Christmas Favorites

Annie: My favorite part of Christmas is the mood: seeing all the lights around the tree, having the fireplace crackling in the background, singing Christmas carols with my mom, and eating my weight in Christmas candy. Getting to make the different Christmas food with my family is always a highlight. I am known for not being the best cook in the family, so often I get the job of taste testing. I now have to share that job with nieces and nephews, but the more the merrier. This is also my favorite part, getting to see the family once again-- catching up on how the end of the semester went, if they passed all their classes, and how they are doing. Seeing everyone happy and together is my favorite part of Christmas, but also remembering the true reason on why we are celebrating.  

Peyton:  If you know me, you know I absolutely love Christmas, and have ever since I was little, leaving out hay for the reindeer and leaving a note to Santa telling him that he could let them get a drink from the cattle waterers while they were stopped. While there’s no way I could ever choose just one favorite part, I think that if I had to sum it up, I’d simply say the Christmas spirit. I love the generosity that people show, the beautiful lights, family traditions and gatherings, the cheerful warmth that seems to fill the air during this season, etc., etc., etc. (I could go on forever!) The time spent with family - from watching our favorite Christmas movies to baking cookies to all being off of school and able to help bed pens in the barn - is something I look forward to every year. The way that just one holiday can bring everyone together is truly amazing, and this magic feeling of love, joy, and excitement that takes over in December is definitely my favorite part of Christmas time.

Cassie: My favorite part of Christmas is all of the quirky traditions that my family has. Each Christmas Eve, my dad always insists we watch It’s a Wonderful Life. About thirty minutes into the movie, he falls asleep in his recliner and we change it to Rudolph. Even if we always argue about which Christmas movie to watch, it’s really spending time together that matters. I hope each of you are able to find some great family time this Christmas!

CD: Christmas time is a great time of year at the Brinegar household. My favorite thing about Christmas time has to be all the great organizations that do things around this time of year, from food baskets, to helping people find a warm place to sleep or even helping bring Christmas to those who are less fortunate than us. My favorite by far is the Red Kettles by the Salvation Army from those who donate their time to ring the bell in the cold outside of Walmart or Fareway, to those who give whatever they have in their pocket. I like this charity, not only does it help those who need it but you can give whatever you want or can. Organizations like this one around Christmas not only express how lucky all of us are to live in the greatest country in the world but also and most of all the true meaning of Christmas and giving back.

Caleb: Christmas in my hometown of Guthrie Center is crazy.  We go all out to say the least.  Our town park is filled with Christmas displays from almost every community group in the town.  This display of illuminating lights attracts over a thousand people from around the county each year.  No matter the time of day you can always find several cars filled with family and friends driving through. Cruising through the park seeing all of our community come together to share Christmas happiness is without a doubt, the coolest thing in the world.

Carli: Christmas Traditions - everyone has them and my family is no different. Throughout my childhood we’ve started and ended LOTS of traditions so I’m just gonna list off a few of my favorites. To start, my family has always celebrated Christmas Eve with a surplus of traditions wrapped up in one - kinda like one big Christmas gift. We start off the day either sledding or playing games with the fam while also preparing a soup supper for that evening. Christmas Eve just isn’t Christmas Eve at my house unless you have chili and oyster stew for supper. Before we eat though, my family goes to the candlelight service at our church. The twist is we don’t just go, we run the show. Usually my siblings and I take turns handing out candles or bulletins to families as they enter the church and then I light the advent wreath along with the rest of the candles in the church. In the past my grandfather always read the sermon but in recent years I’ve stepped up to the plate. Once the service is over, my family along with other families of our church gather around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols. To end the night we sing a traditional Danish Christmas Song, Nu har vi Jul igen which translates to Now It’s Christmas again and is lead by yours truly. For me traditions are what make holidays special and give them meaning and I wouldn’t trade my family’s little traditions for the world.

Rachel: Two words for you, Homemade Donuts! At the Zumbach household there is nothing better than my momma’s Christmas breakfast in which we get her homemade powdered sugared donuts. Not only is the food GREAT, but it brings my whole family around the table which takes a lot when we each have very busy schedules.

Ally:  Christmas- it’s the holiday that brings people together. You can skip Thanksgiving, Easter, or 4th of July; but you know grandma expects you to be home for Christmas. Friends get together for Christmas parties, Secret Santas abound at work, and the refrigerator is cluttered with Christmas Cards from old friends and neighbors. I think this is my favorite thing about Christmas. This time of year makes life feel a little more complete than usual. It’s not because of the music, the food, or the presents- it’s because we are so much more aware of the people around us.

