Growing Futures

A couple days ago I was in Hutchinson observing their parliamentary procedure team and helped teach them a few things that Winnie (my ag teacher) taught me back in the day. Afterward I was talking to the Lemke sisters and Chelsea Vilchis. They spoke of their plans for their future, both in FFA and in life. On my way home I was reflecting on the day and realized that I have witnessed so many members' growing futures. Nearly a month ago hundreds of students came to participate in CDEs at U of M invitational. A couple weeks before that was the invitational at the U of M- Crookston, where yet another large group of FFA members gathered. Each of these members acquired valuable skills and knowledge for the competition. They gave their time and efforts to grow their potential future careers (and of course to win the competition!).

During this wintery month, I also went sledding with the Sauk Rapids-Rice FFA Chapter. Man that was fun, especially discovering Ms. Seibert's nickname Sa-bert and scaring her with some high speed sled rides! But in the process I noticed something. They were all giving of their time and care to grow and build personal relationships for the future. It was exciting to see a group of young adults hanging out and having fun! Plus we watched the Goonies, what can beat that??

And finally this week I came home to my chapter's holiday party. In order to attend, each individual must be an active member. That means each of the members had given to their chapter to grow its future! There are so many stories just like these across the state. Simply listening to Chelsea and the Lemkes talk just opened my eyes to all the remarkable events and occasions I have witnessed.


(someone likes bowling a little too much)


We all have different opportunities to grow a future whether it is for us individually, an organization, or a friend by giving of ourselves.

FFA members, what kind of future will you grow?

Stationed by the door,
Justin Crowley

Winter Wonderland!

Despite mother nature's addition of lots of snow to our environment, FFA members still find ways to get together and have a great time. On Saturday December 18th the Annual Region I Fun Day was held at Detroit Lakes. The Regional officers facilitated the day.

After meeting, greeting and opening ceremonies the members broke out into workshops. Harley Alby and Krista Kappes led a workshop on how to handle yourself in interviews. They acted out poor interview habits and the member quickly pointed them out and then practiced proper handshakes. Greg Malikowski and Andrew Jossund presented on the basics of SAEs and their own experiences with them both in placement and entrepreneurship and placement. Bayleigh Antonsen and Travis Ellefson shared some information about all the different CDEs both team and individual events the FFA has to offer and answered questions about them. Lastly Raina Pederson and Marissa Lehrer highlighted the different leadership camps and conferences on the local, state, and national level available to members.

In addition to these workshops we play a few teambuilding activites including "Who's the Leader?", the human knot, and the human table. Pizza arrived and everyone sang and acted out "Singing in the Rain" in order to be served. After lunch swimming, basketball, dodgeball and just "hanging out" followed for the rest of the afternoon!

Human Table and Making Friends!

It was great to meet and spend time with the members from all over Region I including Detriot Lakes, Hawley, Thief River Falls, and Ulen-Hitterdal. Thanks for the day and keep making friends and enjoying the FFA!

Stationed by the Rising Sun,

Jason Troendle

U of M Invite Crookston

Jason, Maddie and our Stillwater FFA friends :-)



********************************************


What an action packed day! First off, many FFA members had to wake at 2 or 3 am to make the journey to Crookston to compete in their CDE's. The contest began at 7:15 sharp!! Jason and Maddie spent the first part of the day enjoying the Horse Judging CDE and welcoming people into watch and catching up with fellow FFA members.
I will say this.......as I journed to Crookston on Thursday night, I went through three states (South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota). I slowly noticed the temperature dropping from 16 to -2. I am proud of these FFA members making the long journey and competing in the cold.

As the day went on, Jason and I dispersed ourselves and we met up with past camp goers, and new memebers. Due to the nasty storms approaching Crookston, many schools had to disperse the contest early, but a portion did stay for the awards ceremony.

Theif River Falls FFA

Jason and I had the privelage to hear, see and congratualte the top three individuals and teams of all contest held that day. We are looking forward to seeing you at State Convention in May :-)

CONGRATULATIONS to ALL of you! You did an outstanding job. Remember if you have an event coming up and you would like us to attend, we are only a phone call or e-mail away :-) MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Minnesota FFA!

Stationed by the Emblem of Washington,
Maddie Collin

Let it SNOW!

Well, if you're like me today you are most likely

SNOWED IN.
**************************************

That...is the view out my back door this morning.

Let's just say, I haven't been the greatest person in the world to deal with over the last few hours! I've been moping around my house, wishing the wind would just STOP so I could go back to school. I've been sitting on my butt, watching TV, playing games on Facebook, and doing whatever I can to show EVERYONE in the house that I am absolutely miserable.


The last major snap I had granted me "THE LOOK" from my mother (don't pretend you haven't gotten that look before!), which inspired me to get up off the couch as fast as my little legs could take me and to take pictures of the snow to send to my friends who live in much warmer climates.

