Chapel in the Woods

No trip with agricultural journalists is complete without an impromptu photo shoot! On our way back to Missouri my fellow ACT members and I stopped at the Chapel in the Woods.  Thorncrown Chapel has been called an "architectural marvel" by many visitors and  is one of the most breathtaking sights I have seen. Thorncrown is a glass chapel nestled in the Ozarks of Arkansas and I first visited it when I was in elementary school on a family vacation. 

While I was young, I remember being in awe of the beautiful building that let in brilliant sunlight and seemed to be one with nature. The glass walls are surrounded by the green forrest and make you feel as though you can reach out and touch the endless leaves. Now that I am older, I appreciate the message behind the chapel construction.  Thorncrown was Jim Reed's creation as a welcoming place for Ozark visitors and to honor his wife. If you are in Arkansas be sure to stop by the Chapel in the Woods because it is a sight you will not soon forget. And be sure to pack your camera! 

 

Arkansas Professional Development Conference

As a national officer in the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, I got to attend the annual ACT Professional Development Conference. Each year, ACT chapters take turns hosting the event at their university campus. The 2013 PDC was held at the University of Arkansas where six Mizzou ACT members made the 6 hour road trip to Fayetteville. We experienced the charm of the Ozarks and had an overall great weekend! 

During PDC I had several duties as an officer including conducting the national meeting and announcing the 2013 Critique & Contest, a writing competition for ACT members. As a part of the conference program, I toured the first Wal-Mart store and museum. In addition, I took a tour of  the "U of A" Law School. The school is nationally recognized as having the premiere agricultural law, LL.M. program. All of the tours made me feel extremely welcomed in Razorback territory! 

This year's workshops featured subjects from wildlife photography to crises communications. A personal highlight was to visit with the photographer for Arkansas Farm Bureau. National conferences are a wonderful opportunity to visit a new part of the country, see friends that live across the country and to gain career insight through speakers and workshops. I enjoy making new friends and PDC was no exception. I look forward to seeing everyone at future ACT events, especially the Ag Media Summit in New York this summer and the 2014 PDC at Kansas State! 

Mizzou ACT delegates Courtney Leeper, Kari Weist and I enjoy ice cream at the original Wal-Mart 5 and dime. 

Courtney Leeper and I at the historic main street square in Bentonville, Arkansas. 

Before a tour of the Wal-Mart museum. 

Courtney Leeper, Kari Weist and I spend an afternoon at the Crystal Bridges art museum which was founded by Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton. 

The ACT National Vice Presidents tour the University of Arkansas! Jennifer Ray, representing Cal Poly, and I stand on the alumni walkway. 

I toured the U of A Law School which is nationally recognized as the premiere agricultural law institute. Go Razorbacks! 

Adventure to Africa

I was once told that the best opportunities in life are the ones that are unplanned and after exciting events from the past week, I could not agree more. ICM elected to sponsor me as the 2013 international agriculture development intern to Mozambique, Africa. ICM is a biofuels technology company dedicated to providing clean energy opportunities to customers globally. They are a leading job source of Northwest Missouri with a location near my hometown in St. Joseph, Mo. ICM provides process technology to 102 facilities and has a production capacity of nearly 6.8 billion gallons of annual ethanol production! My endeavor is made possible through the efforts of ICM employees whose Christmas donations fund this experience.

ICM partners with Orphans Unlimited to aid philanthropic efforts abroad as ICM executives recognize the importance of giving back. My intern responsibilities include assisting widows and orphans at Orphans Unlimited. I am responsible for everything from managing buying practices to leading children's Bible studies. This is an opportunity to utilize the knowledge I have gained in my agricultural economics and development classes first-hand.

Thomas Edison stated, “ Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” I recognize that my summer experience at Orphans Unlimited will be filled with many long hours and will be a summer of dedication. The organization's founder, Brenda Lange, has said that missions are actually spelled "W-O-R-K." My rural roots and farming background instilled the importance of a diligent work ethic at a young age. Thus, I am anxious to begin my work in Africa and offer assistance to Orphans Unlimited endeavors.

My summer adventure begins May 13 and I return to the U.S. July 30. This experience has shown overwhelming support from both my family and friends but also the University of Missouri. My professors have been both encouraging and accommodating of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. In Africa, I am most excited to work with the children, aid local women with their goat herds and will of course be looking for photographic opportunities.

I have friends who have traveled to the African countries of Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana. I asked their advice after learning I was accepted to the internship position. All expressed that they had life changing experiences abroad and believe I will "fall in love" with Africa. I am excited for my summer experience in Mozambique and consider myself blessed to be offered this opportunity. Thank you ICM and Orphans Unlimited for selecting me as the 2013 international agriculture development intern. In 10 weeks I will be on a plane bound for Mozambique, Africa!

