Where will agriculture take you?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

FFA National Convention

"I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny." ~excerpt from the FFA Creed by E.M. Tiffany 

I remember my freshman year of high school, I had to take the traditional rite of passage by memorizing the FFA Creed. My agricultural instructor, Mrs. Rogers, saw something in me that day, some kind of spark, that made her believe I could be a public speaker. I had experience in 4-H giving talks and demonstrations but I had never competed in an actual speaking contest before. 


Fast forward years later, I won state public speaking in the Missouri Sheep Producers Association contest, became an Area II FFA officer and the high individual at district horse judging as a freshman. In short, I accomplished some pretty neat things. All because someone saw potential in me. My accomplishments in the FFA not only allowed me to have a stellar resume and stand out among my peers, but it gave me more self-confidence than any endeavor I have ever been a part of. I credit many of the scholarships and other leadership opportunities I have been blessed to be a part of because of my involvement with FFA. 


Along the way, I had other amazing individuals influence my life. Agricultural instructor from across Area II were instrumental in showing me opportunities like the Missouri Agribusiness Academy and Public Speaking Academy. I like to believe that when I put on my first corduroy FFA jacket that I gained a family of blue and gold. FFA allowed me to meet some of my best friends. From prom dates to roommates, I have met individuals who have positively shaped my life in more ways than I will ever know. i have filled a scrapbook full of memories from FFA and many plaques adorn my bedroom walls. 


But, at the 85th National FFA Convention, my time as a member of the Gallatin FFA Chapter came to a close. I received my American FFA degree, which less than 1 percent of FFA membership achieves. My parents and I drove to Indianapolis, Indiana to accept the award. The Gallatin FFA Chapter was there, supporting me as the membership always has.  


It was a wonderful experience, and several tears were shed. When I retired from my chapter FFA office I gave my officer fair-well with dry eyes because I knew there would be more to come. However, now it has literally been the final fair-well. I am now a member of the FFA Alumni Association and serve as a National Collegiate Agriculture Ambassador. The foundation FFA has given me has molded me into the individual I am today. I cannot wait to see what further adventures the blue jacket has in store for me as an alumni.  


My parents traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana with me to attend the 85th National FFA Convention.


Len Deutschman and I represented the Gallatin FFA Chapter's American Degree recipients. Len moved to Gallatin his freshman year and we became fast friends through FFA. We have gone on many FFA trips together, been on contest teams and were our senior class Barnwarming king and queen candidates together. 

Mr. Henderson has been my agricultural instructor throughout my high school years, he has listened to countless speeches and supported me in all of my endeavors. 


You never know who I will run into at an FFA event. Scott Conover and I went to prom together my junior year!  

Megan Brackenridge, Sonja Perry and I met on the Missouri 4-H Equine tour when we were in junior high. All three of us now attend the University of Missouri and are close friends. 

My FFA Chapter Senior Fair-well was one of the most difficult speeches I have had to give. Here's my favorite paragraph:

"In closing, FFA has been an amazing experience.  I remember standing on this stage 4 years ago when I received the Star Greenhand. Now, I am standing here relinquishing my chapter office.  I am confident that the next generation of FFA members sitting here tonight will do an outstanding job.  In the words of Mark Twain,“Twenty years from now you will be disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  FFA members write your own stories, fill the pages, thank you."   

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Election Spirit

I was excited to be able to cast my vote for the first time in the 2012 presidential election. I hope everyone took time out of their day to exercise this civic right. Our soldiers are overseas protecting our civil liberties and there are individuals in countries across the globe fighting for such a privilege. 

I then preceded to stay up until a late hour to receive the election results and listen to President Barack Obama's acceptance speech. Missouri had several prominent elections taking place as well. By interning for one of the political parties, it was great to take an even larger roll in the political process. Overall, I enjoyed my first time to take part in American democracy. I look forward to the next Boone County election, because voting is essential in all polls, not just one that takes place every four years. 