After adventuring around the house for a few minutes, something hit me.
"Nobody really cares
if you're miserable,
so you might as well be happy."
~ Author unknown

My attitude is entirely my choice.
So I can sit here, all day, being cranky
... OR ...
I could enjoy this extra time I have with my family.

Every year, my mom puts up our Department 56 Snow Village and spreads it around the house for the family to enjoy. Over the last hour, I have been going from room to room, imagining how much these imaginary, ceramic people would love the REAL snow. Their existence and presence in my house is entirely based on the weather outside -- the snow brings them out of a storage room in the basement.
In this imaginary world, it is always a White Christmas. So why not appreciate the real thing?

Think about it.

If I weren't at home today, I wouldn't have time to catch up on some homework that I've been avoiding all week ("Oh joy!" she says sarcastically). If I weren't in Trimont, I wouldn't have had time to clean the drain in my bathroom that has been clogged for about a year. If I weren't at home, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the Christmas Tree or the Snow Village. If I weren't stuck in the biggest blizzard since "The Halloween Blizzard of 1991", I wouldn't be able to take a few minutes and catch up with some awesome FFA members!

So we can look at this blizzard as a hindrance
... OR ...
we can see it as an opportunity.


Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Stationed by the plow,
LIZ

GIVE THANKS!

It was my 15th Birthday, my golden birthday to be more specific! :) My family and I were sitting around in the living room while I opened my presents. After I unwrapped the final package, my dad leaped off of the couch, and as he bounded up the stairs he shouted "Just wait! There is one more!" My mind started racing, what could it possibly be? From upstairs my father started calling to my mother, urgently. My mom quickly climbed the steps with a puzzled look on her face. All of a sudden, I heard their frantic whispering. My sisters and I waited, and finally, my parents came down the steps again. My dad looked unsure about what he was going to say to me. "Um...Kirsten..." My mom kinda chuckled from behind him. And she proceeded to tell me that they had bought me a Beta Fish earlier that day, but by the time my dad went upstairs to get it for me, it was dead. For my birthday I had gotten, believe it or not, a dead fish! I didn't know what to say. I mean, do you say thank you for a dead fish? Well, eventually I did thank them for the thought. And if I can be thankful for a dead fish, there are a lot of other things in my life that I should be thankful for too.

In the spirit of the holiday season, it's time to reflect on our lives and find what we are thankful for. As FFA members, there are a lot of things that we all can give thanks for together. An obvious person that comes to mind would be our ag advisors. That wonderful gentleman or lady that really inspires us to reach our true potential, and who has been the person that has given us so many truly incredible opportunities. Secondly we can thank are families. They are the support that always can keep us going. And while we are on a roll with our thanking, let's thank everyone else who has touched our lives in any way shape or form! It's the season of giving so let's GIVE THANKS!

Stationed by the flag,
Kirsten Pagel
Oh, and by the way, my parents did get me another goldfish! ;)

GIVE...and then, give some more!

mmmmmm.....it was just one of those moments that makes you feel all warm and tingly inside. Have you ever met one of those people that goes completely out of their way to serve someone else? Well, I had the pleasure of meeting one of those people tonight, someone who I feel is a true hero. However, before I begin my story, I'll set the scene. Every day at the University of Minnesota I travel to my classes in Minneapolis on the Campus Connector. This day was just like all the rest except the ride back to my dorm had an added element of excitement.

We were driving along the route, and suddenly, off to the side of the road I could see orange flashing lights. The bus driver immediately slowed down. As we got closer to the blinking lights, I could make out the silhouette of a man on a motorized scooter, but there was something wrong. The scooter was not moving; it had become wedged in a snowdrift. The bus driver pulled over to the side of the transit way and leaped out of the bus. I heard him warmly greet the elderly man that was stranded on the side of the road. I overheard the elderly man say that he had been patiently waiting for a good Samaritan to stop and rescue him, for about a half hour. The man must have been freezing as he watched vehicle after vehicle pass him by! The bus driver treated the man with such respect and visited with him as he began to push the man through the snow drift. But the bus driver did not stop pushing after the man was free of the drift, he pushed him down the whole block of slushy sidewalk! He went above and beyond what was expected of him. And no one on the bus was bothered by this unscheduled stop. We all just sat with smiles on our faces as the bus driver boarded the bus again, and we were on our merry way.

It's acts of kindness like these that pretty much keep the world turning. As FFA members we need to take the initiative and be "Go-Givers." We need to be willing to put ourselves last and others first. We need to offer others everything we could possibly give to them.

My goal before the end of the day is to do at least one great thing for another person, and I urge you to set a similar goal! Give of your time and talents to another person today, whether it be a stranger or a good friend. GIVE....and then, give some more!



