Most Wonderful Time of the Year

‘Tis the season! As the holidays get closer and closer, your Iowa FFA State Officers, wanted to share some of our favorite holiday memories.  Check out our reasons why it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Cully Forsyth: Christmas in the Forsyth house can get very interesting. With my family being very close to each other you can imagine things get a little crazy. From wrestling in the living room to who can eat the most snicker salad, our competitive sides show very often. While we do get very loud and obnoxious it’s also a time to come back home and enjoy the presence of others. My favorite Christmas memory was traveling to Illinois on Christmas Eve to go skiing. My ten cousins, grandparents, parents, and I had a blast tearing up the slopes in the midst of winter. It was a different experience than the traditional sit around the Christmas tree and I’ll always remember that Christmas enjoying the time with my family in a place not familiar.

                

Cole Moody: My favorite Christmas memory is going to our Christmas Eve church service with my family. For as long as I can remember we have gone to church together on Christmas Eve, and I always look forward to that quality time with my family celebrating the birth of Christ. This is such a special time to me because as a family we are blessed to celebrate the true REASON for the SEASON. My favorite part is at the end of the service where they dim the lights, and we sing Christmas carols together by candle light. This is a tradition I look forward to continuing for the rest of my life.

Blake Lineweaver: Unlike your typical, frozen tundra Christmas parties, one side of my family celebrates what we call “Christmas in July.” Since they live so far away, July is the perfect time for them to get away to Okoboji. In my opinion, the greatest to time for festivities and family is when it’s 70 degrees outside rather than -40. We celebrate the holiday by going on boat rides, frying fish, and sending cousins out on the tube every other hour. The best part: we get a t-shirt commemorating each year’s festivities, and now I have 10-15 annual “Christmas in July” shirts overflowing my closet.

Zach Hamilton: Back when I was in younger, there was one Christmas that sticks out the most. My mom wrapped all of our presents at our aunt’s house while we were at school and decided to leave them there so we wouldn’t find the gifts early. Then Christmas rolled around. For some reason, we had finished up opening presents much sooner than my mom had expected. She checked around and realized we hadn’t even gotten through half of the things she had bought. She had only picked up about half of the presents she had left at my aunt’s house.  Determined to not ruin Christmas, my mom decided to brave snow that had been falling for the past couple days.  She headed out to get the presents she had forgotten and it was like we had our own Santa when she returned.  I will definitely never let her live it down, but it was quite the Christmas.  

Zoie Shook: I have never been a big lover of surprises. Although, the surprise I received this year for Christmas topped it all. My big brother TJ shipped out to basic in November this year, and it really was hitting me hard. My brother and the rest of my family pulled off a surprise homecoming for Christmas. I opened my front door after there was a knock, saw TJ standing there, and immediately started bawling my eyes out. My favorite thing about Christmas is always being surrounded by my family, and this year, with the surprise homecoming of my big brother, the family aspect that will be surrounding the tree this year will not be short one single person.

Zach Hoffman: The holiday season here, it is important to focus on what really matters. To me, family comes first. It is always a tradition of mine to visit my Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Ellie’s house on Christmas day where I am greeted by a loving family. For as long as I can remember, Christmas has been spent thumbing through scrapbooks, and eating far too many desserts. I am always sad to leave the Christmas party when the time comes, but I soon cheer up once I remember how truly blessed I am to have the loved ones that I do in my life. No matter what your celebration may look like, I wish you a very joy filled holiday season!

Savannah Keitzer: ‘Tis the season! My favorite holiday tradition is simply spending time with my family and friends. I love sitting around the table playing games and listening to the people around me tell stories. My favorite is listening to my grandparents reflect on and tell stories about how different it was “back in their day.” When they speaks of their past, it reminds me just how blessed I truly am to be raised in this time and place.

Chase Kusel: One of my favorite Christmas/ Holiday memories is one that occurs every year on Christmas Eve. My mom, dad, and I go out to eat every Christmas Eve as a family, and we always go to a movie following that. I can’t think of a more humbling way to spend the day before Christmas with the people that you love the most. Which is why it has been one of my favorite holiday memories for as long as I can remember.

Elisa Russ: Holidays for my family is always just my parents and my siblings, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Some of my favorite memories revolve around Christmas Eve.  We start with loading up the car and heading to church for Christmas Eve service (which gives me goosebumps just thinking about it because it’s such a beautiful service).  We come back and always have my dad’s amazing homemade chili for supper, followed by opening one present, before playing some cards and heading to bed.  These memories made with my family are ones I will forever cherish.

Although our memories may vary, they all revolve around spending time with those we most care about.  We would like to wish you a safe and very merry holiday season to you and your loved ones!

2016-2017 Iowa FFA State Officers

We Are All on Our Way

With the holidays officially in full swing, I can tell you that there is nothing I love more than spending time with my family and friends. Whether it be sipping on hot chocolate by the fireplace, playing a competitive game of cards, yelling at the football game on TV, or just sitting around telling stories, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for my family and I. The holidays as a college student is even better. I can give myself a snow day if wanted, go home when I want to, and my Christmas break is almost a whole month long! But in order to get to that month long Christmas break, I have to get through FINALS.

While in the midst of (trying to) study for finals, getting into the Christmas spirit, (trying to) catch up on sleep, figuring out how I’m buying everyone presents with only $57 to my name, and every other struggle the typical college student has this time of the year, I realized just how badly I wished my dad was here to help me out a little and see everything that I am doing.

In March of my freshman year, my dad passed away from Neuroendocrine Carcinoid Cancer. He taught me so much about life in the short 14 years I was able to be with him, but still to this day, I long for his embrace, wise words, and corny jokes as if the 14 years I had just wasn’t quite enough.

Honestly, for me, my first semester of college has been one of the biggest struggles I have ever faced. Every class I had to sit through seemed to just drag on. I just didn’t want to be there. But the last thing I wanted to do was disappoint my mom and dad. I simply was just struggling with myself and life in general. Despite the depression that I had fallen back into, I continued trying to keep my spirits up and just get through the semester. I was just losing. Losing my confidence, my drive, my passion, my happiness, and myself. Things I have worked so hard to gain back after I lost my dad. I was losing all of my progress simply because I thoroughly just missed my dad. I had officially given up.

Everyone we know has lost someone or something in their life. It’s not easy and it never will be. But last week, I was reading some blogs that I follow and I read this, “It’s okay if you feel like you’ve let yourself and the people you love down a lot of times already. One day, after all the trials and errors and breakdowns, you’ll finally make it. And you’ll see that the people who love you never lost their faith in you… I am asking you to not give up. Your heart may feel heavy and your mind may have thousands of thoughts inside, but you have to keep going. You have to, no matter how scary and much of a struggle it may be… So if there are times that you feel like you’re about to just turn around and give it all up, remember this: You are not a failure. You are on your way. You are on your way.”

