What a Weekend...

Hey all!
I am back from Minnesota!  I had a fabulous idea to blog every evening about what I had done that day, so as not to forget it...but then I realized I was exhausted every evening, and even went to bed at 9 last night...though I woke up when my roommates came home half an hour later. :)

But now that I am back, I will record all that I can remember, starting with Friday.

My Friday started at around 7, when Wyatt DeJong from South Dakota picked me up and we made our way to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  We were met there by Katie Zenk from Minnesota, Eric Sawatzke, the Dassel-Cokato Minnesota agriculture teacher who organized the event, and two of Mr. Sawatzke's freshman students: Joel and Evan.  Then after getting our visitor passes (very fancy!) we went upstairs to a conference room with Agriculture in the Classroom coordinator Al Withers.

We first heard from Mr. Withers about the importance of agricultural literacy in society at any age.  After Mr. Withers brief remarks, we embarked on a day of presentations about agricultural issues.  Mr. Withers expected a lot of us and encouraged us to ask the presenters questions so that we could get what we needed out of each presentation, and I really appreciated that.  It forced me to be more confident!

The first meeting was about Livestock Development and Animal Agriculture Issues.  I learned quite a bit about how animal agriculture is dealing with issues raised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  Just learning more about these issues increases my desire to become an effective communicator for the agricultural industry!  I understand more now that agriculture- commercial, organic, small farmers and industrial farmers, farmers who support ethanol and those who don't- need to ban together to promote agriculture as a whole.  And the one great thing I learned is- I need to learn more about these types of issues so I can more effectively discuss them!

The second meeting was with the director of Dairy and Food Inspection Division and we discussed Keeping Food Safe.  We discussed how different types of salmonella infects food, and how food safety needs to come from legislation and self-policing.  I also learned about the "raw milk movement," something I didn't really know existed, and how agricultural communicators need to target the "raw milk curious" in telling the story of the scientific facts surrounding the safety (or lack there of) of raw milk.  I never even realized raw milk was so dangerous, as I grew up drinking it, and that reminds me, I need to ask my mom if she was trying to kill us all with E.coli.  :)

After a quick break, we heard from the a member of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff about Social Media in Today's Agriculture.  Being a communications junkie...I'd have to say this was my favorite presentation of the day!  I learned so much about how the agricultural industry is using (or isn't using!) social media to target specific audiences and to tell their story.  I loved the example used about the support Yellow Tail Wine gave to HSUS and the Facebook backlash that was the result.  It gave me more hope about the difference we can make in policy and in public perception through communication.

After that we talked about Environmental Policy and Water Quality.  This presentation was pretty interesting because of the amount of rain Minnesota had been getting in the last few days.  At one point the presenter flipped a glass vial of clear water over so that we could see how contaminated it was, and I was shocked!  I think more than anything it was good to be exposed to a different kind of agriculture and the other careers available in the environmental sciences.

Minnesota Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture ended the day with a few words of advice.  I loved hearing her story about how FFA gave her a career pathway in agriculture even though she was never a "farm kid."  I also loved one of the things she told us:

"Be readers and be leaders.  You never know who's watching."

After leaving the Department of Agriculture, we made a brief stop at the FFA Leadership Center and the Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  I could only imagine what that big building looks like full of pregnant animals- but I'm sure it would be an impressive thing to see in reality sometime!

Then we headed to the University of Minnesota to eat pizza and meet with Dr. Leising about the pros and cons of program affiliation.  This was another one or my favorite parts of the day, because I felt very comfortable and confident with my knowledge of program affiliation, but also got a much better handle on why some advisors are wary of the new program.