I will spend my summer in Mozimbique, Africa assisting in international agriculture development efforts through ICM and Orphans Unlimited.

Mozambique is located on the coast of South Africa and is nearly double the size of California. The country was once a Portuguese colony and is currently home to around 21 million people. 

Memoreis of 2012

"We do not remember days, we remember moments."
"Life is only as good as the memories we make."
"Somedays you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory"

Those are just a few of my favorite sayings regarding memories. In fact, one of the reasons I treasure photographs so much is because they are proof of happy times- of great memories. Memories are something intangible that no one can ever take from you. It is my hope that my scrapbooks and photo albums will remind me of my best moments when I am old and grey.

There are some memories I wish I could live in forever. I can recall the exact details of some; a slow dance at prom, the moment you walk across high school graduation stage, the feeling of triumph as you win state FFA public speaking... There are also moments you live vicariously through. The fear in your parentes eyes as they dropped you off at summer camp for the first time or the tone of a best friends as she confides in you.

Some memories never die, no matter how long I will live. There are the memories that drown you with emotion. 2012 was a year filled with memories. After my first year at the University of Missouri I did not think freshman year could be topped. Well, I think it was.

Since the new decade began, I have started a trend of kicking off the year in interesting places. 2011 began on a Hawaiian beach with my best friend. I had the rest of senior year to look forward to, I was excited to begin college and anxious about the future.

2012 started in the jungles of Costa Rica where I was studying abroad and leaving the country for the first time. I was having the time of my life writing about tropical agriculture and experiencing life overseas. 2013 began surrounded by friends in my college neighborhood. I just spent the week in Florida for National Agriculture Ambassador training and had been home for the holidays. Now, I returned to good ole' CoMo to ring in the New Year. I would be off to Mexico, visiting my fifth country shortly after.

Looking back on 2012 there were many defining moments and, as always, opportunities. Here's my top 12 memories of 2012: (In no particular order... they were all fabulous!)

I-CAL, Malaysia

1. Gained my first internship with Agriculture Future of America. AFA has offered me countless opportunities since I began college and I learned invaluable lessons during my internship.

2. Traveled to southeast Asia as one of twelve collegians nation-wide selected for I-CAL through the National FFA Association and U.S. Grains Council. I found myself in Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore learning about international agriculture.

3. Once again, made the Dean's List. Keeping the GPA strong for Law School!

National ACT officer team

4. Elected as the National First Vice President of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. I along with four other officers assist in leading our organization. It's been an amazing national leadership position!

5. Was asked to serve on the Missouri 4-H Equine Tour planning board. It felt great to help facilitate the trip as a four-year alumni. I credit this experience for modeling me into the individual I am today.

6. Receiving runner-up for the Missouri Farm Bureau Ambassador Contest. I gave my speech onstage with an audience of 300+. This was actually the first speech my mother had ever seen me preform. (Every time I qualified for state FFA public speaking she would never sit in the audience, at my request, even when I won.)

Runner-Up, Ambassador

7. Sitting on the Columns drinking Starbucks with my best friend, Sonja Perry, on the evening we completed our fall semester. (Her first and my second at MU.) It was one of those perfect life moments with your best friend (whom I met on the Missouri Equine Tour) that you cannot possibly describe.

8. Obtaining my American FFA Degree. I had worked toward this goal since I joined the FFA as a freshman. My parents went with me to Indianapolis where I walked across the national stage along with countless other friends in corduroy I had met through the years.

9. Celebrating my 19th birthday with the best friends I could ever ask for. We ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant and celebrated the end of our freshman year and gave cheers to my last year as a teenager.

Earning my American FFA Degree

10. Going on an epic road trip to Myrtle Beach for spring break. Two cars, 2,000 miles and 30 hours of driving later we arrived from Missouri to the Carolinas and spent a week on the beach.


11. Becoming a frist-time home owner. I said "goodbye" to dorm life and moved into a duplex with my best friends; Kaitlin Flick, Sophie Hyder and Amanda Neff. We have had some priceless memories with adjusting to living off campus and to running our own household.

National Collegiate
Agriculture Ambassador 

12. Serving as a National Collegiate Agriculture Ambassador. I am one of 20 collegians who have the privilege of speaking on  agriculture issues. Not only did I get a free ipad and Ambassador "swag" but I got to travel to North Carolina and Florida with some great friends from across the country. 

Dickinson Scholars

2013 Dickinson Scholars 

I recently received the honor of being named as a 2013 Dickinson Scholar for the College of Agriculture, Foods & Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. Twenty collegiate sophomores and juniors are chosen through a written application and interview process. Becoming a member of this elite group was one of my goals when I entered the University of Missouri.