That’s when it hit me. We are all on our way. On our way to something spectacular. I had been having a rough few months and struggling with a lot of things but I’m on my way. We all go through some really tough things in life, and we all feel like giving up at some point in life. But we have to keep going. We really have no choice. Roadblocks are inevitable, but what matters is how we get around them. We’re going to feel like a failure sometimes, it’s going to seem like we’re not getting anything done that we need to, and that’s okay. It’s all a part of our journey. Our paths may be rough, long, and twisted but in the end, we’re all going to make it, we’re all just on our way. Despite the trials and tribulations that face us on that path, we will all make it in the end.

With the holidays upon us, I encourage you to hug your family a little tighter and take in the love that comes with this season. It’s truly something amazing. Cherish every moment you have with those loved ones because even when people don’t live forever, memories do. Confide in your loved ones and give everyone all that you can, you never know when it’s going to be your last time. Use these next few weeks to tell those you love that you love them, go see that friend you haven’t seen in a while, bake with your mom, talk to your siblings, watch Christmas movies with your family, and just take in the joy, love, and happiness this holiday season brings. Because I know I would give anything to have just one more Christmas with my dad.

And when something goes wrong, remember to take a step back and realize that everyone is battling something. And I promise you that whatever demons you are fighting, you will win, do some amazing things in your life, and in the end, you will make it, because we are all on our way.

Scott Shook

April 22^nd 1970 - March 6^th 2013

Zoie Shook

Southwest State Vice-President

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

As we get closer to winter break were starting to see many changes whether it’s leaves falling, the temperature dropping, to more pumpkin spice products than we’ve ever seen before. I thought we had the opportunity to skip winter this year when I wore just a t-shirt outside on December 1^st but my hopes were brought back down when I went outside on December 2^nd and felt the harsh 29 degree winter we were all waiting for. Now that winter is finally here to stay, I thought I’d touch on just a couple of things this wonderful season has to offer us.

SNOW!

When I think of winter the first thing that comes to my mind any maybe yours too is snow. Whether you love it or not every year snow will cover the ground, and it doesn’t matter how old you are when you hear someone yell, “SNOWBALL FIGHT”, you throw a snowball. The coolest thing I see in my community back in Charles City is when it snows everybody is helping each other clear a path for vehicles and roads just out of pure kindness. It brings people together in many ways that many people never think of.

Christmas movies!

Ok but seriously how many times is it acceptable to watch the movie “ELF” from December to January. When I do have free time from my crazy schedule you can definitely find me watching Christmas movies. I can’t get enough of them!

Food!

Since I already made the joke I might as well bring it up again. Call me basic but I love a warm pumpkin spice latte and will definitely drink a lot of them during these cold months. I enjoy seeing all the different types of foods and drinks that are offered during this season especially the ones made by my family during Christmas.

Traditions!

Speaking of family, my number one favorite thing about winter is the holidays when I get to travel back to Americas Hometown and see all my family members. Sitting by the fireplace, around the dinner table, to even the occasional snowball fight, the love everyone shows for each other makes me treasure those special moments.

When you finally get that break off school, sports, FFA, and the many other activities you are in take in the awesome weather we get to experience here in Iowa, make sure to get cozy and watch hours on hours of Christmas movies, drink and eat as much delicious food and pumpkin spice products as you can handle, and most importantly focus on your family. Not long you’ll be off to college and counting down the days till you get to travel home and experience those memorable traditions that we all love. Have a warm winter!

Cully Forsyth

North Central State Vice President 

Giving Thanks

With Thanksgiving being just a few days away, we each have the opportunity to reflect on life’s blessings and be grateful.  The Iowa FFA State Officers have done some reflecting ourselves and here is what we would like to give thanks for:

Zach Hoffman: As a State Officer, I have the opportunity to travel across the state and interact with many different chapters. Each time I visit, I am always amazed at how much respect students give towards their FFA advisors. The sense of family is always apparent as soon as I walk through the door and that might be my favorite part about being involved in FFA: the family. FFA advisors put students before themselves and I am very thankful for that. I would not be the man I am today without the constant guidance and support system that Mrs. Kelsey Bailey, my FFA advisor, provides. I'm sure we can all spend an entire day saying great things about our FFA advisors, but today, I want to simply say thanks.

Blake Lineweaver: In high school, I did a satirical (kind of sarcastic) speech pretending to be cranberry sauce during Thanksgiving. To sum it up, I was a livid, jiggly mound of fruit that couldn't stand that fact that he wasn't the main dish of Thanksgiving. This holiday season, I'm thankful that for any meal, at least one person will appreciate every food, no matter how physically repulsive it may be.

Chase Kusel: I am thankful for my family. To be able to be back around the people that have pushed me and supported me in everything I do is indescribable. Throughout my year of service, they have been here to help in anyway possible, and I couldn't be more thankful for a support system like then.

Zach Hamilton: This Thanksgiving I would have to say that I am especially thankful for my car. As a State Officer and college student who lives about 3 1/2 hours from campus, I have put a lot of hours and miles on the road. Everything from traveling to and from home and campus for a break, to chapter visits, across Iowa for RAGBRAI, to the Enrichment Center for all sorts of things, or even just the short trip to Starbucks, I probably would not survive without my car. My car, Cam Cam and I have put in over 6,000 miles in a few short months, jamming to Beyonce and Carly Rae Jepsen. I am extremely thankful to have the ability to take Cam wherever I need to go to improve either my own or someone else's life.

Zoie Shook: I'm thankful for laughter and its ability to bring people together, make the bad days not so bad, and shine light on a hard situation. This year, laughter has become a daily occurrence; I’ve laughed until I cried, laughed until my stomach hurt, laughed until someone told me to shut up, and laughed because I was in an awkward situation (which I find myself in way too often). But honestly, I wouldn't change it for the world. So, thank you God, for allowing me the ability to laugh at not only myself, but everything else around me as well. Laughter is happiness, and happiness is key to a wonderful life.

Cole Moody: I am thankful for Jesus because He died on the cross for my sins. Because of Him I am forgiven.

Savannah Keitzer: I am thankful for EM Tiffany. I am sure each of us in the “FFAmily” had a panic attack when our FFA Advisor told us that we had to memorize and recite the creed. Even though the majority of us thought we could never do it, we did. Little did we know, reciting the creed instilled values within our hearts. The creed reminds of our mission as an agricultural industry, and the dreams we want to achieve. It reminds us of our past, and all the hard work and accomplishments that have been put forth to make our dreams come true. I am especially thankful for the FFAmily EM Tiffany created because you make my dreams a reality.

Cully Forsyth: Not just on Thanksgiving but all year ‘round I am thankful for my loving family and the faith they always show, my hometown and how the people their taught me to be the person I am today, my friends and the memories they continue to help me make and last but definitely not least........ The Green. Bay. Packers. This historic team not only has a past of success, but a bright future as well. Don't let their slow start, 4 - 5 record, below average defense, and 3rd place seat in the NFC North fool you, the rest of the season can only go up from here and I definitely see another Lombardi trophy coming back to Lambeau Field soon. This Thanksgiving remember to thank your family, your friends, and most definitely your favorite team for always doing what they can to ensure a bright future for you. 