Zach:  Christmas is certainly my favorite time of year. I am one of “those” people who goes all out to celebrate the holiday season. I have about a 4 hour long playlist of my favorite holiday tunes, Christmas lights up everyone I can without going against a fire code, a tree in almost every room I occupy, and a plethora of santa hats to wear throughout the ‘most wonderful time of the year’. However, I’d have to say I have two favorite parts of the season (I know, breaking the rules, my bad) that make the holiday season so special. The first is the Christmas Eve service at my church. Until the lights go down, we light all the candles, and we start singing Silent Night it’s not really Christmas. The second part would have to be giving others gifts. I absolutely love shopping for those I care about and spend all month anticipating the shocked or happy looks they will have on their face when they tear off the wrapping paper to see what I thought they’d enjoy.  They say it’s the thought that counts, and that truly is my favorite part of the holiday: being able to give something to others to brighten their day even just a little. We all hope you have the Merriest Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Iowa FFA State Officer Team

2017-2018

It's Time to Embrace the Unique You

       In today’s society, there is a constant pressure to “fit in” and be “normal.” Well, let me give ya’ll a reality check: normal is out and being UNIQUELY YOU is oh so in! This is your time to invest in yourself and be confidently you. You may be asking yourself, “What does being uniquely you have to do with FFA?” For starters, the Northwest District theme this year is “Now or Never”, meaning that there’s no better time than now to start being true to yourself.  Most importantly, being uniquely you relates to any passion or interest you hold near and dear to your heart that might be held back by the haters. We like to fit in and programs that may not seem “cool” may suffer because of it. 

Think about where you are in your life right now. Are you doing what makes you happy or others happy? I always used to struggle with doing what I knew my parents or my peers wanted me to do rather than what I wanted to do. It made me miserable. While I enjoyed the activities I was part of, my whole heart just wasn’t in it. Agriculture has always been a big part of my life and choosing to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps of becoming an agricultural educator was my decision. No one else had any say, and that is how it should be. 

Unique by definition is being the only one of its kind; remarkable, special or unusual. I have embraced this definition and used it as almost a life motto. If I had continued on the path of being “normal” and continued to try to fit in with my peers I would not be where I am today. For example, back in high school I knew that I was going to have to decided between all of the activities I was participating in and that a job in agriculture was for me but people around me had other ideas. During my sophomore year of high school, around the time that we were picking our schedules, I decided that while I loved being apart of the school band I wanted to be able to take another class and focus more on my studies. So when it came time to make my schedule I didn’t sign up for band. Fast forward a few months to the start of my junior year - I get my schedule and come to find that 1. I had been signed up for band and 2. My agriculture class wasn’t on my schedule. I was rather confused and went to our school counselor in order to sort things out. After her and I started talking I found out how my schedule got “messed up.” You see, my school counselor didn’t want me to quiet band so she put it in my schedule and it took a lot of convincing in order for me to remove it from my schedule. One simple decision that I should of been able to make on my own no questions asked became a rather big ordeal which isn’t fair. Your life is a collection of decisions that should be made by you; the unique you that you are.  In the words of T. Harv Eker, “One step in the right direction is worth a hundred years of thinking about it”.

Now think about what you have done to get where you are today and what it will take to get where you want to go. To achieve your dreams and truly be happy, you have to embrace the fact that you are not like anyone else. You are uniquely you and just know that being unique is always better than being normal or “perfect”.

This is your time, to do what makes you happy, to do what you want to do. Whether it's working to make a difference, joining a new club or activity, working to make an impact in your chapters, in your communities, or in the lives of the many people you will meet through FFA or just throughout your life. Don't let opportunities pass by because you will never know what could have become of them. You will never know if you enjoy something or how happy something, anything could truly make you unless you give it a shot. Who cares if none of your friends are into it. If it makes you happy and sparks any interest in you. GO FOR IT!

It’s “Now or Never”, so go out, step outside of your comfort zone, and do what makes you truly happy because sometimes there is no next time, no timeouts, and no second chances.

Carli Grau

Northwest State Vice President

How To Be An FFA Parent

While we members are learning, practicing, traveling all over, and much more as a part of FFA, we always can count on our number one support: our families. However, as a parent, this whole things where your child is begging you to take trips hours away to talk about agriculture and things can become quite overwhelming and confusing. The state officer team asked their parents to share their experiences and give some advice to the other parents out there, so without further ado...