Stationed by the flag,

Kirsten

Journey to CHS

CHS State Officer Professional Development Day

12 November 2010

********************************

I have two words for you, JAMMED PACK! Our day kicked off promptly at 8:20 with Lisa Moorhouse who was kind enough to give is a general overview of CHS and what is happening with them now. A theme we noticed throughout the day was the excitement for the revealing of the new CEO of CHS. Everyone associated with CHS and the six state officers are looking forward to seeing who this new person is at the CHS Annual Meeting in late November.

Lisa kept us on track and introduced us to Jennifer Thatcher who gave us a general overview about the CHS Foundation. (Check out their website for scholarship and internship opportunities!) Following the Foundation, Jeff Wittek and Jason Schwantz representing energy and propane gave us a very entertaining overview of their respected areas. As I said before, this day was jammed pack! Lisa had Ryan Caffrey come chat with us representing Ag. Business and gave us an overview of international trade.

Just before lunch we were lucky to meet four Human Resource personnel, Mike Chanaka, Becky Couture, Chris Kelleher, and Cate Sprout. They gave is endless tips on how to critique our resumes, interviews styles, appropriate dress, follow-up thank-yous, and so much more! Needless to say, all of us were fixing our resumes Friday night :-)

For lunch we were able to chat with other CHS employees. One thing I loved seeing at CHS was the genuine smiles and enthusiastic atmosphere. Every one at CHS seemed happy to be there and passionate about what they were doing. This is definitely the type of environment a work place should have! To wrap up the day, Lani Jordan gave us tips and guidelines for planning the State Convention in May.

Thanks to Lisa and all of her fellow employees, we learned ALOT about CHS, planning, resumes and so much more. This was truly a jammed pack day and we loved every moment of it. The day was all about discussion and we were able to ask questions about one of our Star Partners.

Thank-you CHS for an AWESOME day! :-)

Stationed by the Emblem of Washington,

Maddie Collin

Adventure at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted

On a fair Saturday afternoon, I traveled up to Howard Lake and met up with Justin. After visiting shortly and saying "Hi" to Gracy, Justin's dog, we made the amazingly short trek to the high school. The school happens to be in the middle of a field and next to a stunning FFA crop plot. Mr. Weninger greeted us with a joke and a smile.

The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Chapter Officer Team set up the event for the 8th grade students and asked us to co-present. To break the ice everyone took a random object from our "THE box" and attempted to relate it to themselves. The chapter officers also shared some more personal information including hobbies, CDE's, and SAE's. It was great to hear the diversity of the team and the experiences they had. We then shared some basic FFA information including opportunities in FFA, the structure, basic facts, and camps and conferences for all levels. We focused on the FFA brand for part of the presentation and played a short game. To get everyone thinking about brands we had a competition to write down as many brand slogans or catch phrases as possible. Once we were in the correct mindset, we honed in on what the FFA brand represents. The national FFA did a study and found the brand represents:


Hard work
Morality and Ethics
Trustworthy
Spirited and Enthusiastic

We as members of the FFA can be proud of this brand, but must also take responsibility to uphold the brand for future members.

After wrapping up our presentation, dinner was served by the officers. We had the chance to mingle and talk with perspective students and current members. After dinner and some stories from Winnie, we headed outdoors to play team building activities. Forming a circle we grasped a rope and leaned back supporting each other and showing that no matter what we do our actions affect others. Tug of war standing on raised blocks forces us to use strategy and think deeper about characteristics of good and bad teamwork. Lastly we played "Who's the Leader," which ended with us hopping around on one leg and rolling on the ground.


As a small token for coming Sarah Marketon gave everyone barnyard sillybands! While winding down and cleaning up we had FFA story time.



Thanks for inviting us, HLWW! It was a great day and we are excited to hear what you do this year!



Stationed by the Rising Sun shining through the Door,



Jason Troendle
Justin Crowley

83rd National FFA Convention- Infinite Potential!

The 83rd National FFA Convention took place October 20th-23rd in Indianapolis, IN. Over 54,000 blue jackets swarmed into the city, and participated in activities to grow and showcase our potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.

To cover the convention in a short manner, I am going to do the top twenty items in ten numbers (Get it? 2010? :) ). Here we go! 10. -The new National FFA Organization membership numbers were announced: 523,309 members
-Finding out that there are 7,487 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands

9. -Seeing Easton Corbin open up for....
-Lady Antebellum, which was an awesome concert!

8. -Listening to many speakers, such as Josh Shipp, the opening session speaker. Oh, and a goat.
-Being entertained by Judson Laipply, who spoke and performed the "Evolution of Dance" live on stage!

7. -Walking down FFA Way- a street blocked off just for FFA members to walk down!
-Yelling "HEY!" whenever you pass other FFA members, then hearing it echo down the street

6. -Touring a huge career show and getting free stuff
-Shopping at the FFA Mall

5. -Cheering on Andrew Steiner as he belted out notes in tune in the National FFA Chorus
-Listening to Sabrina Kieser playing flute in the National FFA Band (she had a solo!)

