or your desires, you must make big sacrifices to achieve your goals. This book, written by Zach Hunter, is a collection of stories about people who have used their passions to change the world. From celebrities to everyday citizens, people are changing the world because they are passionate.

Cure for the Common Life

The world loves big things – lottery winners, Facebook, the

Kardashians and other rags-toriches stories. Max Lucado’s book Cure for the Common Life is a refreshing read that focuses on enjoying the simpler things in life.

Not many people will make a large imprint on the entire nation, but we all have the opportunity to make large impacts on a smaller number of people.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

One of the most-read books on leadership of all time, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership discusses leadership, but in an extremely approachable way. John C. Maxwell uses his 30-plus years of experience to boil leadership down into 21 life-changing principles.

Maxwell believes in the concept that leaders are taught, not born, and his book can help you learn how you can be a leader.

– Beverley Kreul www.ffa.org/ffanation

Career success

The Bio Buzz Get technical with a career in agricultural biotechnology

I

f you’re interested in the latest, greatest technology in agriculture, you may find the perfect career for you in the biotechnology sector.

This career choice can involve researching and engineering crops, working to protect them from insects, diseases and viruses, as well as engineering livestock and poultry in order to produce leaner meat or help the animals resist diseases.

A career in this area could also include finding ways to grow plants larger, help them resist extreme weather or make them richer in nutrients.

Applying It to Agriculture Agricultural biotechnology is a range of tools, including traditional breeding techniques, that alter organisms to make or modify products, improve plants or animals, or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses. Today, biotechnology is mostly used as a tool in genetic engineering.

Some biotechnology crops can be engineered to tolerate specific herbicides, which makes weed control simpler and more efficient. Other crops have been engineered to be resistant to specific plant diseases and insect pests, which can make pest control more reliable and effective, and/or www.ffa.org/ffanation

can decrease the use of synthetic pesticides. These crop production options can help countries keep pace with demands for food while reducing production costs.

Many other types of crops are now in the research and development stages. Advances in biotechnology may provide consumers with foods that are nutritionally enriched or longer-lasting, or that contain lower levels of certain naturally occurring toxicants present in some food plants.

Biotechnology-derived crops face regulations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

10 Cool Biotech Careers • Microbiologist • Forest Geneticist • Meat Science Researcher • Reproductive Physiologist • Livestock Geneticist • Bioengineer • Biotech Lab Technician • Quality Control Specialist • Animal Nutritionist • Biochemist

Careers of the Future Biotechnology careers are becoming increasingly important in the field of agriculture as technology continues to advance and new products and crops are demanded by consumers.

As farmers try to grow more food with fewer resources and the public concern over food safety increases, biologists are exploring new avenues of research in biotechnology to develop plants and food crops that require less fertilizer, few pesticides and herbicides, and less water for growth.

As these technological advances increase, jobs in the field will increase as well.

FFA New Horizons 29

living to serve

A Twist of Fate Natural disaster teaches Indiana FFA chapter about community outreach

O

n March 2, 2012, the small town of Henryville, Ind., was thrust into the national spotlight when an EF4 tornado literally ripped it to shreds. The twister hit just after 3 p.m., minutes after school let out, completely destroying Henryville’s high school and middle school, killing 13 people statewide, and tearing apart homes and farms with winds that packed a

online Tell us your FFA chapter’s community service story! Email your story to newhorizons@ffa.org, and your chapter might be featured on this page.

30 FFA New Horizons

175 mph punch.

Ten miles away in Scottsburg, Ind., FFA members and other students were hunkered down in their schools, awaiting the deadly tornado. After the storm passed, Scottsburg FFA Chapter members quickly realized they had a major opportunity to serve their neighbors.

“As soon as the storm was over, people from our community, along with our local fire department and EMS, went to rescue victims,” says Tori Clemmons, president of the Scottsburg FFA Chapter. “Many FFA members wanted to know what they could do to help. We knew other organizations would be collecting money and supplies for victims.

Being an agriculture organization, it

made sense to us to help in the area specifically related to livestock.”

Scottsburg FFA began collecting hay, feed, straw and fencing supplies for local farmers affected by the tornado. Cargill Nutrena donated two tons of feed, and two local feed stores also donated supplies.

“We sent e-mails to other FFA chapters about what we were doing, and the North Decatur FFA brought down five truckloads of hay,” Clemmons says. “A lot of other chapters have sent monetary donations to buy feed and fencing.”

Clemmons and other members recorded a radio commercial and put up fliers at the local Red Cross to get the word out to the farming community. www.ffa.org/ffanation

FFA members from Scottsburg, Ind., collected livestock feed, hay, straw and fencing supplies to help Indiana farmers whose livestock operations were damaged by recent tornadoes.

Ever thought abut what you would do if disaster struck your own community? Clemmons offers this advice:

1. Don’t rush.

“After a disaster strikes, we all want to volunteer to help, but as wonderful as volunteering is, it can also be very dangerous,” she says.

“Wait for the chaos to settle. Then act.”

2. Create a plan.

“Decide what you want to do, and how you’ll make it happen,” Clemmons says. “Things might not go exactly how you plan, but people will be more willing to help if they see the direction of your cause.”

3. Enlist the help of others.

“Don’t try to do it all yourself.

Being a leader is about learning to www.ffa.org/ffanation

share responsibilities,” Clemmons continues. “Anyone can have great ideas, but it takes support from others to get results.”

She adds that she could have never imagined the far-reaching impact of their actions.

“Our relief project not only helped provide livestock animals with food and eased the loss of their owners, but also brought people from all over Indiana together to serve others,” Clemmons says. “I was astounded with the kindness offered from everyone involved.

We’ve been in every local community helping, and people I don’t even know have come up and hugged me. They’re so grateful.”

The relief project also strengthened the bond among members of the Scottsburg chapter.

“I had always heard the quote, ‘There’s no joy like the joy of serving others,’ ” Clemmons says. “And this experience really taught us what that meant.”

– Jessica Mozo FFA New Horizons 31

FFA Reconnect

Barrett Keene Florida FFA alumnus finds his bigger purpose Past national FFA officer Barrett Keene left Miami on January 28, and began walking a 3,475 journey toward San Francisco. His purpose?

To raise awareness and funding for the more than 145 million orphaned and abandoned children worldwide.

Here, Keene shares what he’s learned about true servant leadership and finding your purpose.