After a stop to change out of our official dress, Jessica (who met up with us at the Department of Ag around 11) and I hopped into Wyatt's car to drive to Hutchinson High School, about an hour or so away.  We had the opportunity to talk a lot about how we had been preparing for National Office, what we enjoyed most about National Office, and what kind of FFA programs we'd been involved with in the past.  We also had the opportunity to pick Wyatt's brain about what the process at National Convention is really like- since he ran last year.  And we talked about some fun stuff- like what kind of beverages we prefer with popcorn. :)

When we arrived at Hutchinson we had an open forum discussion with local and current high school ag teachers to discuss the different hot topics for essays and stand and delivers.  I learned a lot I didn't know- like that the National FFA no longer offers that H.O. Sargent award!  I also learned a little bit about the Perkin's Technical Skills Attainment exam- enough to know that I needed to know more about that.  That became even more obvious the next day...but that story is for my next blog posting.  

After the forum discussion we had a dinner with the Minnesota FFA Alumni.  It was a great casual opportunity to meet with many different people, including FFA members, legislators, and farm bureau personnel.  I realize I need to be more proactive about getting people to talk about themselves, but I got a lot of really good advice and learned a lot from the people I met.  We stayed and visited for quite a while!

One thing I reflected on Friday night was that no matter what happens, I can make a difference and use my leadership skills in the next year, and I'm prepared to do so.  I also liked some advice from a former National Officer Candidate about the process:

"Sell yourself.  You need to act like, 'I don't need to be a National Officer, but the National FFA Organziation needs me on their National Officer team!"

I felt really good about everything that night, and still (inexplicably!) confident.  I know I need to work on my knowledge of agricultural issues, but I feel validated in that I have a good knowledge of program affiliation and the other hot topics.  

There goes Day 1.  Day 2 gets its own blog post next, so stay tuned. Also- I'm so fired up about convention! It's coming so fast, but I say bring it on! Come that week, I'll be as ready as I could hope to be.  But until then, my every spare minute is going to prep!  I only have four more hours until I've reached 400 hours.  I probably won't make it to 500, but my goal range was 300-500, so I still feel good about where I'll be.

Have a great Monday!   I get a double dose of improv tonight, so I know I will.
Rachel

I believe in being happy myself...

Yesterday was a very long day:

9:30- Creative Arts Class
10:20- Piano Practice
11:30- Piano Lesson
12:00- When I was supposed to have lunch, except I forgot to pack it...
12:30- Choir
1:30- Walked back to my car and then driving around lost in Logan
2:00- Arrived at the temple to do baptisms.  Felt some much needed peace.
3:00- Go back to the condo. Eat lunch, fold some laundry, temporarily avoid responsibility.
4:00- Search every shoe store in Logan for official dress shoes!
5:30- Arrive on campus triumphant, with two potential shoe candidates and four pairs of black nylons.  Study for thirty minutes.
6:00- Visit Scott in his new apartment, eat dinner, watch Glee!
7:00- Improv Practice
9:00- Antics Troupe Auditions.  Had to pay scrupulous attention, because people's "happiness depends on me."
12:15- Cast votes for who the two new troupe members should be.
12:30- Argued about vote results.
12:35- Went back to Scott's apartment to pick up the keys that I left there 6+ hours before.
12:45- Returned to my car and began driving back to the condo for the night.
12:47- Got pulled over by a cop because my headlight is out and I forgot to turn on my brights.  Asked for mercy because it was (techincally!) my birthday.
1:00- Back on the road.  Feeling melancholy.
1:10- Returned to the condo.  Ate a Fudgsicle because I felt crappy.
1:20- Collapse into bed to have bad dreams about dying elephants and their elephant offspring.

Today was just as stressful, if not more, and included taking my car to the shop and riding the bus onto campus, passing out improv fliers, and carrying my Minnesota luggage with me everywhere...resulting in looking like an idiot.

On my way to the airport I had some time to just sit and think, which was nice.  I also had some time to read more in my new book, Blue Jackets Gold Standards, the FFA 75th Anniversary Book, which I am really enjoying so far.  And I got to a section about the Creed, so I started going over it.

*Embarrassing Confession*
I don't really know the Creed by heart...at least, not anymore. I used to, at one time, but now the third and fourth paragraph just jumble all together in my head for some reason.

So because of this embarrassing confession, I thought I might go over the Creed in my head again and try to get it to stick.  What if someone this weekend asks me to recite it...or worse, someone at Convention!?