4. -Building excellent leg muscles and blisters on our feet from walking everywhere
-Taking tours of agriculture businesses and tourist attractions

3. -Catching up with FFA friends from across the state
-Making new friends from across the nation

2. -Having many CDE teams, proficiency finalists, and agriscience fair participants compete and represent Minnesota
-Being excited to see National Chapter Award recipient chapters recognized on stage

1. -Loving every moment of being in Indianapolis with other FFA members
-FFA members were shown how they can reach THEIR Infinite Potential!

I hope each one of you had as much fun (or more) at National FFA Convention as I did! It was great to see many of you, and remember, reach for your Infinite Potential!

Stationed by the ear of corn,
Erin Daninger

SOPD - Farm Bureau

On September 24, we were fortunate enough to go to Minnesota Farm Bureau for a day of professional development. The six of us were joined by Raina Pederson, Hillary Kletscher, Olivia Kendall, and Sam Mellgren since they are serving as delegates for Minnesota FFA at the 83^rd National FFA Convention on October 18-23. The day was full of excitement including meeting the awesome people that work at Farm Bureau, hearing from a variety of commodity groups, and learning a great deal about Farm Bureau.

To start off the day, Kevin Paap, President of Minnesota Farm Bureau, gave us an introduction to Farm Bureau. They have been in existence for over 90 years and they have over 30,000 members in the state. Their mission is to be an advocate for agriculture driven by the beliefs and policies of their members. Next on the agenda was the Public Policy Director, Chris Radatz who spoke on local and state issues. He told us how they develop their policies based off the members and a voting process. Staci Martin, Public Policy Associate Director, gave us an update on national issues and her role in the organization. She assists the Public Policy Director in the direction and coordination of the public policy programs on national and state legislative and regulatory issues, working specifically on national issues. She talked about current issues including the possible changing of the estate tax and the implications it may have on inheriting or purchasing a farm.

Two hot topics in agriculture currently and will continue to be in the future are animal care and water quality. Jeremy Geske and Warren Formo spoke on their importance, what we should know, and what we can do as agriculturists. We now have a better understanding of what Farm Bureau does on a policy and regulation scale. Kristen Harner shared with us the function of the foundation and her responsibilities of the job in public relations. She invited the officer to Farm Bureaus Annual Meeting on November 18th-20th and of our role at the conference. Another great organization, similar to the FFA in promoting agriculture and farmers is Young Farmers and Ranchers through Farm Bureau. Bob Shepard, Chief Administrator, challenged us on our view of what a lobbyist does and dispelled some of the common misconceptions. All lobbyists have is there word so they must be straight forward and upfront in order to be effective. Kevin Paap lastly gave us a great set of resources in some "reminder" sheets for details for everyone to keep in mind to be professional, polite and respectful.

During lunch we had the chance to sit with some Ag Communicators from agriculture businesses and industries. Amanda Nolz, editor of BEEF Magazine, presented to the group in the morning before we sat down and had a round table discussion. The discussion was about our new initiative, the Agriculture Literacy Challenge, which will be rolling out on November 1st. Each group gave ideas and input on how they might be of assistance to our program. It is amazing to see the network and willingness we have to assist each other in the agriculture community.

To finish the day the state officers, delegates, and state staff discussed the National issues that will be coming up at this years national convention. We have 8 delegates with Sam and Oliva filling in for Erin and Maddie when they are competing in CDEs. After talking and bouncing thoughts off each other we have a better grasp on the issues and what would be in the best interest of Minnesota. We are pumped for National Convention and thankful for Farm Bureau's support of FFA and the agriculture lifestyle.

Stationed by the Rising Sun coming through the Open Door,

Jason Troendle and Justin Crowley

Calling all FFA Members in Regions VII and VIII! - 2010 Educational Tours

MADDIE AND FRIENDS.

WOW! What a jammed pack week! To kick it off, Maria Wingert and I visted Lyle, LeRoy-Ostrander, and Southland. These chapters were excited for us to come and curious as to who was walking through their halls. Lyle has a membership of seven people, but they do an outstanding amount of community service that makes my jaw drop! Maria and I were able to visit with the LeRoy-Ostrander Chapter Officer Team and discuss different ways to promote membership especially within their eleventh grade class. Southland students were full of energy and willing to do ANYTHING! They mastered the minefield game in record times!

Day two, Katie McNab and I ventured toward Glenville-Emmons where they made an amazing breakfast for us! We were able to speak to two different classes and see their officer team. Next we made our way to Albert Lea and spent some time there. This school was full of energy and had so many unique things about it...I don't even know where to begin! Katie and I visited with the Meats Team, went to lunch with a chapter officer, and spoke with three classes. These students were so willing to participate and mastered the minefield as a team. Katie and I were exhausted after departing for home, but we could not have asked for a better way to wrap up our day!