Name: Barrett Keene Occupation: PhD candidate at Cornell University Home FFA Chapter: Plant City High School About Go Walk America: Keene founded Go Walk America after he learned about children who are not allowed to attend school unless they have a uniform.

It’s often the reason why the poorest children don’t receive even a basic education.

Keene started the Go Walk America campaign, in partnership with the Global Orphan Project. Sponsored

by LegacyChamp.com, Keene is walking from Miami to San Francisco, speaking to groups along the way and raising money for the cause.

He encourages everyone to begin their own “walk” to serve orphans by joining the 350,000 Mile Challenge.

Learn more at www.GoWalkAmerica.org.

32 FFA New Horizons

During my walks, I’ve learned that when we choose to give, to serve, or to join in a fight against a problem larger than ourselves, there is something that happens within us.

Consider this story. One day while in seventh-grade history class, 12-year-old Zach Hunter learned of his impending doom.

The time for “projects and presentations” had arrived, and for shy, introverted Zach, the thought of speaking in class brought about the utmost of fears.

Zach’s issue was slavery. With his hands, heart, and stomach trembling, Zach formulated a plan.

He would look back throughout history to the first-known slaves, all the way to when slavery was officially outlawed in the United States in 1865. Zach was stunned and distraught when he discovered slavery still exists today. In fact, he learned that there are more slaves throughout the world today than at any other time in history.

While several children in Zach’s class seemed to casually present their issues, something different happened within Zach. An anger about the current realities of slavery took hold of his heart. Zachary

channeled his emotion into a simple, yet beautiful action. He started a program at his school called “Loose Change to Loosen Chains.”

The program spread throughout his county and then, throughout much of the developed world. Within two years, the same boy who could hardly manage to utter a single word in class was speaking to groups of 20,000. Since then, Zach’s program has raised millions of dollars to fund organizations that work to end slavery throughout the world, and before graduating high school last year, Zach published his third book.

Rick Warren begins his incredible book, Purpose Driven Life, with the words, “It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.”

Zachary’s life was absolutely transformed by the identification of his purpose, the greatest source of passion in his life. My hope for you is that you will take some time to consider a few things What do you enjoy doing? What are some of your personal strengths?

What impacts your heart?

How will you choose to impact your family, your community, our country and our world?

I hope you will invest time today and over the next few months to answer these powerful questions, and in doing so, identify a course of purpose and passion in your own life. www.ffa.org/ffanation

flip through our

state

inserts!

FFA New Horizons state inserts keep YOU connected to what’s going on in your state or others.

• State FFA news and achievements • FFA member profiles • Career information • Meet state FFA officers

To learn about creating a state insert for your FFA association, contact Kim Newsom at knewsom@jnlcom.com.

Illinois ffa association Summer 2012

Miles of Opportunity …

Meet Your 2011-2012 Illinois Association FFA Officers Jacob Meisner, Secretary Page D

Clayton Carley, Treasurer Page E

Check out our

website

B

H

www.illinoisffa.org

Table of Contents

Page E – Meet Your Treasurer

Page B – Illinois FFA Service Project

Page f – State CDE Results

Page C – FFA Week

Page G – Officers’ Tracks

Page D – Meet Your Secretary

Page H – Officers’ Paths

Illinois – A

Illinois FFA Service Project

Illinois FFA Supports Our Troops During the holiday season, the Illinois Association FFA hosted a collection drive for troops as an annual tradition. Many personal hygiene, food, and entertainment items were received by the state FFA office from various chapters and donors. With the help of several FFA members, including the Athens chapter, who donated over half the items received, the collection brought in more than 5,000 toiletries, snacks, and games to send to troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Items were split between three military divisions, with most of them going to the 114th Agriculture Development Team, a group dedicated to teaching locals sustainable agriculture practices. Shortly after the boxes were sent, notes of appreciation began flowing into the state FFA office in Springfield. For many soldiers who were not able to spend time with their families during a season when millions travel home, the packages sent from the FFA were an overwhelming show of support.

During FFA week Sgt. Kary Rigg presented the major state officers and members of the Athens FFA chapter with a plaque to show the appreciation of his company. With the presentation, Rigg shared with those in attendance some of his daily responsibilities while stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. Rigg also recalled some of his experiences in the BushnellPrairie City FFA Chapter. Rigg said that his time raising sheep while in the FFA helped him to fulfill his duties in Kabul. Rigg also recognized the broad range of opportunities within the FFA and encouraged member involvement in such projects.

B – Illinois

The state officer team worked together at the December meeting to pack up all the items donated and prepare them for shipping.

The majors join members of the Athens chapter and Sargent Rigg as he presents the plaque.

Sargent Kary Rigg presents a plaque to the Illinois Association FFA from his company to show their appreciation.

FFA Week

This year more than 16,000 members of the Illinois FFA celebrated FFA Week from February 18 through 24. FFA Week gives members a chance to educate the public about agriculture. During the week, chapters hosted teacher appreciation breakfasts, held “Ag Olympic” competitions, spoke with community members about agriculture, volunteered their time to service projects, and much more. The week of George Washington’s birthday was designated as National FFA week in 1947 at a National FFA Board of Directors meeting. FFA Week always runs from Saturday to Saturday, encompassing Washington’s birthday on February 22.

Whether it was a chapter meeting to practice brotherhood, an informational petting barn to honor agriculture, or an appreciation breakfast to develop the social qualities of leadership that an FFA member should possess, everyone was busy promoting a positive image of agriculture and the FFA during the week.

The major state officers had the chance to travel to several chapters during FFA Week and had a great time visiting with members, teachers, administrators and other friends of the FFA. The officers were also busy informing the public about the opportunities in agriculture through interviews to be broadcasted on the radio or published in the paper. One of the highlights for the major state officers was a lunch with Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon.

Mike, Chris and Clayton made a visit to the Southeastern FFA Chapter during FFA week.

Lunch with the Lieutenant Governor.

Illinois – C

Meet Your State Secretary Jacob Meisner

It surrounds us every day. Some of us wake up to it, some of us drive to school with it. Sometimes we work with it, and some of us go to bed to it. Music is around us all hours of the day, every day.

For many of us, music is an integral part of our daily lives and productivity.

As far back as I can remember, music has been a part of my life just as much as agriculture was. I can remember listening to Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 on the way to church, humming along to George Strait when riding in the tractor with Dad, and cranking the radio so I could hear it over our John Deere lawn mower.