Cassie 

There are many ways I could describe how we feel about being the parents of an FFA member. The most overwhelming emotion would be astonishment. I never understood or realized the endless possibilities that FFA would present for our daughter and how it would shape her character. I could have never predicted what an impact FFA would have our family! Not only on her, but also my son just starting his first  year in FFA.  Sometimes that impact does include late nights practicing contests, running a pair of black heels into school on contest day, or washing a last minute load of laundry when she forgets to wash her official dress! Cassie’s grandfathers felt so much pride that she was continuing on her family’s roots in agriculture. We couldn’t be more proud of her and the outstanding friends she has surrounded herself with and made them a part of our lives as well. For that, our family is a strong believer in the FFA, and we are truly blessed!

Carli

Being a parent or grandparent of a state FFA officer has its ups and downs. You are in the background to give them moral support when they need it. You are there to help them celebrate the exciting times and support them when they are having some bad moments. You pick them up in spirits when needed.  You become their sounding board wherever they have ideas for different things whether it be writing an article for something, giving directions to a town they are visiting or ideas for things to do during a visit. Sometimes you even have to help them pack or remind them do you have everything you need for this or that.  You reassure them that they are doing what they have been elected to do and let them know you love them regardless , or how proud you are of them.  Just by being there for a hug or to listen in person or on the phone can make a big change in how they handle everything.  They are becoming young adults and it is not always easy.  We have been there ourselves and understand some of the things and emotions they go through.  It is all part of the life cycle we go through and not always easy for us as we want to take away the stress for them but know they will learn from this.

CD

Being a parent of an FFA member is interesting usually you don’t know about deadlines up coming

events or other important things till you have hay down, cattle work or other seemingly important jobs

that need to be done. Then you hear dad, mom, “I have to go across the state place today or we have an

event today.” Or chaperoning a group of FFA kids at contest or the FFA auction. It brings a new meaning

to FFA or father farms alone. But there is not a better organization to teach leadership skills, life lessons,

and career development than FFA that is why we support this organization whenever we can in any way we can.

Peyton

 Having been an FFA member myself, the growth in activities and the opportunities they afford is amazing in comparison to my days in the organization. FFA can truly be a life-changing organization for many kids, including ours. The people met--both professionals and peers--can and will have a long-lasting and extremely positive effect.

     We would advise fellow FFA parents to:

     1. Encourage your kids to be involved in a multitude of activities--particularly those outside of their normal comfort zone. The growth in kids brought on by these activities can be amazing, and literally life-changing.

     2. Follow your kids' lead, but don't be afraid to push them a bit.

     3. Be open-minded and creative, especially regarding things like their SAE. There are so many opportunities for members to explore.

     We are incredibly thankful for this organization and the lasting impact it's had on our girls. It has kept them busy and required a great deal of dedication, but the valuable skills and rewarding experiences they've gained in return are immeasurable.

Zach

 FFA parenting is rewarding and stressful. Having two boys in FFA a year a part also makes it interesting. Zach was extremely involved and Austin was just involved. There were late nights wondering if they would ever get home from contest or judging competitions. State Fair was stressful getting sheep sheared, truck and trailer loaded plus then getting everything ready for us humans. One time both boys met up with another chapter to go to 360/212 training and it snowed the night before. Zach was driving from our house to the other chapter and I heard from Austin how fast and scary it was to ride in the car with Zach driving. It’s all the miles being put on your vehicle so they see and talk to all the great members across the state. It’s hearing how much fun they have at State and National Convention when you are thinking about all the school work they have to make up. The most important part of being an FFA parent is seeing how much they grow and achieve by participating in the many opportunities given to them.

Being a parent of an FFA member can be challenging. When they are traveling the parents don’t always now why their child is going or what is all going on. It’s always been fun talking to my boys and hearing about their experiences and about the other members they meet. It’s always important to be there for them when they are struggling with a class, contest, livestock or any projects they are working on. Being there for support is the most important part and watching them grow as individuals.

Rachel

Some parents want their children to follow a particular sport that they themselves have been involved in during their life. However, others pass on their legacy through a hobby. As a past FFA member, I myself, tried to pass on my love of the FFA organization and all it had to offer to my children. I have raised four daughters and they have all taken different levels of involvement in the FFA program.  One thing I have always appreciated is that no matter their level of involvement or participation within the FFA chapter each one gained valuable life and leadership skills, which will follow them through the adult life in their work and community organizations. I credit FFA for giving me the leadership and public speaking skills I use on a daily basis with the work I do for a local non-profit. And I take great pride in how the FFA has helped my children become young adult leaders as well.