I stopped when I got to the last line in the third paragraph, which reads:

"[I believe] in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me."

And then I thought about my melancholy last night.  What it was about anyway, I'm not exactly sure...I just felt kind of blah.  Like my life has been going by too fast and it's been to stressful, I don't know.  And then I had this stupid thought (or half a thought): "But when/if I become a National Officer-" and I was going to think, "I'll be happier," but I stopped myself and finished the sentence with "nothing will change."

What a stupid thing to think, even though I know that happiness is the key to success, and not the other way around.  Besides, life as a National Officer...would be hard!  I'd be just as stressed if not more, and I know if I don't learn to be happy now, it's not magically going to come then.

Just like when I was a state officer.  Don't get me wrong, I wanted to be a state officer more than anything in the world but that didn't mean my senior year was fun all the time.  In fact, I was unhappy a lot, even though I was very blessed and fortunate and successful.

I never thought of it as something I stood for, being happy.  Whenever I've studied the Creed before I always focused on the second paragraph and told my story of being chased by the goose.  I never even really, fully comprehended that if I really live by the FFA Creed, that means that I believe in being happy.

So that's another thing I'm working on.  And this weekend is bound to bring some happiness, because (1) it's my birthday, and (2) I'm in Minnesota attending a National Officer Candidate Training Weekend!  It already reminds me of my good old State Officer summer... I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to be here this weekend and I know I'll learn a lot.

Two other things on my mind tonight.

1) FFA has had a huge jump in membership, have you heard?  The official tally for this year is 523,309 members, which I find incredibly exciting.

2) I feel very confident today.  I don't know why that is exactly.  I feel like this is what I am supposed to be doing and I just feel...confident in my abilities.  Which is a very calm feeling.  Awesome.

Well I have an early morning tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted! (get it?)

Rachel

Check out Mark!

Hey guys,
I got an email at work today pointing me to this article.  It's about my friend and a member of my home FFA chapter, Mark Simon, and his nettle tea business.

Picture courtesy of The Frontiersman

There are two main reasons I love that this article was written.  1- It's always great to have FFA in the news and get our name out there, and 2- Mark deserves it!  His business is phenomenal.  I have seen this kid grow into an awesome person and I'm so proud of what he has done through FFA and in life.  His SAE is an aweosme example to the kids in our chapter who don't have developed SAEs yet. 

Mark says in the article that Derek and I introduced him to FFA, but that's all we did.  He then took off and did his SAE entirely by himself.  Still, sometimes when I feel like I haven't done anything big or grandios in my FFA career, I like to look back at the "lowly, nameless freshman" (his words, not mine!) that I invited to an event one day, and that has gone on to do such great things.

Congratulations, Mark.  You really are an incredible person.
PS- You should run for State Office next year, just saying. :)

Awesome Numbers

Hey everybody!
Let's just get to it, shall we?  This week had a lot of cool numbers in it!

I look fantastic in Official Dress. :)

My speech at the South Anchorage Rotary went well on Thursday- at least I feel like it did.  There were about 70 people there, which made me nervous, but I got a standing ovation and a woman tried to offer me her son's hand in marriage...so I'd say those are good indicators of success. :)  But I felt really good about it as well.  I just watched the recording of it yesterday, and I was pleased.  I added some new material but didn't forget any of it, and I included only four U-Ms.  (that's a word I'm not allowed to say anymore.  I owe Rayne ten cents every time I do, so far we're up to $1.20.)  I've enlisted my mom to listen to it and give me harsher criticism as well.  I know I need to work on using the stage better and  on answering questions s-l-o-w-l-y.  But overall I think it went really well.  I got a business card from a woman who is the president of Toast Masters in Anchorage, so I think I'll try to get into Anchorage and check them out one of these days.

And thanks to that speech, and the other studying I've been doing (of course) I did another 50 hours in just three weeks!  That's 250 in all!  And that's half way to my goal of 500!  Hip hip hooray for me!