Elisa Russ: This year, I’m thankful for this crazy thing called life.  Through late nights, football games, endless hours on the road, packed schedules, good food, ripped pantyhose, amazing people, and all the other things that make our lives what they are, I’m just thankful for every new day that is given to me.  I am appreciative of every good and not-so-good moment, because life itself truly is a blessing.

From the Iowa FFA State Officer Team, we want to wish everyone a safe and blessed Thanksgiving.  Enjoy the time with loved ones, remember to thank an agriculturalist for your holiday meal, and be grateful for all of life’s blessings.

A Rich History and A Bright Future

Truth be told, I had no clue what FFA was before high school. My parents never stepped foot on a farm, so there was no family pressure to understand agriculture. I knew enough to know the food I ate did not come from a store but was instead produced many miles away on a farm. I knew chocolate milk does not come from brown cows, despite the common misconception. However, my blindness to agriculture was not from a lack of interest, but instead through a lack of knowledge. I simply didn’t know what I didn’t know, and that seems to be the biggest barrier.

After being introduced to the industry as a high school freshman, I began to understand why our industry matters. I never appreciated agriculture, because I never understood it. Through agricultural education, I was able to bridge that gap of understanding and find a future career I believe can overcome any obstacle. Throughout history, agriculture has proven to overcome many challenges. Why wouldn’t you choose agriculture?

Agriculture has grown through events that seemingly destroyed the industry. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl overwhelmed the nation for an entire decade. What seems like a history lesson was incredibly real for over 2.5 million Americans who fled Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Prices for all commodities nationwide dropped substantially, leaving our nation’s farmers in peril. Across the board, the industry was decimated. But in the end, agriculture prevailed. The Farm Crisis of the 1980s shook the sector. Iowa was at the center of this national catastrophe. In 1983, nearly 500 farms were being auctioned off each month.  As the Farm Crisis subsided, almost 300,000 farmers had lost everything. Again, agriculture prevailed.

Today, farmers are challenged by low commodity prices and high input costs. However, there is hope on the horizon. Nationally, farmers are reaching record yields for corn and soybeans. This year corn production jumped 1.9 bushels per acre and soybeans now average 52.5 bushels per acre. Through science, agriculture has a promising future. The implementation of CRISPR-Cas9 promises to develop improved crops. Microbial applications and soil management will increase yields. Digital agriculture increases the data available to farmers to allow for more informed decisions. Conservation techniques like wetland management and no-till crop systems are improving water and soil quality for all Iowans.

And finally, our organization is on the rise. The National FFA Organization’s membership reached an all time high for the 2015-16 year at 649,355 members, and the Iowa FFA Association is looking to break over 15,000 members this year. Iowa FFA members continue to show leadership through their career experiences earning $25.56 million as reported last year. Our nation’s rising youth are a talented, educated, and passionate workforce willing to take agriculture to the next step. Every day, I wake up grateful for choosing this field, because I see the promise of better days ahead. In times of doubt or uncertainty, we should look to the final paragraph of our creed: “I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life,” and remember that you will always have a role to play in agriculture.

Blake Lineweaver

Northwest State Vice President

Food for Thought:

http://phys.org/news/2016-09-vegetables-crispr-cas9-cultivated-harvested-cooked.html

http://www2.econ.iastate.edu/ifo/

Same Jacket, Different Story

Anticipation, excitement, joy, and a little bit of nervousness- these were the things running through my head the night before leaving for National Convention this year. I was THRILLED to be heading to Indianapolis as a delegate to meet up with over 50,000 of my coolest friends, but I was also a little worried. I was going to be spending a whole week with the state officers. Now don’t get me wrong- our state officers are really awesome people and I knew they were going to be a lot of fun but there was a voice in my head saying, “You’re the only one that doesn’t quite fit.” Yet, as our road trip to Indiana started the next morning, I realized my concerns from the night before were pretty ridiculous. I was reminded of how amazingly down-to-earth and friendly I knew our state officers were, but more than that I began to process how truly united we were as FFA members.

As delegates, it was our responsibility to represent Iowa on committees that would form proposals for the entire delegate body. During these meetings, FFA members from all over the United States came together to form a committee report. With so many people from so many places, I noticed how different FFA was throughout the country. Every FFA member I met had a different story, a different experience in agriculture, and a different perspective on things. Occasionally this was seen through disagreements in committee meetings since, as it turns out, sometimes people don’t always see eye to eye. Yet, every time a conclusion was reached and a meeting was adjourned, I left with incredible new friends. It didn’t matter that we were from different parts of the country or that we didn’t agree on something, we all held the same respect for each other and our purpose as delegates.

From the delegate experience, I learned a number of valuable things. Among these was a genuine realization of how much there was to learn from my fellow FFA members. There were a lot of people who experienced their passion for FFA and agriculture in a different way than I did. Somehow, though, it didn’t matter what differences there were between us. At the end of the day, everyone has on the same blue jacket, no matter what is on the back or what position we hold. FFA unites us with a common goal and a passion for agriculture.

Ally Babcock

2016 Iowa FFA Delegate

FFA and Beyond

We all have at least one thing in our lives that we absolutely love and spend a tremendous amount time of doing. During my time at Southeast Polk High School, the thing that I absolutely loved and spent a tremendous amount of time doing was FFA. During my time in the blue jacket I did everything that I could including various career and leadership development events, showing livestock, serving as a chapter officer, attending State Leadership Conference, National FFA Convention and Expo, and leadership workshops. This sparked my passion for agriculture and the FFA. By the time I reached my senior year, I could not imagine my life without the FFA and wondered what I could do to continue my involvement in the organization I loved so much.

It was the fall of 2014 and I was just starting my first semester as a Cyclone. When people say the first two weeks of college are the biggest lies of your college experience they are absolutely right. I had started my classes but the actual work hadn’t begun. It was during this time I spent an evening at the Freshman Transfer BBQ hosted by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Council. While there, I visited with representatives from some of the many ag focused clubs on campus. Out of all the clubs at the BBQ the one that I found most appealing was the AgEd/Collegiate FFA club. Being an Ag. Ed. major along with my love for the FFA, I knew this club would be a perfect fit.

At the first Ag. Ed./Collegiate FFA club meeting I was presented with the opportunity to become involved. It was getting close to the time for the annual Collegiate FFA Greenhand Conference. When the group was asked for volunteers to help, I immediately put my name on the sign up. My role with the conference led me to see the value in the club and I am so thankful that I decided to become involved so early in my college career. Ever since then I have not only been an active member but I have served in leadership positions as well. I went on to serve as a co-chair for the Greenhand Conference the following year and as a chair for the ISU Advocacy Day events for the next two years and the President for this year. This involvement has pushed me out of my comfort zone and has allowed me to grow in many ways.