The Dickinson Scholars program is designed to introduce student leaders in CAFNR to leading Missouri agribusiness leaders, professionalism and provide networking opportunities. The program was a week-long opportunity held in Kansas City. My fellow students and I were divided and partnered with a agribusinesses in the Kansas City area. Thus, my week was spent with John Deere!

I was thrilled to be paired with my favorite agriculture machinery company! John Deere employees gave my group tours of their company headquarters and dealerships- it was great to see both avenues of the company. I learned about company strategies and met with representatives from all Deere departments, from communications to legal. (Due to my career goals both were very interesting to me!) During tours my fellow schoalrs and I ran into many successful MU alumni, which made me proud to be a tiger!

Dickinson Scholars is in memory of the late Gary Dickinson, his wife continues his legacy through coordinating the program for CAFNR students each year. As a scholar, I had the chance to meet Mrs. Dickinson. She is a patron of the arts and our schedule included a tour of the Kansas City Art Museum as a culture experience.

The 2013 agenda also included networking with the Kansas City Agribusiness Council, the National Agri-Marketing Association, and other program businesses such as Cargill, Farmland Foods and Bartlett & Co. The program included tours at businesses such as Dairy Farmers of America, the American Royal and Duff Dynamic Marketing. After interning in Kansas City this summer it was wonderful to be back and visit with individuals I had met previously. In addition, I enjoyed catching up with my fellow CAFNR students (since we had been apart for four weeks on break!) and getting to know MU faculty members better.

Our college has a year-long leadership program, Litton Leadership Scholars, for freshman and the Dickinson program is primarily targeted to sophomores. I have been privileged to be a scholar of both programs. Next year, hope to gain acceptance into the John Brown Scholars, which is MU's leadership program designed for juniors. My hope is to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible during my time at MU.

Exploring the Southwest

My week-long visit to Texas and Mexico offered me not only a chance to escape the Missouri cold, but to try to new experiences! From riding my first three-wheeled bicycle to eating a Wataburger, this vacation offered me plenty of first opportunities. But, eating pineapple from the self-procalimed Texan "pineapple king" was one of my more memorable experiences. And, it just so happens pineapple is one of my favorite fresh fruits! 

I learned about south Texas agriculture first-hand. My grandfather, Poppie, has been farming in Missouri for decades. During his time in Texas he had learned a lot about Texan agriculture. Grape fruit, sugar cane, cabbage and carrot crops were abundant during my visit. I had never seen sugar cane sold by the stalk in grocery stores before this trip! I also went to a store where clothing was sold by the pound. No, I did not find any bargains there but, as Poppie said, "You sure don't see that in Missouri!" 

I loved the palm trees. There are so many species of palms that whatever warm climate you visit you are practically guaranteed to see different varieties. There was even a old palm tree plantation near my grandparents RV park, where they live during the winter months. From finding bargains in the Mexican markets to walking on the beach of South Padre Island, this vacation was full of firsts! 

Meeting the self-proclaimed "Pineapple King" of El Paso.

Want to find a bargin outfit? Visit this local store 

where you select your clothing from piles and pay

by the pound! 

Eating my first Wataburger... it was delicious! 

Spotted: A bird-of-paradise flower in the wild.

My time in Floral Design class paid off!

Dipping my feet in the Texas Gulf at South Padre Island! 

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the produce.

Palm trees just make me smile. 

Poppie and I represent MU at his RV park while on vacation! 

Sugar cane crop. It will reach over 10 feet tall! 

Three-wheeled bikes are all the rage at the RV park, 

luckily one of Poppie's friends offered to help me learn the ropes. 

(Notice I am wearing my new Padre sweater!) 

Handpicking and processing cabbages. 

Mexico Markets

If I could describe Mexico in one word it would be "colorful." The country is filled with goods in every shade and the people themselves have bright personalities. Walking through the marketplace of Progresso was an exciting time! You could feel the energy and excitement of commerce exchange in the air. 

I bargained with shop keepers over jewelry, found a cute knock-off purse and sampled some Mexican sweets, candied pecans. The market barter system reminded me of my time in Vietnam. My grandfather was a self-proclaimed expert bargainer, and I credit him for saving me a few pesos on souvenirs. I always purchase postcards to send back to friends and relatives, because what is a trip worth if you cannot share the moments with loved ones? 

Mexican dolls constructed from crepe paper. 

Fish wind chimes. 

Bright foliage! 

BOWS! 

A man sells his giant hand-wovan baskets on the streets. 

Brilliant pottery (I am a sucker for ceramics!) 

Fiesta time? 

These figurens make adorable desk decorations. I would know! 

I loved all of the bling jewelry! 

Woven purses made from recycled wrappers. 

Hungry from a day of shopping at the market?

Try some fresh cactus. It was a popular snack!