 Annie

Knowing that Clarinda had a strong FFA program, I encouraged Annie to join. At the time she thought I was being silly. But I encouraged her anyway. “With your gift of gab, you would be a great asset to the FFA team”.  I had never met Mr. Andy Johnson, but he had a good reputation as a strong influence in the classroom. He and Annie seemed to bond immediately. Annie has given FFA her all. In return, she has gained independence, responsibility, a sense of responsibility, self-confidence, maturity and stronger leadership qualities. FFA has been an excellent choice. Thank you, Andy Johnson and Scott Johnson (State FFA Adviser) for all of your encouragement to our youth!

Ally

We are the proud parents of three FFA-ers and four future FFA-ers. As parents, we like to think we are usually pretty good about letting our children choose the path they will take and the activities they will participate in. FFA is the one activity that would be mandatory, but there has never been an argument about it.

FFA has given our children confidence. The ability to stand up in front of intimidating audiences and communicate effectively.

FFA has taught our children responsibility. They must meet deadlines for tasks and projects without our guidance or direction.

FFA has taught our children respect. They are able to relate to your everyday farmer or Governors and Senators.

FFA has our taught children values. The value of hard work and persistence. They don’t always win their competitions, but they learn so much in the process.

FFA has taught our children the importance of Family. Not only our family, but the FFA family, too. Our children have FFA friends from all over the country that would be there for them in a heartbeat.

FFA is more than just an activity, the blue and gold becomes an integral part of your family’s life that is rich with benefits.

Caleb

When both my husband and I were growing up, FFA was not a curriculum offered at our school.  Mike probably could have attended FFA at a neighboring school, but his contributions were required on his family farm.  With this being said, we had no idea what to expect when both of our sons became FFA members.  We were blessed with two young lads that wanted to dive in and participate in many of the opportunities offered through their membership, i.e., each being an officer all four years of high school, extemporaneous speaking, creed speaking, ag sales, swine and beef projects, carcass, livestock and soil judging, and community service, just to mention a few of their projects. 

As parents, we were literally their ride to every state fair—you know the drill, clean out the truck and air up the tires on the livestock trailer and pray that everyone and the livestock arrive safely at the state fair for our sons to show the judge all the hard work they had put into their livestock projects.  We aren’t the family to take vacations, but each year you could find us together at the State Fair’s livestock barns with the FFA livestock—so many cherished memories!!

FFA has instilled effective communication and leadership skills in each of our sons.  We have to mention without a doubt the day we stood proud that FFA had played such an influential role in Caleb’s life, was the day he was elected as a State FFA Officer as the Southwest Vice President.  We saved the video of the 89th State Convention and watch it from time to time, and still embrace those feelings.

This past summer and fall have been a whirlwind for our family, as we seldom see Caleb since he’s always gone somewhere to help facilitate a FFA event.  We are proud of his dedication and devotion he has taken toward fulfilling his officer position, and have learned how to cope with his absence by making cookies for him and praying for safety on the roads!

We have met each of the State Officers and are just amazed at these incredible young adults.  How they meet not only the demands place upon them by college, but how they have incorporated such a busy schedule placed upon them by FFA is just amazing!  They have outstanding ethics and values, lead with professionalism, communicate and articulate extremely well, especially in radio interviews, and are an overall class act!  We are happy to think that such a talented group of young adults will continue to lead and motivate others and navigate complexities facing our world, as well as excel in their own careers.

For my husband and I initially not knowing what FFA was all about, we have learned that FFA develops its members into the best they can be.  We are grateful to have had FFA in our sons’ lives.

Parents

2017-18 State Officer Team

Resumes 101

Don’t let the numbers fool you. Yes, the national unemployment rate is at a seventeen year low but no longer is your college degree a “free pass” into the labor market. It is imperative college (and high school) students take an aggressive approach in learning to market themselves to employers. Developing a sound resume is a great step in the right direction.

Consider the following when approaching this potentially intimidating task:

There are no hard and fast rules.  An effective resume reflects your “uniqueness” as an individual.  IT IS YOUR STORY and should be regarded as a “Living Document”, requiring updates several times each semester.