Proudly wearing my "I Voted" sticker on November 6th

2012 AFA Leaders Conference

The first weekend of November signifies the annual Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference and this year marked the 16th anniversary of AFA. It was my second year to receive sponsorship to attend the Leaders Conference. Conference is divided into Tracks 1,2,3, and 4 each is coordinated to focus on specific leader skills. Track 4 was new this year and AFA has also announced its latest installment of Leader Institutes. I attended the Animal Health Institute last spring. At AFA I have met numerous lifelong friends and made invaluable industry connections. 

The Leaders Conference is an opportunity for collegiate agriculturists from across the country to come together. We attend workshops focusing on leader development, current issues in the agricultural sector and career professionalism. Highlights of Conference included hearing from Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh  and Howard Buffet, the 2012 Leader in Agriculture Award honorees. After working on Conference details this summer as the AFA intern it was gratifying to see it come together.

The AFA Conference is an opportunity to see friends like Sydney Lawerce. She and met at the Washington Leadership Conference for FFA in high school and have remained close since. 

Daysie Hawkins, Kathryn Coon, Julia Witthaus and I just happened to wear purple on day two of the Conference.

It was a family reunion! I enjoyed visiting with two of my cousins, Kaitlin Flick and Cassie Reid. Cassie will be studying abroad next semester in Africa and Kaitlin, well she's my room mate and best friend 

Visit from Oregon

"Your friends will know you better in the first minute they meet you than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years." ~Richard Bach

I got to give Kylah Reynolds, a dear friend from Oregon State, a tour of campus!

I met Kylah Reynolds this summer at National Collegiate Agriculture Ambassador training. Immediately, we had something in common; we had both never been to each others home states! Kylah hails from Oregon and from the pictures she has showed me of her beautiful state, it has made the top of my vacation destinations list. 

We serve on the Ag Ambassador team together and through great fate, she also got to visit Missouri. Kylah is part of a leadership program at Oregon State University that is similar to the Litton Leadership Scholars at MU. Our professors arranged for the classes to meet at with one another before the AFA Leaders Conference. 

The scholar groups met at the infamous Shakespeare's pizzeria in Columbia. We shared reviews on leadership books and mingled with one another. The next day I got to help give the Oregon students a tour of MU. I was excited that Kylah could finally visit my state and see the historic MU columns for herself! 




Floral Design Class

This semester I have taken my favorite college class yet- Floral Design. The course is offered through the Plant Science department at MU. Each day I am assigned a type of arrangement to create or a make a order for a specific client. I began flower arranging through 4-H. I completed my first arrangement when I was eight years old and have been hooked since. At the Missouri State Fair I have won several championships in floral arrangements. Floral Design has been a chance for me to further my design skills in the floral industry. And, it is always nice to be able to take home flowers every day! 

"Wild" natural arrangement. 

Formal plum corsage. 

Rainbow design. 

Carnation vase. 

Getting Lost in the Corn


Shryocks Farm is located near Columbia, Mo., and offers a uniquely
designed corn maze for visiters to enjoy. It is a fun way to spend a day
in the country with a student group or on a date.


Apple cider, carving pumpkins and corn mazes are some of my most anticipated aspects of Fall! The University of Missouri Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow went to Shryocks Corn Maze for our annual fall social. 

Shryocks is an agribusiness started in 2002 by the Shryock family. This is fifth generation family farm has been in the area since 1889. It has grown to a 15 acre endeavor that delights residents of
Calloway County. 

Each year the corn maze design is custom created through GPS technology by the Shryock's.  The agribusiness also offers hay rides and campfires for groups. Thousands of visitors come to Shryocks each fall to experience a day on the farm and get lost in a cornfield. 

Agribusinesses like Shryocks are becoming increasingly popular
 means for generating extra revenue for farmers.
While I waited for my group to arrive to explore the 2012 SEC, South Eastern Conference, themed maze, I watched the infamous Shryocks gum ball machine in action. This contraption is a engineering masterpiece. Located in the Shryocks infamous red barn, I saw young children put a quarter in the machine and watch their gum balls fall from the top of the barn to travel through pipes and wires and reach their outstretched hands. 

I soon caught their enthusiasm, and began to prepare my own adventure through 15 acres of corn. Rest assured, I survived to tell my tale.

The 2012 SEC theme maze,
photo courtesy of Bishop Sky Cam.