To finish off Fall Leadership Visit week, Katie and I visited Blue Earth bright and early. We immediately got to see a large percentage of their members and discuss the importance of service and play the "clothespin" game to compliment our points. After visiting Blue Earth, Katie, Mr. Larsen and I made our way to Madelia. Here we had a short period of time, but we were able to talk with these members about discovering their SAEs. I would not be surprised to have some winning applications from this school or a couple state degree recipients! To finish off the day Katie and I visited Truman. Truman is an up and coming chapter with loads of potential. The students were so willing to work together as a team and accomplish all the challenges we threw at them.
Overall, Region 7 and 8 is a glowing area of FFA chapters. I cannot wait to see you all again at State Convention or SOONER! :-)

JUSTIN AND COMRADES.

On Monday I presented with Mr. Kevin Welter. We visited three schools: Caledonia, Spring Grove, and Mabel Canton. Most of the day consisted of speaking to younger members about opportunities within FFA. It was enjoyable to speak with Mr. Ertl, our Executive Secretary for MN FFA, between visits while he chauffeured us around for the day. We had a gathering in Spring Valley that night for students and adults. I had fun getting to know some of the Spring Valley Chapter Officers and spending time with some of the Region VIII Officers.

After spending the night at Katie Winslow's wonderful household, we departed early for Day 2. Three more chapters were lined up on Tuesday for Katie and I: Stewartville, Grand Meadow, and Hayfield. We started off the day by talking to administration and the Chapter Officer Team of Stewartville (cool people!). At the final two schools, we presented to 7th and 8th graders, which was a ton of fun!

I spent that night at Katie McNab's after having delicious pizza at Heather Franke's house. Ms. McNab and I started Wednesday off at Maple River with a couple presentations and a ton of activities. Then at NRHEG High School, we had a discussion with the Chapter Officers (more cool people!) before having some fun with a few 7th and 8th graders. We finished the day at Alden-Conger with most of the FFA chapter. After a good nap at the McNab's and supper, thanks to Katie's parents, I headed to Olivia Kendall's for the night.

On the last day of chapter visits we visited Nicollet and New Ulm. At Nicollet, we met with administration and had an awesome tour of the school after working with the Mr. Stone's Freshman class. In New Ulm, the eighth grade class was awesome! That night was capped off with festivities put on by Region VII Officers at South Central College with teachers, students, and parents in attendance.

JASON AND AMIGOS.

Monday morning, I met up with Shawna Conrad and we headed west to Pine Island. We had the chance to present to two classes about different opportunities in FFA and what our organization stands for. I also had a chance to discuss some of the National Delegate issues with theIR advisor, Ms. Burce. After grabbing lunch at Subway, Zumbrota Mazzepa was next on our list. We were greeted by familiar faces who attended different camps and conferences and talked about higher level activities members should try to be involved in. The final visit for the day was at Kenyon Wanamingo - a chapter that was very flexible when it came to fitting us into their schedule! We drove back to Plainview in the evening for an FFA Powwow at PEM High School with advisors, members, family, and friends. We focused on the "FFA Brand" and also played some awesome games! It was enjoyable to get to know the Plainview FFA Officers and others who were present.

On Tuesday, I met up with Jared Luhman and we visited Randolph, Cannon Falls, and Farmington. It was an eye opener at Randolph to sit down and talk with the members about all their chapter does. At Cannon Falls, we had the chance to visit with the Officer Team over lunch. At Farmington, we presented to two classes and built a "circle of trust". As the day drew to a close, I moved west into Region VII.

Wednesday, I met up with Peter Hansen. In Waseca, we were bombarded by super heroes, as it was dress-up-days for Homecoming Week. The support Waseca FFA receives from the community is amazing! Julie Tesch took us out for lunch and then we toured the University of MN Research Facility in Waseca before heading to W-E-M. This group of members and officers impressed us by, first, being in official dress and, second, their ambition to start new activities. We wish all the chapters luck in their pursuits this year. That finished up my chapter visits for the week as I had to head back to college. The topper to the week was traveling back down to Mankato for a community wide FFA presentation with the State and Region FFA Officers. What a week!

ERIN AND ROCKSTARS.

Monday morning started off with a brand new experience, as Region VIII Assistant Officer Heather Franke and I went on a field trip to a meat processing facility with the Kasson-Mantorville large animal science class. I definitely had a full learning experience, as we ate meat pizza immediately following! We had a great discussion about the cool experiences K-M members were having. We moved on to Triton in the afternoon, where we had to opportunity to play some games with 7th and 8th graders. We also talked about what they could do in FFA and why it is important to them. The night ended in Chatfield, meeting with community members and FFA members to talk about agriculture literacy.