I hope you have been able to see the overarching theme of my involvement with the Ag. Ed./ Collegiate FFA club at Iowa State University. Your involvement does not have to end once you graduate, but in all reality, closing the book for your time in high school allows you to take full advantage of the opportunities that are ahead of you. If you really have a passion for something, I encourage you to take it to the next level. It doesn’t have to be in the FFA, although I would encourage you to stay involved, but I can be anything you are interested in. What really matters, is that you use your interests to guide you as you become more and more involved and then you take the talents and skills that you possess to better the lives of the people around you. Each and every one of you have the ability to make a difference, you just have to find what you love and go all out in what you do. If you do this, you will transform the lives of the people around you and ignite their passion to grow as individuals. 

Tayler Veldhuizen

Iowa State University Ag. Ed./Collegitate FFA Club President

Something Better

It all started in 2^nd grade, the very first time I helped my uncle work his cattle. It was at that moment, when I was so proud and excited for being able to help, that I knew that I had found what I loved. I was only 7 years old at the time, and it is crazy to think that a 7-year old could find something they were passionate about, but I ran with it. I put on my shirt with a green 4 leaf clover on it for the first time in 4^th grade, knowing I eventually wanted to be in that ring with the “big kids” showing cattle someday. I begged and hassled my dad until finally, he gave me a challenge to accomplish before I would be able to have my own bottle calf. He said, “You know, all the great showmen have their own show box. So, before you can get a calf, we need to build a show box.”

            It was game on from that point forward. I spent several hours and days planning and building that show box, and finally, the day came to show my project off to the woodworking judge. That was my first time I ever received a purple ribbon for my efforts. Looking back now though, it was never about that purple ribbon… It was about learning, growing, and working hard for something I was passionate about. I went on that following year to show my first bottle calf, and I will never forget crying my eyes out when it was time to say goodbye. But again, it wasn’t about winning showmanship in that ring, but rather it was about the lessons and the passion that would carry me on to numerous other opportunities.

Soon after my bottle calf was gone, my dad started his own herd of cattle, and it became even more real of how much I truly enjoyed working with cattle. I never personally grew up on a farm, but through the kindness of our neighbors and the barn they let us use for years just a couple miles down the road, I showed clear until I graduated high school.

Flash forward to now, and just a few months back, I was able to watch my partner in crime, my sister, Kristen, compete in the State Track Finals in the shuttle hurdle relay. I was so hyped when they won 4^th place in the whole state, and I can’t describe the smile on her face when I saw her after her race! My family was ecstatic, coaches were stoked, it was all around a monumental moment for our family and community. Thinking nothing could go wrong that day, I decided to go home and take a short nap (like a normal college kid), and then rest up in the evening. I began to close my eyes, thinking about how far each one of my family members have come through various challenges of their own. Nearly an hour later, I woke up to my mom’s frantic loud voice, “Erica, get in your car, I just got a call that the barn is on fire.”

            Sprinting out of my bed faster than I ever have in my life, I tripped down the stairs, put on shoes, and sped down the highway going nearly 100MPH. Cop cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and volunteer firefighters who were coming in personal vehicles all started to flood into the yard, as my dad and I frantically tried to figure out what to do with the calves that were stuck inside the gates.

            Soon enough, a volunteer fireman came running and screaming from behind the blazing barn, “Let the cattle out! It’s going to fall any second!”

            I sprinted to the nearest swinging gate while my dad sprinted to the other, both working as fast as possible to let our show calves escape the scorching heat. Finally, the calves were able to run, and in no later than 30 seconds after pulling those gates apart, the barn collapsed with an unbearable amount of heat surrounding the area. Two calves loose without halters near two major highways, all of the equipment I had saved up for and purchased over the years and gotten for gifts, and the barn that my friends and sister created memories in were gone in an instant. Tearing up while tracking down the lead steers on a 4wheeler, I couldn’t help but continue to think “This is agriculture.” Why those words came to my mind, I’m not quite sure, but it kept popping into my head. By the time we finally walked the cattle two miles up the highway to a neighbor’s pasture, over six neighbors had stopped to see if they could help in any way.

            I’ll never forget the hug my dad gave me once we shut the gate to the pasture with the steers inside. While that all happened within two hours, coming back to the sight of no barn or equipment left standing was quite a site. As I sat there in the lawn for a while after, watching the remains of the barn smolder and the firefighters continuing to work, I began to think. The memories, good times and bad, came flooding back, and this unfathomable and shocking moment came down to these three realizations:

1. You find out who your friends are. My family and I had several people texting, calling, messaging, emailing, and just plain worrying about our well being and our neighbor’s well being. 6 fire trucks, 3 different fire departments, 7 cops, 2 ambulances, nearly 20 volunteer firefighters, and 7 neighbors came to the rescue in a moments notice. In fact, after riding the bus to Earlham every day for Ag class, one of my bus drivers even came with the fire department for moral support of myself after knowing that was the location of our cattle. They are the everyday heroes. Those are the events that remind a person to count your blessings and to pull over when you see those flashing lights.

2. Under no circumstances can you replace a person. The feed, bales, chutes, grooming supplies, halters, combs, and much more is replaceable. You can’t replace a person. You can’t replace your sister or your neighbor or your dad. Even our cattle are replaceable. While I would never wish upon anyone to have livestock die in such a gruesome way, I am thankful that the firefighters, first responders, and neighbors were all safe.

3. This is agriculture. Floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, strong winds, hail, snow, rain, sleet, drought, it is part of the territory. There is something to be said about farmers and their ability to persevere. To the agronomists and feed nutritionists and seed scientists and Ag teachers and loan officers and salesmen, you truly amaze me by your persistence in feeding a world. In working together for a common cause. In helping those in a time of need and problem solving in an ever-so-changing world. You are the tilting point in turning our world around. Nobody can fight on an empty stomach, and I am honored to pursue a passion with a population of people who share the same enthusiasm and perseverance to see agriculture through the good and bad.

I wouldn’t wish a situation like this upon anybody. But I also know by the grace of God, something better is always around the corner. He is enough, day in and day out. Again, it proves how quickly material things can go, but with a strong family, network of friends, and a foundation in Christ, there will be nothing ever given to me and my family that we can’t handle. 

Erica Baier

Past Iowa FFA State Officer

Seven Things to Do at the National FFA Convention and Expo

            Fall time is definitely one of my times of year, for a couple reasons.  First of all, it’s football season.  The leaves are changing and I love seeing the farmers in the fields.  But, the most exciting thing about fall is the National FFA Convention and Expo.  I’ve been counting down the days until 64,000+ blue corduroy jackets flood Indianapolis and FFA Way.  Attending national convention has been one of my favorite things since I could remember, and through my many trips, I’ve come up with a Seven Things to Do at the National FFA Convention and Expo.

Check out the Expo!