Even today, I listen to my iTunes at the office, run to Pandora on my workouts, and listen to the some alternative tunes when I’m milking cows at work.

My love for music was an avenue for one of my favorite hobbies. During my fifth grade year, we were introduced to band class. At my school, band was available to fifth and sixth graders who were interested. So one afternoon during music, we had a chance to try out the different instruments. I thought it would be cool to play the saxophone, but for some reason, I couldn’t get any of the reed instruments to make a sound without sounding like a flock of geese migrating south for the winter. So I settled with the one instrument I was good at – the trumpet.

Throughout the year, we had requirements we had to meet in order to get a good grade. I had to practice my scales, successfully play songs in our book and show that I practiced at home for two hours a week. At the time, I hated practicing all the time and missing some of my favorite TV shows. But through my elementary and middle school years, I saw the practice pay off. During high school, I worked my way to be one of the youngest first-chair trumpet players at my school at the time.

My junior year in high school, we were preparing for our fall concert.

D – Illinois

Because we practiced all fall for football marching band, we only had two weeks to learn three brand-new songs. I thought this was impossible for the short amount of time we had to learn three very difficult pieces. To make things worse, I was running Cross Country, practicing for FFA Career Development Events and serving as Section 15 Treasurer. The real cherry on top was one of the songs had a trumpet solo that I was given.

That experience really showed me the importance of time management and hard work. I had to juggle my schedules so I could beat my personal best time in Cross Country, study for the Agronomy CDE, help plan the Leadership Training School and nail down my solo. When our fall concert rolled around, I nailed all three of the songs including my 10 measure solo!

Many times, we are faced with challenges that seem to be impossible to accomplish. Whether it’s preparing our Supervised Agricultural Experiences for judging while maintaining good grades or planning our spring banquet on top of filling out scholarships and preparing for college, things can look a bit daunting.

But one skill we all learn in the FFA is time management. I’ve found the FFA gives us many skills like time management that makes us successful in the future.

Just like my music career, the FFA has come to become an integral part of my daily life. Aside from the songs I listen to while I work or run, learning to play the trumpet taught me valuable skills similar to those I’ve learned in the FFA that help me be successful. FFA members, don’t forget the skills you’ve learned as you work to improve your communities along your journey to Miles of Opportunity.

Meet Your State Treasurer Clayton Carley

Growing up on a family farm I always knew that agriculture was important. When I was little, I always loved sitting on my grandpa’s lap and watching as he drove the combine through the fields and harvested the grain. His eyes tell many stories and animate with each expression he makes as he describes the many adventures he lived growing up. He has seen and experienced many different things in his lifetime and has passed much of his knowledge down to me. Sometimes I like to reminisce about the many things I have seen with my eyes and think about what stories I will be able to pass down to future generations.

Even though I grew up on a family farm my entire life, up until high school I never really thought about a career in agriculture.

I wanted to be a chemical engineer and major in chemistry through most of junior high, but I’ll never forget my freshman agriculture class, sitting in Intro to Ag with Mr. Clifton, my teacher, and learning all sorts of new areas about agriculture. The things that I saw with my eyes in class inspired me to try new adventures and take a new perspective on the life that I had been living. With the help of my agriculture teacher I became very involved in the Crescent Iroquois FFA chapter. My small high school of only 54 students made it very easy to participate in just about everything. I was more than willing to participate in every Career Development Event that I could. My sophomore year my teammates and I were able to win the state Ag Sales CDE and bring home silver from nationals. I would continue throughout high school to win three more state CDE titles and compete again at Nationals for Extemporaneous Public Speaking. I told the stories of what my eyes have seen through CDEs, the many life lessons that I have learned, the great times that I have had and even the bad. While I was very successful in contests I will never forget watching my agriculture teacher chew me out for turning in a blank card at the section agronomy contest. Be it a lesson to all, not to do that! I have also seen so many opportunities including business opportunities.

My eyes have also seen a lot of sweet corn! My supportive parents let me rip up part of our front yard and helped me start my own business raising and selling sweet corn at The Sweet Corn Shack. With this

business, I have been able to successfully compete many times and even win the National Agri-Entrepreneurship award.

I will never forget looking out from stage at National Convention and being so excited! My books also allowed me to win state star in Agri-Science while I kept records on input research on corn, soybeans and wheat.

My eyes have also loved watching others grow in their careers in the FFA as well as those who I have been able to help through my service. My favorite summer activity between raising and selling sweet corn is working at a summer camp called Camp Sonshine. Here I love being able to serve as a role model to many young students and teach them so many different opportunities. Serving as a camp counselor is great and brings back the many memories that I had of going to Illinois FFA leadership camp as well!

There are many things that my eyes have seen I will never be able to forget throughout my life. While it was hard to watch my small school close sending me to Cissna Park high school my senior year, I have realized that God has a reason for everything in our lives. While I didn’t want to leave Crescent I would not have made the new friends and seen many new experiences without it. God’s active role in my life has taught me many things. One of my favorite quotes is, “Have a dream so big, that without God’s intervention … It will fail.” Everyone should dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.

In the future, some of my goals are to graduate from the University of Illinois with a double major in Crop Sciences for plant genetics and Agriculture Education, as well as a double minor in Chemistry and Business. I strive to obtain a PhD in Agronomy from Iowa State and serve the Ag industry developing new food crop genetics to help feed the world. I don’t want the whole world on my shoulders, just its food supply. And I know that I have a large industry to help, including the more than 16,000 FFA members here in Illinois alone who I have had the extreme honor of serving this year. Thank you for allowing me to be your state FFA treasurer, and I hope you will set big dreams and never give up. My eyes have seen many different things from our farm to china, faith, family and FFA … what all will yours see?