Region VII brought many great memories (including many homecoming dress-up days), starting in Medford on Tuesday with Region VII President, Kelsey Mussman. After talking to a Foods Class, we had fun with about 45 students from 7th-12th grade. The Owatonna Officer Team in the middle of the day made both of us laugh. A casual visit with Blooming Prairie members had a relaxed ending to the day.

Wednesday started out in full swing with Region VII Parliamentarian, Sam Mellgren. Watertown-Mayer in the morning had some familiar faces from camps. Chaska/Waconia was second, and very unique, as members travel to the Chaska Co-op for class. We ended in Norwood Young America, where we had some great conversations.

Thursday brought Region VII Sentinel Peter Hansen to Belle Plaine, where we visited with the Officer Team and presented to an energetic 9th grade class and a small engines class. Following that, we ventured to Sibley East. We ate with the Officer Team and learned about their school garden which ties into the Farm To School program. They hope to expand to 5-6 acres next year. The very last visit of the week was with the GFW Pioneer Express Officer Team. Plaques from successful corn drives lined their wall as they prepare for another year.

Thank you to every Region Officer, advisor and chapter we visited with! I truly enjoyed every moment spent on visits, and look forward to more!

LIZ AND PARTNERS-IN-CRIME.

Madame Awesome, Lauren Servick, and I began my adventures in the beautifully mountainous stretch of land known as Region VIII in the king of the hill, Winona! After making some sweet human tables with chapter leaders, we had a delicious lunch with the Chapter Officer Team (including the famous BLOEDOW'S DONUTS). We hopped in the van with Mr. Larsen and flew over to Plainview-Elgin-Millville to spend some quality time with their ROCKSTAR 8th grade FFA members; these new friends totally schooled me in FFA Trivia! I was privileged enough to spend the evening at PEM, as well, playing a little dodgeball and spending time with the majority of their chapter. After snagging some Dairy Queen with Jared Luhman, Mike Bedtke, Maria Wingert, Shawna Conrad, and Jason, I headed over to Chatfield to crash for the night.

On my second day of gallavanting through Region VIII, I was lucky enough to be accompanied by the one...the only...Jared Hanson! We had the outstanding opportunity to talk about FFA opportunities with members from the Goodhue and Lake City FFA Chapters that morning. After a scenic drive through Red Wing, we arrived at the high school around 1:30pm to hang out with an Animal Science Class and their Chapter Officer Team. This chapter does WAY too many cool things. A few examples? Jello Kickball, Aquaculture, Novice Parli Pro.

I journeyed to my homeland, Region VI, on Wednesday to spend some time with our newest Greenhands. What an eventful day full of laughs, catching up with old friends, and learning more about leadership!

Thursday was a day of adventures for Miss Ashley Enter and myself. We traveled with Mr. Ertl through Region VII, visiting LeCenter and Montgomery Lonsdale. Both chapters are strong parts of their community's histories and are continuing on with their own legacys - which I am SURE we will all hear about in the near future! The evening was spent in Mankato with the Region VII Officer Team and numerous community supporters. The Team did a great job and really represented our organization well.

If I could sum this week up in one word it would be this: LEGIT.
FFA members in Regions VII and VIII are building leaders, communities, and the agricultural industry in the Southeastern corner of Minnesota and for that I couldn't be more grateful. A big thank you to all who hosted the State Officers during our visits - we truly enjoyed our time with you!

CF Industries Visit

The Minnesota FFA State Officer Team traveled to Rosemount on October 1st to visit CF Industries. Upon arriving we were greeted by Mr. Scott Dohmen manager of Pine Bend Warehouse and Mr. Joel Loberg a supervisor at the facility. Introductions were shared as well as a light breakfast followed by a video on the history of the business. CF Industries is a global leader in fertilizer manufacturing and distribution. The business was formed in 1946 as a fertilizer brokerage operation by a group of cooperatives. In 2005 the company transitioned and established CF Industries Holding, Inc. as a public company. Recently in 2010 CF Industries acquired Terra Industries Inc. and is now the premier nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer manufacturer in North America. Mr. Dohmen and Mr. Loberg informed us that safety is the number one priority of the facility and briefed us on the safety procedures of the plant before we set out to check out their operation.

We fist ascended up into the screening mill. CF Industries takes great pride in ensuring a quality product. All their fertilizer is screened and hammered to break up any clumps so farmers do not have to worry about clogged machinery. The three main products that the flow through the Pine Bend plant is Urea, Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP), and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP). The product is received from barge and train and is then redistributed.

We had the opportunity to head down to the dock and see the equipment used to unload all the barges. At the current time Jacob was performing weekly maintenance on one of the large cranes. The officers had the chance to hop up in the cab of the operating crane and to better understand how it runs. Receiving and distributing fertilizer on rail cars means the company owns a few train engines. The officers had an opportunity to drive the engine as long as we blew the horn before moving. Mr. Ertl gave it a try behind the controls and was by far the best driver!