            - Whether you want to check out the stand of your favorite truck brand or look for your potential college or university, the expo has everything (like lots of freebies).  If you have a couple hours to burn, you can easily spend them at the Expo. Check out this website for more info: https://www.ffa.org/events/conventionandexpo/expo 

Go to the FFA Shop!

            - You know all those awesome clothes and gifts you see in the FFA catalog? Yeah, you can get those at the FFA Shop! Word of advice: get there are as soon as possible to get the best selection of sizes and styles! If you end up not being able to make it to the shop, no worries! Almost everything is sold online at https://shopffa.org/products.

Go to a Session…and stay for it!

            - It doesn’t matter which session it is, just go to one! Sessions are full of awesome speakers, wicked cool FFA members getting recognized for their achievements, special guests, and of course bumping music and laser shows.  What else could you want?!

Attend a workshop!

            - Another great way to spend any free time while at convention! Workshops run all day long and are about everything under the sun; from figuring out what you want to be when you grow up to #Agvocating.  A list of all events can be found here: https://www.ffa.org/events/convention/schedule.

Try a local restaurant!

            - One of the coolest things about convention being back in Indianapolis is the fact that is in downtown.  Indy is a super cool city and has some awesome restaurants right where convention is happening! Don’t be afraid to try something new or go to a place you’ve never heard of – odds are, it’s going to be good!

Watch a Career Development Event!

            - The best of the best will be competing at convention and some of the CDEs are open to the public to watch! This is a great opportunity to check out a CDE you were thinking about trying or just watch some rockstar FFA members do their thing! Check out this website: https://www.ffa.org/participate/cdes for the schedule!

Watch the National Officer elections!

            - This is one of the coolest moments of all time in the FFA world.   Watching six individuals run onto stage that have such a passion for the FFA and have reached their biggest goal is indescribable. 

If you are unable to make the trip to Indy, RFD-TV has you covered! More info can be found here: http://www.rfdtv.com/story/23749661/ffa-broadcast-schedule.  If you will be attending the convention, be sure to check off one of these things to do and enjoy your time at the 89^th National FFA Convention and Expo!

Elisa Russ

State FFA President

Steps Back to the FFA

How does a girl who spent 18 years in retail wind up working for the Iowa FFA Foundation? A winding path and a 20 year hiatus from FFA…

I grew up on a farm in southeastern Iowa. At the time, my family raised cattle, hogs, corn and soybeans. My little sister (who spent 14 years as an ag teacher) will tell you that I was the worst farm girl in the world! Being allergic to almost everything on the farm, I spent more time doing “inside chores” to take care of the house when my mom went back to work off of the farm. My interests changed a bit in 6th grade when I attended my first State FFA Convention. My oldest brother received the SE District Star Farmer and my family went to Des Moines to see him receive it. I was amazed!!! I had been around my brothers’ FFA chapter a bit (they held their chapter’s Greenhand orientation at our house) and I thought it was cool but experiencing my first State Convention just blew me AWAY!!! I couldn’t WAIT until I could have my own blue corduroy jacket!

When I got to high school, the chapter wasn’t quite as active as it was in my brothers’ days. (I had three ag teachers during my four years of high school.) FFA just wasn’t a cool thing to do at my school but I didn’t care. I got involved in any activity that I could. I went to district for creed speaking my freshman year, was elected to district office my sophomore year, ushered at the state fair for three years, attended Made for Excellence (now better known as 212/360) and took part in the Washington Conference Program (now known as Washington Leadership Conference.) (Yes, I know…I’m old! ☺) Being part of such a small community, I’d always felt like I had to be the person that “they” thought I should be. Being involved in FFA and getting to know people outside of my tiny little high school (with my graduating class of 39…) helped me gain confidence to become the person that I felt like I was inside. My proudest FFA moment was when I (finally) received my Iowa Degree in 1994.

I ended up attending Iowa State University to get a degree in Elementary Education. I got a part-time job at Target after my freshman year and met the man who is now my husband of 18 years. We got married a few months after I graduated from college and we both spent the next 15 years working for Target full-time in a variety of positions, in three different states. Target was an awesome company for us, but we were excited in 2013 to make career changes and get back to Iowa.

I worked remotely for a company out of Cedar Falls doing association management. I learned pretty quickly that being at home alone for my job all day didn’t quite work for me. Those who know me aren’t surprised to learn that I need a bit more social interaction during the day! During a particularly bad day at work, my sister and I were emailing about her FFA chapter’s upcoming trip to the FFA Enrichment Center, which lead me to the Iowa FFA Foundation’s home page. I was intrigued when I saw the posting for what is now my position. My sister emailed Josh to inquire about the position, wondering if it was an old posting. He wondered how in the heck she’d heard about it already, since he’d just posted the two hours before. I guess some things are just meant to be since I started to work for the Iowa FFA Foundation in March of 2014. Less than one month later, I attended State Leadership Conference 20 years after I’d received my Iowa Degree.

Now, having the opportunity to work for the organization that made such a difference to me when I was in high school, is just pretty darn cool. I only hope that the small contributions that I make every day can help today’s members become the people that they truly feel that they are inside. I didn’t pursue a career in agriculture but the things that I learned as a member helped me have the confidence to make my own footsteps. I am however, incredibly happy that those steps brought me back to FFA.

Becky McCullough

Iowa FFA Foundation Staff

Wherever You Are, Be There

“Wherever you are, be there." Such a simple quote, but for me it’s one that holds a lot of meaning. It constantly reminds me to ask myself, am I really there? Sure, throughout high school I went all of our FFA events, rehearsals, and show choir practices. I went to everything, but was I REALLY there?

After being elected to state office in April, it was my mission to live out that simple quote. No matter what the event, it was my goal to be completely present. I didn’t want to regret a single second of my year serving for this organization. I thought I had been doing pretty well. I was involved everywhere I went, and I felt like I was getting the most out of my experience. Sure there were times where I could have done better, but for the most part, I was enjoying every second of my adventure. Until recently I was reminded just how important it is to actually be THERE.

On September 23, my best friends, Carlee, had her dad passed away from cancer. I watched her throughout the whole progression up until his passing. Carlee lives up to the quote I chose to stand by, ultimately showing me I wasn’t really THERE. No matter what the situation or where she was, whenever she was with her dad, she made the most of it. Carlee lived in the moment and she was THERE. She didn’t want to miss any opportunities with her dad. Now, after his passing, she lives with no regrets.

I want to challenge you. Challenge you to live in the moment, take every opportunity, and make the most out of it. Life is short, and there are some moments you’re going to wish you would have been more present. But you can now prevent that. Next time you are at a sports practice, FFA event, or simply just surrounded by family, ask yourself… are you really THERE?

Chase Kusel

State Secretary

Embrace Change

As officers, my teammates and I have a few different outfits we change in and out of for events and conferences.  Whenever we are going to go to change clothes, my team and I have a saying that we are eager to share. It goes a little like this:

Me: “Hey guys, I’m going to change.”