Illinois – E

State CDE Results

State Food Science Top 10 Teams 1) Pontiac 2) Chicago Ag Science 3) Liberty 4) Calhoun

(State Land Use – Top 10 Individuals continued) 7) Miranda Schlipf – El Paso-Gridley 8) Pedro Avila – Sherrard 9) Patrick Fritz – West Carroll 10) Nathan Gibbs – Roanoke-Benson

5) Midland 6) Unity

State Ag Issues

7) Winchester

1) Hartsburg

8) Heyworth

2) Geneseo

9) Amboy

3) Mt. Vernon

10) Shawnee

4) Midland

Top 10 Individuals

5) Marion

1) Abby Legner – Pontiac 2) Carlie Toepper – Midland

State Job Interview

3) Kayla Grownewald – Unity

1) Jaci Jenkins – Hardin County

4) Emily Carroll – Pontiac

2) Katherine Schmeirbach – Marissa

5) Gabi Dempsey – Unity

3) Courtney Gerstenecker – Carlyle

6) Samantha Martin – Calhoun

4) Ellyne Vance – Eureka

7) Josh Carroll – Pontiac

5) Evan Peach – Mendota

8) Kristi Metzger – Unity 9) Thomas Donley – Unity

State Meats

10) Drew Herridge – Midland

1) Prarie Central 2) Calhoun

State Land Use Top 10 Teams

3) Seneca

1) Canton

State Poultry

2) Roanoke-Benson

1) Paxton-Buckley-Loda

3) Midland

2) Prairie Central

4) El Paso-Gridley

3) Odin

5) Farmington

8) Sherrard

State Parliamentary Procedure

9) Seneca

1) Valmeyer

10) Putnam County

2) Benton

Top 10 Individuals

3) Cumberland

6) West Carroll 7) Goreville

1) Evan Koehler – Midland 2) Mason Shirley – Roanoke-Benson 3) Austin Tarter – Canton 4) Bryce Vaughn – Canton 5) Max Havens – Canton 6) Trenton Potocki – Goreville

F – Illinois

Officers’ Tracks

FFA Alumni Annual Meeting Every year, the Illinois FFA Alumni invites its members to Springfield for their annual meeting. This year proved to be no different, and the major state officers were in attendance. Here they served as emcees, greeters, auctioneers and performed various other jobs to help out. During a very successful FFA Alumni benefit auction, Mike, Jim, Chris, Jacob and Clayton were sold on the labor auction to high bidders.

State Officer Retreat As the year continued and the majors’ schedules became more and more hectic, an officer retreat was scheduled to set some personal time aside. Rend Lake Resort hosted the officers’ three-day break. Here the boys spent time planning out state convention and growing as a team. The time spent away from the office was well spent and definitely enjoyed.

Illinois Food and Products Expo The Illinois Department of Agriculture hosted the Food and Products Expo in the Orr Building at the State Fairgrounds again this year. Here, vendors showcased Illinois grown and made goods and offered samples to approximately 6,000 visitors to the two-day event. The Illinois FFA was more than willing to lend a hand at the expo, with members and the state officers helping to keep the facilities clean. When they weren’t pushing a broom, those in attendance from FFA were helping in vendors’ stands or sampling some of the great Illinois products.

National Agriculture Day During March 6-8, while Mike, Jim, Jacob and Clayton caught up with office happenings, Chris had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. for National Agriculture Day. With more than 100 representatives of the agriculture industry in attendance, Washington was full of young people spreading the importance of agriculture. Chris met with United States Representative Jerry F. Costello and staff members from Senator Mark Kirk’s office. Bringing agriculture awareness to legislatures proved to be a rewarding task.

Banquet Season In the spring, the major state officer team kept busy at the many banquets around the state that they were invited to. Whether it was to announce names of chapter award winners, deliver a keynote address to attendees, or just come and talk to members, being invited to chapter and section banquets was one of the highlights of the majors’ terms. Congratulations to all those who were awarded at a local banquet!

Illinois – G

Officers’ Paths President Mike Shively – After hanging up his blue and gold jacket, Mike plans to work with in the agriculture industry during the summer months. Following some time learning more about agriculture systems, he will be headed to the University of Illinois to major in Crop Science. After his time as a student, Mike plans to work as an agronomist for a major seed company. Best of luck in everything you do, Mike!

Vice President Jim Tobin – Following convention, Jim will be interning in our nation’s capital. During his time as an intern with Tim Johnson’s office, he will be involved with making agriculture policy and learning more about the workings of our government. In the fall, Jim plans to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale to major in Agriculture Education. Jim is still deciding what he wants to do when he graduates from Carbondale. After his time with the FFA, Jim is sure to be successful in all future endeavors!

Reporter Chris Steppig – For Chris, it has always been a dream to retire early from a career. After his term as a state officer, Chris will certainly be enjoying retirement; spending time with family and friends takes top priority during the summer. As for college, Chris plans to attend the University of Illinois, where he will study Technical Systems Management. Chris will be exploring his options after graduation and is still unsure which of many paths to take. Congratulations on your year as a state officer, and thanks for your service!

Secretary Jacob Meisner – When the lights go down on the final session at the 84th Illinois FFA Convention, Jacob will be headed back home. Whether he is helping around his community or working diligently as an intern, Jacob is sure to stay busy. After a summer of rest, Jacob will make the trip to Champaign to study Agriculture Education at the University of Illinois. Following graduation, Jacob will be making his mark on the public school system and inspiring young minds as an agriculture teacher. Nice work this past year Jacob, and best wishes!

Treasurer Clayton Carley – After a year of handling the finances of the Illinois Association FFA, Clayton will be headed home, where his daily life will be about as busy as it was as a state officer. Keeping up with the family farm and his business The Sweet Corn Shack are just a few of the day-to-day chores that Clayton will be taking care of. When college comes into the picture, Clayton will resume his studies as a sophomore while dual enrolled at the University of Illinois and Parkland Community College as part of the Parkland Pathways program. His studies in Crop Sciences and Agricultural Education are sure to make his résumé as solid as a brick wall!

H – Illinois

MISSOURI FFA TODAY

Summer 2012

Got Milk? Goat Milk, That Is

Summer Project Turns into Unique SAE Project SAE Helps Educate Public

BY SAMANTHA WARNER

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aising Nubian milk goats, producing various goat milk products and holding several monthly goat cheese making classes is enough to be a full-time job for any person, but to Cass Midway junior, Katie Nance, it’s all in a day’s work of developing a successful Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).

Six years ago Nance’s mom brought home two does and a 3-day-old kid to keep for the summer to clean out the pasture, which she then planned to sell in the fall. The family quickly fell in love with the goats and didn’t sell

them when the summer ended. Not wanting to just keep them as pets, the family started using the goats as their milk source.