One of the most amazing things that about our visit was the efficiency of the operation. The scale of CF Industries operation is astounding with up to nearly 400 semi trucks coming a day as well as barge and rail. Even with this size the grounds and buildings are extremely clean. You cannot find spilt fertilizer anywhere on the ground. All the equipment is clean and properly stored. Besides this the employees are required to go through a program in which they learn all the operations of the businesses so they can fill any role if needed. The company is also a great steward of the environment with zero tolerance of spills and participating in river clean ups. The information provided by both Mr. Dohmen and Mr. Loberg help us to better understand and represent the agriculture industry. We would like to thank CF Industries for inviting us to there business and sharing the day with us.

The MN State Officers standing on a pile of urea in one of the numerous storage buildings.

Respectfully submitted by the Rising Son,

Jason Troendle

#1 Gopher Fan.

********************************************

After spending the day

celebrating 10 years of the CHS Miracle of Birth Center

with amazing farm families and veterinarians,

meeting more cool fair-goers,

watching the super legit ag magic show,

and eating corn on the cob for supper,

we had the privilege to meet

Bob Bruininks the President

of the University of Minnesota.

That is...after we finally realized the guy

in all the Gopher gear was him!

As current and future Gophers, we were very excited to meet the man who has been such an instrumental part of making the University of Minnesota what it is, being a part of the faculty for over 40 years. A true Gopher, through and through, President Bruininks and his wife Susan were walking around the CHS Miracle of Birth Center with their grandchildren, enjoying one of the many sites of the State Fair.

FFA members, meeting President Bruininks was an awesome experience for Eric, Justin, and Liz because, as we said earlier, when we first saw him...we just thought he was another hardcore Gopher fan. As we started to talk to him, we could sense the passion he had for the University and the students he serves. For him, being the #1 Gopher Fan goes right down to his core, just as the FFA goes straight down to ours. When President Bruininks dons that maroon and gold hat or when we zip up our corduroy jackets, we are representing organizations that are close to our hearts. Keep in mind that in or out of those blue jackets, we are still representing the FFA and being agricultural education's #1 Advocate.

So next time someone stops and asks you about the emblem on the back of your jacket or the cow you're showing at the fair, take a little time out of your day and share what is important to you with them.

We're 1/3 of the way done with the State Fair...this means there are 8 days left of the Great Minnesota Get Together....8 days to catch up with the State Officer Team at the FFA Chapter House and Leadership Center!

Enjoy these last few days of summer!

Stationed by the door leading to the plow,

JC and LIZ

Day 2 - MN State Fair.

*******************

What better way is there to end the second day of the Great Minnesota Get Together than to recite the FFA creed with some of our fellow members for a group of fair-goers from the great state of California?

When Kirsten was asked to recite the FFA Creed, she jumped at the chance.

"I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE,

WITH A FAITH BORN NOT OF WORDS, BUT OF DEEDS..."

Without missing a beat, Andrew Miron of the Forest Lake FFA Chapter chimes in. As Justin and I both added a few lines here and there, the smiles on the faces around us got bigger and bigger. Turns out one of the people we were reciting to used to judge the Creed Speaking CDE at the University of Minnesota Invite! He is a staff member at the U and was enjoying the fair with friends.

FFA members, it is always great to hear those familiar words of the Creed. Keep it in mind as you begin your new school year and your adventures in agriculture and agricultural education.

Hope to see you at the State Fair!

Stationed by the plow,

LIZ

Sharing your message.

************************************************
MN FFA MEMBERS:
HOW DO WE TELL OUR STORY?
The Minnesota FFA Officer Team
had the opportunity last week to learn
how to share our message with the public about
agriculture, agricultural education, and FFA.

So in the spirit of SOUNDBITES, here's what kept us busy last week in the Twin Cities...

• Learning more about our teammates while scavenger hunting in Barnes and Noble

• Picnic-ing and connecting with Metro Area FFA Alumni & Friends, our families, and our mentors - as well as reuniting with our Region Presidents!

• Meeting CHS Miracle of Birth Center staff and barnyard attendants who will spend the duration of State Fair with our team

• Practicing communication techniques with Donna Moenning of the Midwest Dairy Association that will come in handy while meeting Fair Goers at State Fair

• Eating breakfast with the Executive Team of AgriBank and hearing about the people behind one of the MN FFA Association's great partners (SHOUT OUT to Becca Morris and her awesome social media training we had earlier this summer!)

• Planning our chapter visits that will take place in late September with the Region 7 & 8 Officer Teams.

Minnesota FFA Members,
if someone were to ask you
what FFA is...what would you say?