Team: “DON’T CHANGE WE LIKE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!!”

We always enjoy the chance to have a little fun with each other and have a good laugh. However, the more I think about it, I come up with a question: What’s so bad about change?

Let’s just unpack this for a second. After a quick search via Siri, (thanks Siri for listening to me for once), we can find that change is a verb that means to make or become different. It gives examples of the stoplight changing from green to red or the seasons changing from summer to fall. The simple definition makes change seem like it’s not that big of a deal, when really it can be a huge deal.

Change is a part of life. Almost everywhere you look, you can see some type of change. The crops growing and then drying, the sun changing position in the sky as the day goes by, and even the changing weather. The same goes for people as well and all aspects of our life. Let’s say that you are going to change your profile picture on some type of social media. You may be doing it because you have a really neat picture that you want to show off or represent you, or maybe you want to show off your support to something like a movement (#FFAproud y’all), or you haven’t changed it in like four years so you feel it just needs to happen. Whatever that reason, you are driven to change. It’s no different than those crops or the sun or weather, they also have a reason for changing. Makes sense, right?

So why is change so scary?

Recently I had the opportunity to travel back home for a few chapter visits to schools in my area.  When I walked into my door for the first time in months, there was my mom in the kitchen, my dad in the family room watching football, my cat patiently waiting for me by the door, and the sheep sleeping outside in the pasture. It seems as if everything was back to the way it was before I had left: like I was just coming home from work or an FFA event. I headed back to my bright orange and blue colored room that I thought was the coolest middle school, my bed waiting to be sat on and hear all the latest gossip, and finally my desk awaiting me with the mail I had missed while away. I gave a quick glance over my desk and saw my September edition of Vogue, a few bank statements, and something larger that grabbed my attention. It was the yearbook from my senior year.

On the cover I saw some of my old friends, as well as myself posing awfully cheesily. I opened up the book and took it to Chase to show him all that I had done in my crazy year as a senior in high school. There were the marching band performances on Friday nights, the dances that I helped plan and judge the fashion at, the student sections at all the basketball games, the FBLA trips and competitions, all of my amazing times at the many speech competitions I loved so dearly, many different involvements in FFA, and even more. I saw a quote from me about how I felt about the finals that everyone dreads, and it was about how I needed to ace my calc test otherwise I was going to die. Chase and I laughed at the quote and my cheesy face pictured and I said, “That’s definitely something I would’ve said last year.”

That made me stop laughing and think for a minute. What do I mean by “last year?” Have I really changed that much in just a year?

Later on that night, I got to finally go and hug my sheep. This was a huge moment with a few tears because my sheep had been my world growing up, and not being able to see them every day had been a little bit of an adjustment. Oscar (my Oxford ram who is about up to my chest in height) put that to an end pretty quick when he knocked me down and started chewing my hair. I did my rounds and finally ended on Oscar’s mother, Pepper. She always wanted a hug from me. But not that night. She just walked away. She probably was just in one of her moods or tired, but I again thought, “Have I changed that much that Pepper doesn’t recognize me?”

As I was going through the yearbook once again later that night, I decided to take it back even further and started looking at pictures on Facebook. I looked all the way back to my freshman year of High School and it was easy to see that I was not the same person. But as I kept thinking about it, I realized that it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The experiences that I had built me into the person that I am today. There were times where it seemed like I had hit rock bottom and there were times that I felt like I was on a mountain top, but all of those experiences taught me who I wanted to be. change was something that I needed to grow as an individual. If I hadn’t changed, I wouldn’t be at a college that I love learning about something that I am passionate about.

Think of how you’ve changed. What aspects of your life has changed? Are you the same person you were last year? What experiences caused that change in your life? They may have seemed scary at the time, but now you can look back and see how it turned out to be a good thing.

Change is scary because you aren’t sure what the future holds. But I can tell you that you can handle it. I promise. The only hard part of change is the fact that you are scared. Change is happening all around you even in the simplest of ways, so make the most of it.

I will leave you with one of my all-time favorite quotes. “One of the happiest moments of your life is when you find the courage to let go of what you can’t change. Rather than being afraid of change, embrace it and become who you want to be.”

Zach Hamilton

State Reporter

Strive for Progress, Not Perfection

Nobody is perfect. It is something we have all heard thousands of time, but for some reason most of us ignore the phrase completely. I am one of them. Although I know that nobody is perfect, I strive for perfection on a daily basis, and lately I have realized that being a perfectionist, isn’t always perfect.

It all started at a very early age. In school we were taught that mistakes were bad. Mistakes were things marked with a red ink pen, and I learned to hate red ink pen. I never wanted to see red ink marked on my neatly written papers, so I worked hard, trying to make everything perfect. This “perfect’’ attitude is something I have carried with me my whole life.

I was only 456 hours in office when I was asked to pick a quote to live by this next year; a quote that had meaning to me, and could serve as a token to live out this next year while serving the 14,734 members of the Iowa FFA Association. I chose the quote “Strive for progress, not perfection.” This really stuck with me, and as the day went on, I thought more about it.

Too often we get caught up on the little things. We either over-dramatize mediocre things or underplay the most important. We take too long to do the simple things, taking time away from something with more meaning. Too often we get caught up trying to meet the needs of all the people around us that we don’t take care of ourselves. We may be perfectionists, but we need to be striving to make progress.

Perfection in itself is not a bad thing. A perfectionist is defined as a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection. If we don't strive to do something well and give the best possible result, then what's the point? Right?

We need to focus more on progress, rather than perfection. Progress is defined as the forward or onward movement toward a destination. One can move forward or onward, but without perfection, are they really moving forward in the right direction? It is all about finding a balance. I urge you to find the balance in your life, by striving for perfect progress.

Savannah Keitzer

Southeast State Vice President

Subtle Influence

I want to start by telling you a story from April of my freshman year in high school. I was sitting in the Memorial Union on the Iowa State campus with some members of my FFA chapter after the barbecue during State Leadership Conference. I had been on the phone calling some family and friends about how I did in the Creed Speaking contest earlier that day, and the last person I needed to talk to was my dad. As I was getting off the phone with him, I ended by saying, “Thanks Dad, have a good night, I love you.” I didn’t realize that everyone had quieted down and was listening to me as I wrapped up the conversation. Once I put the phone down and looked up at everyone, a person in the group kind of laughed and said, “Why did you tell your dad that you loved him?” I answered by saying, “I don’t know when it is going to be the last time I talk to him, so I am going to tell the people I care about what they mean to me when I have the chance.” Needless to say, everyone got pretty quiet, and no one else said anything to me about it.