Nance said neighbors and close family started asking to purchase the milk, and then became CONTINUED ON PAGE C

Cass Midway FFA member Katie Nance demonstrates how to make cheese during a Food for America program. The high school junior makes cheddar, ricotta and chevre cheeses as well as other milk products like yogurt, buttermilk and Kefir.

Table of Contents Page B

Page G

The President’s Position

In Their Words

Page D

Page G

Get ‘Em Back to the Farm

FFA Calendar

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THE PRESIDENT’S POSITION The Power of Your Attitude

2011-2012 State FFA Officers Area Officer 1 Evan Grusenmeyer - 1st V.P.

Smithville

2 Zach Grossman

Tina-Avalon 3 Brady James - President

Knox County 4 Cody Jones

Fulton 5 Corey Hudson

Silex 6 Kelsey Forqueran - Secretary

Malta Bend 7 Kollen Chapman

Osceola 8 Jill Blankenship

Eldon 9 Samantha Whittaker

Miller 10 Megan Mayfield

Fair Grove 11 John Littlefield

Diamond 12 Meagan Green

Branson 13 Lane Howard

Salem 14 Trina Stumpe

Sullivan 15 Adam Birk

Jackson 16 Sarah Davis

Poplar Bluff 2

Jon Black - Past Pres.

Chillicothe

Department of Elem. & Sec. Education P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: (573) 751-3544.

District Supervisors: Nancy Alford, Leon Busdieker, Oscar Carter, Keith Dietzschold, Lisa Evans & Steven Rogers Missouri FFA Today • Joann Pipkin, Editor 3674 S. State Hwy N • Republic, MO 65738 Email: joann.pipkin@att.net Phone: (417) 732-8552

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BY BRADY JAMES STATE FFA PRESIDENT

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sat there watching my newborn calf awkwardly wobble in an effort to stand. He finally was capable of pulling his feet under himself to stand on his own to nurse. While looking at the newest addition to my herd I thought to myself, “This little guy will by my next show steer.”

When the time came to pick out my steer there was no other option than that little calf. I named him Buster, and began working with him the day after Christmas. I spent hours preparing Buster for the show in July, and I knew he was going to win— no problem.

July came all too slowly for me. But when it finally arrived, Buster was weighing a whopping 1400 pounds. I had him all fit and looking pretty to take into the ring. To me, I had won my class no problem just by showing up.

The entire class went through the usual routine of walking around the ring, and the judge began to place the class. It came down to the final two steers competing for first place. Buster was one of the two. The judge looked at him and raised two fingers. I had been placed second. My dreams were crushed. I stomped out of the ring dragging my steer behind me.

My attitude that day was horrible. I did not even realize that I was setting an example that day, an example to younger members and to the people in the audience.

Attitudes are powerful things.

Attitudes can be the difference between “I won’t” and “I can”.

Attitudes can turn disappointment into drive, and dread into ambition. YOUR attitude can be the wind behind your sails. Which direction are you heading?

GOT A STORY IDEA? We’d love to hear from you.

Email your story ideas to: joann.pipkin@att.net

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to Department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Office of the General Counsel, Coordinator – Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/Age Act), 6th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A interested in other products the family was producing. Over time Nance slowly took over the business, named Serene Caprines, and has continued to expand it.

“Every year we try to expand.

The herd was the first thing to grow.

We purchase or keep kids each year to steadily expand our herd.

We buy new equipment, too, (such as) a refrigerator strictly for milk, a milking machine and recently we invested in the technology to accept credit cards,” Nance said.

Nance now has seven milkers, two bucks and three does, which are all Nubian or Nubian/Alpine crosses. She produces feta, mozzarella, cheddar, ricotta and chevre cheeses as well as other milk products like yogurt, buttermilk and Kefir. Outside of the milk products, Nance also offers cheese-making classes several weekends a month.

Nance says she enjoys being a young entrepreneur, but says there are challenges to face like her age and the stigma around goat milk. As a result, she says she has learned to be confident and very knowledgeable in her subject.

“People are absolutely horrified that the cheeses and milk come from goats. It has gotten a bad reputation. The only thing I can do is ask them to try it and then make a decision. Almost always they are pleasantly surprised,” Nance says.

As an FFA member and agriculturalist, Nance says one of her favorite parts of her project is the educational aspect. Through the cheese-making class and giving

demonstrations at school she has the opportunity to share the positive message of agriculture.

“The majority of my students come from an urban background and don’t know anything about agriculture. They take the (cheesemaking) class as an interest in different foods,” Nance said. “I feel CONTINUED ON PAGE F Katie Nance works to dry off a newborn kid as part of her Supervised Agricultural Experience. The young entrepreneur’s project includes milk goats, as well as marketing both goat cheese and milk.

She’s a member of the Cass Midway FFA Chapter.

• Agriculture • Drafting & Design Technology • Industrial Control & Automation Technology • Machine Tool Technology • Turf & Landscape Management • Welding We are an open enrollment College that accepts A+ students!

417-447-7500 . www.otc.edu

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Headed Back to the Farm?

New Century Farmer Program Opens Doors

develop vision, gain perspective

BY SAMANTHA WARNER

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FA members are the future of production agriculture.

Continuing a tradition, moving an industry forward and proceeding with a family legacy are just a few of the motives that drive young American agriculturalists to enter the production agriculture industry. With only two percent of the country’s population actively involved in production agriculture and the average age

of the American farmer being 57, agriculture needs more young adults to return to the farm.

National FFA’s New Century Farmer program helps foster this movement.

Every year 50 individuals are selected from across the country to participate in this elite program.

The conference focuses on helping each participant develop a vision for his or her own operation, gain entrepreneurial leadership skills, learn practical knowledge, gain a global perspective on agriculture and foster continuous personal growth.

800-778-6452 / www.mofb.org

AGRICULTURE

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Last summer Missouri was fortunate to have five participants in the program. Two of those students were Nancy Jackson, junior at the University of Missouri-Columbia from the Macon FFA Chapter, and Shane Cooper, recent graduate of Northwest Missouri State University from the Chillicothe FFA Chapter.

“When I first applied, I (did so) thinking that I would never get accepted because I was only a freshman in college and came from a small agricultural operation. When I received the email I was ecstatic that I would have the opportunity to be around so many others all from a production background!” Jackson says.

Jackson and Cooper say the program is full of informative, social and hands-on experiences.