How would you share your message about the organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of students like YOU and I by developing our potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education? How would you explain your role in agriculture or agricultural education?

An elevator ride is maybe 30 seconds long.
Let's say you get in an elevator wearing your blue corduroy jacket
and someone asks you,
"Why are you dressed like that?"
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

Communicating our personal messages is essential to the future of our organization. As you show animals at the State Fair or go out on a corn drive this fall, tell people who you are and what you represent.

WE ARE THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE.
It is up to us to make sure that it is a bright future.

Stop by the CHS Miracle of Birth Center
at the State Fair and say hello to the MN FFA Officers!
We'd love to hear what you and your chapter has in the works
as you begin your new school year.

Hope to see you all at the State Fair!
Stationed by the plow,
LIZ

Farmfest 2010!

FARMFEST 2010

(Liz Rabbe, Erin Daninger, Justin Crowley, Jason Troendle, Maddie Collin, Kirsten Pagel)

WHOA! Farmfest started off with a bang of HEAT! On Tuesday August 3rd, the 6 Constitutional Officers were on their way to Morgan, MN to celebrate Farmfest. As we arrived to this huge agricultural gathering at 8 a.m., we realized it was already 90 degrees out! We were able to help the University of Minnesota out at their tent and were in charge of welcoming and mingling with the University's Alumni and the educational spin the wheel. People of all ages walked through the tent and learned more about agriculture through questions like what is the average age of a farmer today?

Throughout the day, the six of us rotated positions and two of us ventured off with Val Aarsvold to meet and thank our partners in the FFA. This had to be one of my highlights of Farmfest. I had such a fantastic time socializing with our partners like Dekalb, BASF, Minnesota Soybean Processors, and Farm Bureau.

We were also given free-time to explore Farmfest for an hour. When I ventured off with Justin we ran into some of the Fulda and Waseca FFA members. We were able to catch up on what was going on in their local chapters and how they were enjoying Farmfest. Thanks to Farm Bureau, all of us were able to enjoy outstanding pork chops on a stick! To conclude our first day at Farmfest we were invited to and Ag. Education Seminar and discussed the future of Agriculture Education.

Most of us ventured back to Region V President, Hillary's house to spend the night. Hillary took us out to a beautiful restaurant where the team bonded through hot wings and making pyramids with pop cans.

Jason, Liz, Maddie, Justin, Brittany, Hillary, and Kelsey came back to Farmfest for day two, which was considerably cooler, and waited in line for 45 minutes for a pancake breakfast sponsored by Farm Bureau. At 10:30, we all attended the governors debate which consisted of our recently elected governor candidates Emmer and Dayton. It was refreshing to hear first hand the views on agriculture the potential new Minnesota Governor held. After this, everyone went their separate ways and departed for home.

Farmfest 2010 was truly an educational experience for all of us. We were able to help educate the public about agriculture and educate ourselves about government issues and expand our knowledge about agriculture. Hope to see you all there next year! :-)

Stationed by the Emblem of Washington,

Maddie Collin

One Element.

********************************************

A week of adventures in WASHINGTON, D.C. for Jason and Liz!
Between meeting other
State Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Secretaries
from across the country,
finding the best frozen yogurt shop in the world,
and voting on which issues would come to delegate committees
at National Convention, the week seemed to fly by!

Here are my TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS from SPC, 2010.

1.) Visiting my favorite city for the 5th time in my life.

2.) Gallavanting around DC with State Officers from Nebraska and New York while stopping by the National Archives, Air and Space Museum, and Natural History Museum - as well as taking some pretty legit pictures!

3.) Finding the best frozen yogurt shop in the world, Fro-Zen-Yo, and visiting it twice more before heading home.

4.) Joining National FFA Alumni for dinner and having the opportunity to sit at a table with President Reagan's Secretary of Agriculture.

5.) Attending my first professional baseball game that did not involve the Minnesota Twins - Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves!

6.) Hitting up Capitol Hill and having the chance to visit with Representatives Walz, Bachman, and aides from Oberstar and Peterson's offices.

7.) Watching Addy zip around on a Segway!

8.) Voting on issues that will now come before delegate committees at National Convention (see below)!

• At-Large Elections of National Officers
• Increasing Student Voice at the National Level
• Using American Suppliers for FFA Unlimited Items
• Vet Science CDE
• SAE Standards
• FFA Degree Expansion
  

9.) Hearing reflections from the National Officers at cool locations such as in front of the Capitol Building and the Jefferson Memorial!

10.) Touring DC at night and watching fireworks over the Potomac from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial - SO awesome!

All in all, a great week!
I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity
to revisit my favorite city, this time with Addy and Jason.

Minnesota FFA members, get excited for National Convention!
Big things are happening within our organization
and members like you and I are filled with
INFINITE POTENTIAL.

Stationed by the plow,
LIZ