The “story” told on your resume should reflect a TRUTHFUL summary of your accomplishments.  Misrepresentations and overenhancements always lead to trouble with potential employers.

You only get one chance to make a positive first impression! Make sure your “story” is told free of grammatical and spelling errors.  

Have fun with this project – it should be an enjoyable “story” for you to produce!

Remember, resumes don’t get you jobs – they get you interviews.  Hence, another important link to your career chain!

Your resume “story” should be composed of several relevant “chapters”.  The following are suggestions for each of these:

Objective

Not all modern-day resumes include an objective statement.  If included, be specific to the point of what you are looking to achieve or obtain with your internship or job search.  Additionally, make the statement mutually beneficial versus solely about you. Most employers are scanning resumes very quickly looking for key words and if the first item they encounter is a weak objective statement, there is a good chance you may not make it to the first round of interviews. 

Education

School(s) attended (usually do not include high school if beyond freshman in college).  If multiple, list the most recent first.

Degree (Associate, Bachelor of Science, Master, Doctoral) and date receiving degree.  Spell these out versus using abbreviations (BS, MS, PhD, etc.)

Major(s).  Include Option/Emphasis within major if offered.

Minor(s)

Grade point (optional)

Thesis/Dissertation title for graduate level degrees

Relevant Coursework

Although often times looked upon as “filler” by employers, specific coursework may be beneficial for research-based or technology careers in which certain lab techniques or computer skills are desired.

International Experiences

Today’s college student is provided the affordable opportunity to experience a diverse array of study abroad or international experiences.  These experiences definitely belong on a resume as recruiters recognize their value.  They may also be very beneficial in answering many of the behavioral-based questions asked during the course of an interview.  Tell me about….

On the resume, limit each experience to a couple brief sentences summarizing the major purpose or accomplishment of the trip.

Work Experience

Organize chronologically – most recent first.

Utilize bolding to emphasize “company” and italics for “position title”.

Example: Company, location

Title, dates of employment

Utilize bullets to summarize responsibilities and accomplishments (Example - capstone internship project) rather than paragraphs. Quantify if possible.

Bullets can be complete or incomplete sentences.

Incorporate action verbs (get a list of these!) and “buzzwords” associated with your area of interest.

Watch verb tenses – past vs. present.  Pronouns are usually not necessary – “I”.

Avoid word redundancy (Example - repetitive use of same verb in bullets).

Farm background??? Make sure you include it on resume as recruiters recognize work ethic and values associated with it.  Include specifics – farm size, crops, livestock, machinery, ownership, etc.

Can include volunteer activities in this section but if you have extensive amount, create a separate “Volunteer Experience” section.

Remember, regardless of the type of job, there are always universal tangibles that can be pulled from the work experience.  Example – teamwork, customer service, management responsibilities, computer skills, etc.

Activities & Honors

This is one of the most important sections of the resume as recruiters are looking to hire potential leaders.  If you don’t have any activities – find some!  It is never too late to start.  Include the following:

Campus clubs/organizations (list specific offices held – ex. President)

Professional organizations

Fraternities & sororities

Athletics

Volunteer activities

Scholarships

Dean’s List

Honorary academic memberships (Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, etc.)

Other academic recognition

Note: As a freshman and sophomore it is acceptable to include important activities/honors from high school (Valedictorian, Iowa FFA Degree, etc.) on your resume.  However, as you progress during your college years these activities should be replaced with current college activities and honors.

Publications & Presentations

This section is usually reserved for graduate students but may occasionally apply to undergraduates.  If applicable, list appropriate authors, publications, conferences, etc.

References

List them on your resume!

There is no magic number on how many to list (3-4 is standard).

Keep current and include references from academic and work experiences.

Be detailed (name, title, work affiliation, address including zip code, email and telephone number)

Always ask if they will serve as a reference and inform them when you are applying for specific positions. Extend a note of “thanks” for their efforts if you do get the position.

Other tips for a successful resume include:

In most cases a two-page resume is acceptable.  Curriculum Vitae may be longer.

Use white or light-colored, standard size (8-1/2” x 11”) paper, printed on one side.  Since many resumes are faxed or photocopied, do not use dark, marbled, speckled, or heavy paper.

Mail resumes and cover letters in large manila envelopes to avoid folding.

When emailing a resume, include specific name (example - John Doe Resume) of resume in email subject line.

Mike Gaul

Director, Career Services

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Iowa State University