Every morning the conference began with a speaker who focused on issues such as: agriculture economics, farm banking and finance, current issues in agriculture and organizations that are harmful to production agriculture. There were also many small group discussions and tours throughout the week.

“I cannot express the amount of valuable information and experiences that are available at the conference,” Cooper explains.

“Even if one is not planning on returning to the farm right away, I still recommend the conference to become more aware of issues, to meet new producers from across the U.S. and to hear interesting

National FFA’s New Century Farmer Program assists college-age members with vision development, entrepreneurial leadership skills and global perspective as well as fostering continuous personal growth. Missouri had five program participants in 2011.

aspects from some of the top professionals in the ag industry.

By recognizing the most important characteristics I wanted my operation to have, I am now more able to set better goals to get to the point I want to be with my farm.�

One day of the conference is also dedicated to developing CONTINUED ON PAGE F

is all social now. www.todaysfarmermagazine.com www.facebook.com/todaysfarmer todays_farmer

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE C like this is a way I can be an advocate for agriculture and really explain to people why many of us do what we do. I love showing people the process of farm-to-table and putting the agriculture industry in a positive light.”

Nance first grew her business through word of mouth, but now has expanded to magazine ads, online

ads, a website and Facebook page. Find her on the Web at www.serenecaprines.com.

Other aspects of Nance’s SAE include a garden, chickens, pigs and a llama. When she isn’t busy with her business Nance is also the Area VII FFA Secretary, Cass Midway’s chapter president and a member of NHS and PALS.

Education that Works

800.743.8324 www.linnstate.edu

A+

an Since 1961

F

eligible college

CONTINUED FROM PAGE E leadership skills by working through a ropes course with the other participants, providing a great opportunity to bond with the other members.

“The highlight of the trip was definitely just meeting all the other attendees,” Jackson said. “Some of these people I still talk to on a regular basis and the memories we have together are some that are definitely irreplaceable. We constantly are on Facebook trying to find times to reconnect.”

Both Jackson and Cooper adamantly recommend applying for the conference. They also encourage anyone who is accepted to enter the conference with an open mind. Be prepared to listen to the speakers and the other participants, but also don’t be afraid to share your own ideas and experiences.

“I never dreamed of being accepted to such an elite program, but I am SO glad I spent the time to fill out the application and attend the conference. I truly believe in the saying “nothing ventured, nothing gained” because CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

In Their Words Up close with your Missouri State FFA Officers

ADAM BIRK

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was in my advisor’s office working when Mr. Burkemper came in and told me that he had received a phone call from a man saying that our chapter banquet was one of the best-run banquets he had ever attended. I was ecstatic.

Throughout the 2010-2011 school year I had served as the Jackson FFA Chapter President and, to me, the determining factor of how well I did as president came down to the chapter banquet. The day before the banquet we had a practice, but not many officers were there and it didn’t go well. I was nervous, frustrated and even became a little bit angry with my fellow officers because I didn’t think that they were ready. I could just see the banquet not running well because no one was prepared. Hours before the banquet, we came together for our final practice. I knew I had prepared as completely as I could and to my surprise so did all of the other officers. The final practice went smoothly and before too long we were starting opening ceremonies. The entire banquet ran so perfectly that before I knew it the new president tapped the gavel to adjourn.

My dream of a well-run banquet to end my year as president was achieved beyond my expectations, and it was all due to my fellow officers. Even though I had temporarily lost faith in my officer team and thought the banquet would not pull together it showed me that we should always do our part in a job but to truly achieve success we must rely and have faith in others. As FFA members, we literally have thousands of people to lean on. Just remember to trust them and you will all harvest success.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE you never know what door will open to you when you put the effort out,” Jackson said.

Jackson and Cooper both made a point to explain that it doesn’t matter what one’s background is upon arriving at the conference. Everyone is from different walks of life, different sized farms, and no one has the same opinion.

“No matter who you are, where you are from, why you produce, or how large your operation is, this experience is one in a lifetime,” Cooper said.

FFA Calendar Missouri FFA—on the Move JUNE

1 Teacher & Student Agri -Science Apps. DUE 4-8 Missouri Agribusiness Academy Tour

St. Louis 4-July 13 Missouri FFA Camp Rising Sun

Lake of the Ozarks~Kaiser, Mo. 5-7 Public Speaking Academy—UCM

Warrensburg 8-9 Area Officer Institute—Camp Rising Sun

Lake of the Ozarks~Kaiser, Mo. 22-24 HYMAX Academy—Camp Rising Sun

Lake of the Ozarks~Kaiser, Mo.

JULY

1 Livestock Entries DUE for State Fair 15 Agri-Entrepreneurship Applications DUE

to National FFA 20 The Leadership Adventure Registration DUE 23-26 Mo. ACTE Conference—Springfield 27-8/5 Ozark Empire Fair—Springfield

AUGUST 1 3-4 9-19

The Leadership Adventure—Columbia The Leadership Adventure—Springfield Missouri State Fair—Sedalia

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oklahoma outlook

Summer 2012

Former FFA member is ...

Miss Oklahoma

... and almost Miss America

Photo by Robert Carroll

Betty Thompson grew up on a small dairy farm near Davenport, Oklahoma. (Her mom described that farm as an Ag project that got out of hand.) As an elementary student, Betty and her siblings had to get the cows milked and all their other chores done before they went to school every day. Betty believes that instilled in her a sense of responsibility and a strong work ethic. As she puts it, “Do the work first and I come second.”

Betty graduated Valedictorian from Davenport High School in 2007. While in school, she was active in FFA, 4-H, Student Council, McTeggart Irish Dancers, and FCA. Betty served as class president all four years of high school as well as Northeast District 4-H President her senior year.

She became Miss Oklahoma in 2011. In January of 2012 Betty competed in the Miss America pageant where she won the Peoples’ Choice

Photo by Leigh Thompson

Photo by Leigh Thompson

Award and finished as first runner-up. When her term as Miss Oklahoma is complete, she will return to Oklahoma State University to complete her degree in Elementary Education.

Looking back on her early days on the farm, Betty says, “That responsibility carries over into so many things. Just like the baby calves depended on me to get their bottles on time, now my students depend on me to be there every single day at school, to be there willing and ready to teach and to engage them in their classes.

The hard work ethic carries over into everything in my life.”