As for today, I took the day off of work and am having a study marathon.  I just spent a good chunk of time calling people to schedule speaking opportunities.  That is really hard for me, I'm discovering I'm not a very good self-promoter.  Anyone reading this though, seriously- I'm looking for places to give speeches!  And to give workshops especially.  So if you know of any, call me at 907-355-1685 and let me know.  You'd be my hero.

And one last, totally fantastic, really big number: 520,000.  That's the number that the National FFA estimates will be exceeded by the 2009-2010 membership tally (which doesn't officially end until August 31st)...and it's an all-time membership high!  This number  marks an increase of over 10,000 members since the last record, which was set in 1977.  I'm totally thrilled about this, guys, can you tell?  You can read the official press release here, if you're interested.

Have an awesome Wednesday, and I'll be here, still studying. :)
Rachel

Changes in leadership and last names

I saw some big news on the FFA website today.  I feel both happy and sad.

First: Dr. Larry Case is retiring in January.

Dr. Case has been the FFA advisor for 26 years- longer than I have been alive.  He is an icon for FFA members, he's the Big Owl!  I've never, ever thought about him retiring.

Here's the press release, if you're interested. 

Dr. Case was my first FFA idol.  I remember traveling to SPC with Taylor in July of 2008.  As we rode our taxi to the hotel at 2 AM, we started wondering if anyone would be awake to welcome us.  Jokingly, I said, "Oh, I'm sure all the National Officers will be waiting in the lobby, and Dr. Case will give us a huge hug."  Then we laughed, and Taylor said, "Unlikely...but that would be awesome!"

We were not greeted by Larry Case in the lobby at 2 AM, but the next day he joined us for the opening session.  I was astonished!  This is a man whose name I memorized my sophomore year for the FFA info test.  This is a man who knows more about agricultural education than most people would learn in two lifetimes.  He is a legend.  I so enjoyed getting to know him, even if it was just a little bit.

The wise old owl himself, and me.  He told me when I showed this picture to anyone to also add the disclaimer that he had been flying all day and he wasn't as young as he used to be and so you have to forgive him for his disheveled appearance.  I think he looks fine.  Much better than I do when I fly (remember?)

State Officers listen earnestly to Dr. Case

Dr. Case's awesome cardboard cut-outs

[I know you're supposed to grow out of being excited to meet prominent FFA members and leaders.  So I try to act like I don't get chills when I see a National Officer's jacket, even though I do.  And I tried to control my excitement when I met Dr. Case.  Unfortunately, I couldn't quite keep my composure when I got to meet the former FFA Executive Secretary, C. Coleman Harris.  When he tried to introduce himself, I just blurted out, "Sir, I know who you are!"  Luckily, that doesn't happen with Dr. Steve Brown.  He just always talks about eating moose stew at my house with my parents. We're tight. :) ]

I'm sad that Dr. Case is leaving us, but I'm sure his replacement will do a fantastic job.  I'm looking forward to finding out who it will be!

Second: Angela Mayfield is one of the keynote speakers at the 2010 National Convention

I did a little research when I saw a picture of this woman, and felt like I recognized her.  Sure enough, Angela Mayfield served as the 2000-2001 National Western Region Vice President- only back then her name was Angela Browning.  Now, Angela Browning is not an FFA celebrity that I have met personally, but I feel like I know her because she taught me how to speak in public.  

At my very first State Officer training event, Blast-Off, in May 2008, our trainer Marlene showed us the video of Angela Browning's retiring address.  I'm not sure if that is the approved speech that all Blast-Off trainers are supposed to show, but that's the one Marlene showed us.  I watched the whole thing in complete awe, inspired and impressed.  When the video was over, Marlene said, "What if I told you that you could give a speech just as good as Angela's?" Then she taught us the "magic formula" and the rest, as they say, is history.

I also got my favorite quote from that speech, "Until you stop comparing, you will never grow."  I even used that quote in my speech at graduation.

I'm looking forward to seeing Angela speak again, this time in person.  You can see her fantastic retiring address on youtube in two parts: here, and here.

Speaking of speaking...I've got some good ideas for the Rotary speech, but I need to start writing them down and organizing them.  Have a great evening!

Rachel