Now, this isn’t the part of the story I want to focus on today. Rather, I am going to look at something that happened a few weeks later because of that story. I was sitting in the lunch room back in school when a senior walked over and asked if I had a few minutes. I got up, and we walked out into the hall where I was asked if it was alright if the story I shared with you could be used as part of the upcoming baccalaureate speech. This senior then told me that what I said really meant a lot to them, and it changed their perspective on how they live their life. The following week I decided to make the trip back to school and attend the baccalaureate service just to see what was going to be said. When that senior got up on stage to give the speech, they ended by telling the story. The closing line was, “Make sure when you leave tonight to tell your mom and your dad, tell your grandma and your grandpa that you love them and tell the people that are special to you what they mean.” Needless to say, I watched most of the mothers, grandmothers, and quite a few of the dads and grandfathers walk out of the auditorium drying tears from their eyes.

For me this was a moving experience for two reasons. First, I was able to see the impact I had on someone’s life, and how because of that, they were able to share it with others in hopes of changing their lives. Secondly, it caused me to realize people are always watching you, and that even some of the simplest things can make a huge difference. Now, I am not trying to toot my own horn here, but I am hoping that if you take one thing from this, it is that every day, you do things that make a difference in the lives of someone around you. Even though you will probably never know it happened, YOU have influence in the lives of others. Every day you are making a difference in the lives of the people around you, so how are you going to live now that you know this?

Cole Moody

Northeast State Vice President

Remember Why You Started

No matter what the task at hand is, it is crucial to remember why you started. After a two week adventure at the Iowa State Fair, our State President, Elisa Russ, said four words that have rang in my head this past week, as the transition into college came into full swing. “Remember why you started.” As simple as those words may sound, if you take a few moments to fully understand what they mean to you, chances are they will stick anytime the going gets tough.

The Sunday after two weeks at the hot, stressful, action-packed Iowa State Fair, it would have been appropriate for the state officer team to sleep for the following month, but unfortunately college classes started bright and early the following morning. It would have been easy to give up and become overwhelmed while juggling so many tasks, but the state officer team remembered why they started.

On the drive home the Monday immediately following the Iowa State Fair, I found myself recalling the previous summer, and got to thinking about just how much I have changed in a short year. A year ago I was anxiously awaiting kicking off my senior year at Creston High School, with not too many worries in the world. I was serving as the Creston FFA President at the time, a chapter of about ninety. Now I am serving nearly 14,800 FFA members from across the state of Iowa as a member of the state officer team. It was incredibly humbling to take the hour and a half drive to remember why I started my journey to becoming a state officer, and also to think about the people that have made this journey the experience of a lifetime.

It is easy to keep pushing through stressful times when you take the time to remember who you are serving and why you desire to serve in the first place. When you stop and think about how your actions control your outcome, it is important to put your best effort forward always, no matter how small the task may be. As I wrap up my thoughts, I want to ask you this… When the going gets tough, will you remember why you started?

      Zach Hoffman

       South Central State Vice President

Nothing Compares to Our State Fair

This past week, the Iowa State Fair has been in full swing. The hundreds of different fried foods have been flying out of vendor’s booths, the sun is sizzling, and there has been hundreds of FFA members partaking in this historic event. The fun all started this past week with many of the FFA exhibitors coming in on Tuesday and Wednesday to bring in their pride and joy, whether it was livestock, a tractor, a picture, or a plant. Members wanted to show off all the hard work they had put into their SAE’s, and one way to do that was to exhibit at the state fair. Therefore, there were a plethora of shows filled with FFA exhibitors to watch and participate in from Tuesday to Saturday. There even is a group of over 140 members who love the fair so much that they stay for the entire fair to work as Grandstand Ushers and Free Stage attendants. They get to work all of the shows at the fair and help concert-goers to find their seats. And we of course can’t forget about all the wonderful food and different booths to visit, including the FFA display.  Needless to say, there is something for everyone at the fair. In fact, the state officers were there for it all and are here to share their favorite parts of this year’s fair!

Elisa:

One of my favorite memories of the Iowa State Fair happened at our display in the ag building.  We see quite a few people walk through the display and some even stop and ask questions or share their FFA stories with us.  On Wednesday, I had not one, but two sets of parents ask me about how their students can take agricultural education courses and be in FFA if their school doesn’t offer it.  Out of habit, I asked both sets of parents if they were former FFA members (typically this is the case because they want their child to have the same awesome experiences they had).  However, much to my surprise, none of the parents had worn the blue corduroy.  The conversation continued on as I helped them understand their opportunities, but it wasn’t until I was back standing by myself that it hit me.  Even though those parents hadn’t experienced FFA for themselves, they saw how crucial agricultural education was to helping their child succeed and wanted to give them an opportunity that they themselves didn’t have.  Easily one of the coolest moments of my Iowa State Fair.

Chase:

My favorite memory of the Iowa State Fair happened in the second week when I got the opportunity to work at the Avenue of Breeds. I’ve never owned livestock before, so when I heard I had the chance to go and help take care of some animals that night I was ecstatic! I've always wanted to learn more about raising livestock, and what better way to do it then by getting some real hands on experience! Once we got there I was really able to see all of the different breeds that they have for the public to learn more about. As it was time to close we got ready to take some of the animals out to the their tie outs for the night. I got to walk a Charolais heifer which is the first time I had ever got to walk a cow, and it was pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. After that, I was able to take a draft horse named “Gus” out for some exercise. If you didn't know those things are HUGE. One of the best parts about it was once we got out to the arena I was able to get on Gus and actually ride him around. After that I didn't think my night could get any better, but I was proven wrong. I was able to start mingling with the members of the North Polk FFA Chapter that puts on this amazing event all throughout fair. Not only did I get to learn a little more about livestock, and try some new things, but I got to spend about two hours with a great chapter while connecting with their outgoing members throughout the night that were passionate about teaching not only me, but the public about agriculture. That's a memory from my Iowa State Fair experience that I will never forget.

Blake:
The Iowa State Fair is like a huge melting pot where over a million fair food connoisseurs, concert enthusiasts, and agvocates gather together for 11 days to bask in all things Iowa, and in my two weeks at the fairgrounds, I found myself falling into all of them at least once. However, my experience at the state fair led me to one booth that unites all groups under the Iowan trademarks of food, family, and farming: the Iowa Food and Family booth located in the Varied Industries building. While volunteering my evening there, I saw a variety of fair goers young and old, from both near and far, and all were interested in how agriculture played a role in their daily lives. They were astounded to know that nearly 50% of farmers nationwide volunteer in youth organizations, and that there are only 8 genetically modified crops in production. Yet, many were able to quickly rattle off popular pork products they use on a weekly basis or the many major exports Iowa holds #1 status in. I loved having the chance to learn more about agriculture (because there is always something left to learn), but I will always remember the phrase one woman used as she left the booth, “Well, today I learned something. And that means today is a good day.”

Savannah:
My favorite memories happen in the livestock barns at the Iowa State Fair. As a youngin’ I was basically treated like an animal. My parents would put a lawn chair in an empty lamb pen, give me something to entertain myself and let me be. While they helped my sisters get their animals ready for the show, here are a couple things I managed to learn.