Betty’s emphasis in FFA was public speaking. When she won Miss Oklahoma, one of the judges said, “You seem so comfortable in front of the room talking to people,” and I told them I’d been doing public speaking

since high school. That was something that really paid off for me because I am not afraid to get up in front of a crowd.”

Betty’s ag teacher, Robert Carroll, pushed her to do Parliamentary Procedure something she wasn’t particularly interested in doing. “But by the time I was finished I was so happy I did it. It was all about going to a competition and not being an individual competitor, learning to compete as a team member. My public speaking was alone, my dancing was alone, all of those things I was doing by myself. Mr. Carroll pushed me on to a team effort and I am very grateful for that. Parli Pro (Continued on page H)

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You can read more about Betty on the Miss Oklahoma website: missoklahoma.org

Meet Your Hannah Nemecek, 2011-2012 Northeast District Vice President

“Okay, Hannah. Here it goes.”

That’s how I encourage myself while heading into the huge show ring. The lights are shining brightly on me as I drive my pig to the perfect spot in the ring. I try to conceal my nervousness while the judge gives my pig a concentrated gaze. One by one, the other pigs begin heading to the placing pens. At last, it is down to one other showman and me.

The two of us continue driving our pigs, waiting for the judge’s final decision.

Just prior to heading to the microphone, the judge looks me in the eye and holds up his index finger, indicating first place. What?! I am first? The shocked look on my face immediately transforms into a huge grin. As I confidently guide my pig back to her pen,

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I bask in the glory, while people are applauding and congratulating me.

As early as the next day, no one remembers my glorious moment. The only thing left as a reminder of my win is a plaque that sits on a dusty shelf in my room.

I used to believe that winning meant everything. Why else would I work so hard? But my experiences in the FFA have taught me that the glory of success lasts only for a moment. The only things that endure are the lessons learned and the memories made.

Now don’t get me wrong.

That “moment” is important and winning is sweet! But we must also remember that the medals, plaques, trophies and ribbons will all one day end up on a dusty shelf or in an old storage box. The important things are those that will last forever—the lifelong friends you make, the skills you learn and the memories you experience.

Psalm 39:4 reads, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”

I know you’ve heard it over and over again—life is short! I challenge you to live your life like you truly believe it. Hang out with your parents. Call your grandma. Eat chocolate cake. And never ever forget to thank God for each day that you’re given!

Hannah was homeschooled until the 7th grade

State Officers Brandon Baumgarten, 2011-2012 State Secretary

“Those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action.”

Thomas Jefferson If you were to look back at America’s history, you would discover a group of individuals called “Minutemen.” During the Revolutionary War, these men were ready upon a minute’s notice to fight the British.

They were patriots who passionately believed in the freedom of America. Because of their efforts, they changed the course of our country’s future. These brave men were unique because they lived with a purpose, and they responded to the call of duty.

Today when you hear the term “call of duty,” you most likely think of the popular video game sweeping the globe. But the call of duty I’m talking about is one you won’t

find on your personal Xbox or PlayStation. Instead, it can be found on the streets, in your school, church, or even in your own backyard. This call of duty is the opportunity to serve others and make a difference in someone’s life.

Guess what? Today, YOU have been called. YOU have been purposed. YOU have been empowered to make that difference. Many people say they want to make a difference, but today I challenge you to go one step further: to LIVE that difference every day.

The FFA gives each of us many opportunities to make a difference. However, it is up to you and me to take advantage of these opportunities. Maybe you’ve been struggling to memorize a speech. Or possibly your show animal isn’t turning out quite like you’d hoped. Never give up on yourself or your goals. I promise that your involvement, your struggles, your successes and your failures are impacting the lives of those around you. It’s truly amazing how merely taking advantage of opportunities touches the lives of so many others.

FFA members, each one of us has our own “call of duty” – a duty to ourselves, a duty to Christ, a duty to our chapter and a duty to lead through service. The question is, When your duty calls, how will you respond?

Brandon’s favorite movie is Facing the Giants

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Looking Forward to Y ou O nly G et O ut W hat Y ou P ut I n

Bill Cordes loves FFA. “FFA is a very accepting culture.

There are kids with all different abilities, all different resources that are given to them, and it doesn’t matter. They all want to hear, they all want to understand. Everybody has something to contribute. I really appreciate that about FFA.”

“Everybody has a chance to excel at something, at real-life skills.

That’s what’s really cool – they’re learning stuff that they’re really going to use in life.”

“Alumni Leadership Camp is about putting kids in a clean, powerful, positive environment for three and a half days and seeing who they can become. It’s amazing what happens, and it happens over and over again.”

To get the most out of what Bill teaches us, you have to do two things: first you have to focus, then you have to adjust. You have to focus on a goal, like running for an office or trying out for a school play. Once you have chosen a goal, you have to continually adjust, to make sure your activities are leading you toward, not away from, your goal.

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Mr. YOGOWYPI, aka Bill Cordes, will be back this year. Don’t miss out!

2012 Alumni Camp!

Owen Hossack also loves FFA. He loves Alumni Camp, too, but

The unicycle thing “People say it’s about being balanced, but it’s not. It’s really about being unbalanced and moving forward. You have to be unbalanced to move forward.”

that wasn’t always the case.

Owen went to his first alumni camp after his 8th grade year. He didn’t want to go and he was totally stressed out for about a week beforehand. “I was not necessarily shy, but pretty quiet and not all that sociable.” Everyone told him about all the fun he would have and all the people he would meet and get to know, but that just made it worse.

“I hated it the first day. But something happened that night. The speaker (Bill Cordes) challenged us to get out of our comfort zone and take advantage of this opportunity. I woke up the next morning with a different attitude: I was going to go out and meet people and get as much out of this camp experience as I could. After breakfast that second morning, I was hooked.”

“I had the time of my life, and I knew on the bus trip back home that I had to go back the next year.” He’s been back every year since, and now he’s the Student Director.

“My responsibility is basically to plan camp, to come up with the agenda, the list of events, the order in which they’re going to happen. It’s my job, along with Mr. Boggs, to select the small group leaders. I work with the state officers in preparing their material, including introductions and their nightly reflections.”

The list of things Owen does goes on and on, way more than we have room for here. Suffice it to say, he has a lot to keep up with.

As Student Director at camp, Owen’s day starts at 6:00 AM. He meets with the small group leaders at 7:15. Then, at 7:30 the campers run in to the pavilion, and it’s “go time.”

