The Best Job Ever

    Chicago: home of the Cubs, the SkyDeck, and deep dish pizza.  If you’ve never been, Chicago is a pretty cool city and is home to some unique sights and foods.  Chicago is also home to a high school unlike anything I have ever seen.  I was lucky enough to experience said high school this past week through my position as the National Teach Ag Campaign intern as we celebrated National Teach Ag Day.

    The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS) is nothing short of amazing.  As you might be able to guess, it’s an inner city school where students focus on different pathways within agriculture.  While this is amazing in itself, here’s a few more fun facts that make it even more incredible. 
            - In order for students to come to CHSAS, they have to apply and been on the lucky side of a lottery drawing.  There is no designated school district, or area, that students have to be from, so they come from all over the city; some students even ride the city bus for two hours to get to school in the morning.

            - Students enroll in pathways, or focus areas, that they’ll study in depth their junior and senior year.  During freshman and sophomore year, they get a taste of each pathway, decide what they like, then have to apply and interview for the pathway they would like at the end of their sophomore year.  Some of the pathways include biotechnology, food science, horticulture, animal science, and agribusiness.

            - They have livestock at the school! (Now I know there are plenty of schools here in Iowa that also have livestock, but remember, this school is in the middle of Chicago).  Chickens, hogs, horses, and goats are just a few of the animals that are a part of the animal science pathway.

            - The produce that the students raise, like sweetcorn, tomatoes and squash, is sold at the school.  There’s a little farmers’ market-like set up where anyone from the public can come in and purchase food from the students.

These and many more unique parts of CHSAS caused me to be in awe pretty much the entire day I was at the school.  While this school is incredible in its own way, it reminded me why I wanted to be an agriculture teacher.  Whether the school is in the heart of a city or in the middle of a corn field, students are learning through hands-on experiences, exploring potential careers, and becoming the leaders our world so desperately needs.  I was reminded how bright and driven agricultural education students are; how no two programs are the same and that’s what makes the ag ed community so strong. 

     If everything you just learned about CHSAS excites you, look into a future as an agriculture teacher. If you like the thought of having a meaningful career while still living in a rural community, consider teaching ag.  If you want to be challenged every day and never stop learning, agricultural education is the right career for you.  The best part about being an agriculture teacher is you can do all that, and more.  Check out www.naae.org/teachag to learn more about your future career and why it really is the best job ever.

Elisa Russ 

Past State President

National Teach Ag Campaign Intern

FFA is my Passion, FFA is my Happiness

As much as we focus on accomplishments in life, I’ve learned that much of what is truly accomplishing, is happiness. My happiness lies within my passion. My passion lies within the FFA Organization.

My name is Kennedy Plowman and I am beginning my second year at Iowa State University. I have found a home away from home living in Ames taking part in new adventures while meeting some of the greatest people I’ve ever been blessed to become friends with. What made this place a home for me was the friendships, opportunities, and life lessons I learned from the FFA Organization.

Situation one, my freshman roommate: During my active time with the FFA Organization I was fortunate enough to serve as a Southwest District officer for two consecutive years. Leading our district and meeting very talented and compelling individuals throughout the state of Iowa was nothing short of a wonderful experience. One particular individual I met was named Lexie Kliegl. She was a South Central District officer from the Earlham FFA Chapter. Upon searching for a roommate on the Iowa State Facebook page, I noticed she too would be attending Iowa State. Recognizing a name out of the thousands of students was a relief. I messaged her and within two minutes of a texting conversation we decided we would be roommates. Larch 4306 had no idea what it was getting itself into, and neither did I. FFA introduces and creates lifelong friendships. Lexie was my backbone, spirit animal, new best friend, and all around best part of my freshman year at Iowa State. My passion for the organization brought me one of the greatest friendships I am so lucky to have.

Situation two, career readiness: I just completed my summer internship with the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. Upon coming across this opportunity on a job board, I sent in my application and landed an interview. Thankfully, I competed in job interview at FFA district and state contests, so I was confident going in to that interview. I knew what to expect, how to respond, and overall I knew my values. I received a phone call a few weeks later and was offered the position. Accepting the position was the best decision I ever made. I had the best summer of my life, made three new best friends who were also interns, and learned more than you ever can in a classroom. FFA built my framework for which I was able to continue to build my skills on at the Blue Ribbon Foundation. My passion for the organization made this possible.

Situation three, happiness: I give it all to the FFA organization for all that I have become. Without it, I would not have found my passion. That passion has brought true happiness. Whether that be landing that job you want so badly or making a lifelong best friend, FFA is bound to bring you what you consider to be happiness.

It’s not always all about sows, cows, and plows. It’s about a passion that truly will bring you happiness. FFA is my passion, FFA is my happiness.

Kennedy Plowman

Past District Officer