1. Gluing quarters to the ground and watching people try to pick them up is very entertaining. (Don’t use a dollar-People will get that thing-even if it is the last thing they do).
2. Even more entertaining than gluing quarters to the ground is dropping plastic spiders from the ceiling.
3. People HATE spiders.
4. Sleeping in a lawn chair is strangely comfortable.
5. People know you, even if you do not know them and vise versa-so behave.

This year was a little different. I was very busy trying to balance being a state officer and getting my animals ready for the show. Here is what I learned in the first few days of the 2016 Iowa State Fair.

1. Do what your sister tells you-Just do it.
2. My parents are my biggest supporters, even if I don’t always give them the credit.
3. People still HATE spiders.
4. My sister is great, but I’d never admit it.  
5. I have met the most inspiring, caring, and loving people here. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

My favorite memory of them all made me tear up a little bit-but no worries-happy tears. I said thank you to all those who have made this week possible, as they loaded the trailer to head home. I ran into one last person on my way out and thanked him for all he and his family have done for my family over the years and he simply said “Make us proud girlfriend, make us proud.”

Cully:

My favorite thing about the Iowa State Fair is all the different atmospheres you get to experience when you arrive at the gate. You might take your first step into a livestock barn where you get to see many competitive individuals do what they love. You might be coming to the fairgrounds for a concert at one of the stages spread out across the grounds or at the grandstands. You might come across just one of the hundreds of food stands throughout the grounds. No matter the experience you have at the Iowa State Fair you will always be surrounded by energetic, excited, smiling fairgoers and that is the memory I will always remember. Getting to talk to many people hearing why they are at the fair keeps me interested in everything the Iowa State Fair has to offer.

Cole:

When they say, "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair, they are right. Over the course of the fifteen days I have been on the grounds, I have experienced many firsts. The most memorable first for me was the Parade of Champions. For me, the entire event was special and will resonate with me for many years to come. Even though it was a scorching day with high humidity, and the team was suited up in official dress; I know everyone was excited. When the hitch team rolled up, and we began to load into the back, I was amazed by the amount of talent and skill that surrounded me. From the vantage point above the rest of the patrons watching on the street, I could see all the exhibitors with their projects lining up behind. My favorite part of this "first" was to see the smiles and excitement shared by the exhibitors. My role for the Parade of Champions allowed me to stand just inside the arena before the members walked out to be recognized for all of their hard work. I could see that every single FFA member was extremely proud of their exhibit, and rightfully so. No matter how each of the exhibitors did over the course of the Fair, I want to commend them for all of their hard work, commitment, sacrifice, and effort leading up to this remarkable event.

Hoffman:

Throughout the duration of the fair I’ve learned quite a few things. I’ve learned just how dedicated some people are to serving others. I’ve learned that FFA advisors put their mental and physical well-being on the line to ensure that their students have a quality, and worthwhile experience. I’ve learned that some of the best memories are made when you least expect them. I’ve learned that teamwork makes the dream work, and you can accomplish anything with some sweat (a lot of that at the Iowa State Fair) and a positive attitude. Throughout my two weeks at the fair I’ve also made countless memories. It’s hard to narrow it down, but I would say my favorite memory of the Iowa State Fair was seeing how talented Iowa FFA members really are. From restored tractors to beautiful photographs, FFA members can do it all, and do it really well. I couldn’t help but feel proud every time I walked by all of the FFA exhibits these last two weeks, because I know how excited FFA members are to share their passion, and common bond with nearly a million fair-goers, and to me that is the ultimate prize. To all of the volunteers, friends, FFA members, FFA advisors, business partners, and anyone else who helped serve others these last two weeks, thank you for making the 2016 Iowa State Fair a phenomenal fair.  

Hamilton:

For about the past 10 years, I have called the great Iowa State Fair my home-away-from-home. Making that three hour drive to Des Moines was always such an adventure, and with the sheep in tow I was excited to see what would happen in the ring as well. I was excited to hang out with friends, eat some pretty awesome food, and hang out in the sheep barn. The highlight of course was always the actual sheep show. Getting my sheep ready and taking them into the ring has always been one of my favorite things to do. However, this year, things were just a little bit different. Serving as a State Officer at the state fair has been such an awesome experience, but showing sheep was definitely not the same. Rather than being able to have my sheep ride out with me and checking on them 24/7 during the wonderful heat of state fair, I was getting the ribbons ready for the sheep show and making sure that all the sheep had the proper forms during check-ins. It was an awesome experience getting to help the show that I had been a part of for so long, but it was also pretty stressful. I couldn’t work with my own sheep and had to hope that my mom was getting them ready the way that I wanted them, and then would run to change my shirt and head into the ring only to run back to the table to hand ribbons out again. It was really fun but a lot of hard work, and I was exhausted. One of the people around the show ring could tell how exhausted I was, and talked to me about it. We started talking about how the judge was placing classes and our experiences growing up showing purebred sheep. It was a very enjoyable conversation, and really helped to re-energize me. At one point, she started talking about being a state officer. She said “My niece is an FFA member, the president of her chapter, and she absolutely loves that you and Savannah are showing sheep and state officers!” I couldn’t believe that something that I had been doing for years could impact other members. Putting the effort forth to continue to show sheep as a state officer had a positive impact on another student, and I think that was even better than the fair food.

Zoie:
This year marks year number 18 at the world’s greatest state fair. And like they say, nothing compares to MY Iowa State Fair. This year was something that I never thought I was going to be able to experience. The Great Iowa State Fair through the eyes of a State FFA Officer. My past two years as a district officer, I volunteered my time up in the display booth whenever I could. The State Officers praised me for doing so because that building is not air conditioned and there is no place to sit down. I saw how the state officers were running around, but I never really understood the time it took for them to do what they do at the state fair. Last year, I spent a whole week here on the grounds, and I called my mom crying every night telling her I missed her and I wanted to come home. I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to do college.

This year, I spent 15 consecutive days here on the grounds, and I didn’t call my mom crying once. (She although, has sent me good morning texts…. Every. Single. Morning.) If that’s not an accomplishment man, I don’t know what is. As I am very proud of myself for accomplishing that, my favorite memory from state fair was definitely the Animal Learning Center. As I said before, state officers are always on the go at the state fair. 5 a.m. mornings and 11:00 p.m. nights. If there was anything I needed in my day it was a BREAK. And for me, that break was the Animal Learning Center. I’ve always had a passion for livestock so this was right up my alley. Not only did I get some AWESOME scrubs, I was able to educate the younger generation about livestock. Plus, I got to hold a super cute goat and talk to super cute kids for an hour and a half.

Overall, state fair was a BLAST. And it was SO hard trying to pick my favorite memory. Our team grew closer, it rained and poured, it was ungodly hot, I got to judge a cookout contest, I met new people, re-connected with old friends, and man, we walked like 500 miles. But, I wouldn’t trade it for the world because nothing compares to MY Iowa State Fair.