There’s something going on just about every minute of every day, and it doesn’t slow down much, if ever. “My goal is just to stay one step ahead of everything that’s going to happen.”

Owen’s long term goals for Alumni Camp are simple. “I want it to do for kids today what it did for me. I want a positive difference to happen in the students.” He also wants to get more students to come to camp. “I don’t mean necessarily increasing the number of people at camp, but getting more students the opportunity to come. There are nearly 24,000 FFA members in Oklahoma, but only 1,600 of them get to go to alumni camp. I wish I could get more people to have that experience.”

“The friends you’ll make, the connections you’ll make, the skills you’ll develop, will last you a lifetime. It will make a difference in your life.”

Owen is a sophomore at OSU, majoring in Ag-Ed and Animal Science. After graduation, he plans to be an Ag teacher, then run for political office. His dream job is to move to Florida and open a charter fishing service.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Rick Rigsby

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If you like being in Ag Class, if you like being in FFA, Just imagine if you were an Ag teacher ...

“It’s not a 9 to 5 job. You’re working hand in hand with students inside and outside the classroom. You’re building strong relationships with those individuals, like a coach would. You’re putting in extra time and effort.

You’re not just going to class and teaching until 3:00.”

“It’s a blast, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Something that not everybody gets to do. It’s something that you gain a lot from. You grow as a person. You grow as a teacher. You find things out really fast.”

“It’s more than just a paycheck.

A lot of jobs you can’t say that.

Cody Nieman’s dad was his Ag teacher. “I grew up in the front seat of an Ag truck. I’ve been around Ag teachers my whole life.”

As a teacher in Skiatook, Oklahoma, Mr. Nieman now has his own Ag truck and he’s still hanging around with Ag teachers.

In Oklahoma, the Ag teachers are like a big family. “It’s like a fraternity. Everybody relies on everybody.” Nieman talks to other Ag teachers, including his dad, just about every day. “We rely on each other a lot. You always have their support. They’re always going to be there for you. Whatever you need.”

His decision to become an Ag

“You’ve definitely got to have a passion for it – the passion that you want to see everybody do well.

You want everybody to do the best they can. Just like a father wants his kids to do better than they did, Ag teachers want their kids to do better than they did.”

teacher was a no-brainer. “It had always been a part of my life. It was something I always knew that I was probably going to end up doing.

There was never a question.”

And he knew what it was going to be like.

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“Everybody sees Ag teachers as experts on everything. We may not be experts on everything, but we know a little bit about a lot of things.”

How Cool Would That Be?

Mason Jones

says he was lucky to have a man like Gerald Parks as his first Ag teacher. “He was my role model and he helped all the students find their niche.”

For Mr. Jones, that niche was leadership and public speaking.

Today, Mr. Jones is the role model for his own students in Harrah, Oklahoma.

“When I started, I didn’t know if I could do this because of all the different things you have to do, but they (OSU) really do a good job of building your confidence. They really do a good job of preparing you to be a teacher.”

Mr. Jones says the rewards for

ects. And they’re going to take on the business side, too.”

“These are the students who would never have the opportunity to have the traditional experience, but we can teach them things about agriculture that they can use in other areas of their lives, like responsibility and work ethic.

That’s really important.” an Ag teacher come in many forms and happen almost every day.

“Being able to see the kids in my Ag communications class who never dreamed they could stand in front of not only me but the whole class and be able to give a presentation that’s pretty cool.”

Because he teaches in a suburban school, many of Mr. Jones’ students don’t have the opportunity to show an animal and have ownership in that, so he encourages them to get involved in horticulture and other areas. “I love how they really take ownership in the greenhouse. Those are their plants. Those are their proj-

“Being an Ag teacher is fun to me. I really enjoy it. I enjoy hanging out with these kids and teaching them what I know and also learning alongside them. I really enjoy being up and around and doing something different every day. I love getting to go out in that greenhouse and working and I love sitting and listening to these kids talk to me about the agricultural topic that their speech is about.”

“I’m getting to teach the things that I want to teach.”

“FFA is relevant for anybody. You can find your niche no matter what.

There are over 300 different careers in agriculture.”

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Miss Oklahoma, Betty Thompson (Continued from page A)

taught me to hear other people’s ideas, and that’s not just important in a meeting, that’s important in everyday life.” It also encouraged her to become a chapter officer. “I never would have become an officer if I hadn’t done Parli Pro.” “When you go to FFA activities, they’re constantly pulling you out of your comfort zone and building your leadership skills. The things I gained from FFA were really those life skills.”

Betty was an excellent student in high school and she was involved in lots of outside activities. One of

her favorites was Irish dancing.

“That really consumed my high school years. I was out of school a lot because I was always traveling to competitions. That was also a responsibility issue, making sure I got my work done.”

“Balancing school, dance practice and traveling internationally was huge for me. I kept straight A’s and that was the agreement: if my grades started to slip, I had to give something up. That pushed me to give 100 percent in every area. I knew I had to give 100 percent in school, 100 percent in dance, 100 percent in FFA, and 100 percent in 4-H. Everything had to be “all in” or you’re not doing it.”

“It’s all about belief in yourself, and it has to start with you.

As Miss Oklahoma, Betty travels all around the state, speaking to students about a number of topics, chief among them being the importance of setting personal goals.

“Your goals are your map in life.

You have an ultimate destination of success, but you may not know exactly what success entails. All of the goals that you set for yourself are like towns that you stop in on

the way to your ultimate destination.”

Goals are important because they help you “accumulate all these different experiences and skills that you’re going to need to be successful in life. I know I wouldn’t be successful right now if I hadn’t set goals in high school and been involved in the organizations I was involved in.”

“One thing I always talk to students about is having self-respect.

That’s something I see lacking in a lot of students. That really has to be the push. I can’t push somebody to achieve something. I can’t even push them to set goals. They have to find that self-respect and the belief in themselves that they can do anything. That’s the biggest thing I tell students – that they can do anything that they want to do.

The sky’s the limit. You just have to want it bad enough to work for it.”

“You have to find your niche.

You have to find what makes you happy, what you’re passionate about. It might not be a pageant. It might not be dancing. It might be sports. It might be FFA. If that’s your niche – that’s where you go.”

“It’s all about belief in yourself, and it has to start with you.”

Betty’s Miss Oklahoma platform is “Milk - It Really Does A Body Good”

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