Learn to Laugh

Iowa weather…isn’t it just awesome?!

I mean who doesn’t love having to wear their winter coat in the morning, shorts at lunchtime and mud boots come the afternoon? And this year has been nothing short of crazy. We have had 80-degree heat, thunderstorms, a blizzard, and 40 mph winds, and that was all within the same week!

During one of the wet days a couple of weeks ago, I was feeling the wrath of mother nature while trying to do chores. I was slipping and sliding in the mud while trying to carry buckets to the bunk, and I almost wiped out three times while attempting to water the calves. While it sounds like a fun time, let me ensure you that I was in fact not having fun.

Like other aspects of our lives, timing isn’t always perfect on the farm. During this particularly muddy day, we had to feed round bales. As I finished unwrapping the bale, I turned to walk towards the gateway. My boots squished with every step I took, until my right boot became suctioned into the mud. As tried to stop myself from walking out of my boot, I stomped the other foot down into the mud where it too became stuck. Now, with two stuck boots, I looked up at my neighbor Dan’s tractor. He simply smiled and laughed at me.

Looking down at my boots, I laughed and began to smile. As I wiggled free of the mud and walked to the gate, Dan shouted from the tractor, “I thought I was going to have to use the forks to pull you out back there!” I chuckled and kicked some mud off my boot as I closed the gate behind him. Maybe the mud wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.


We are all put in undesirable situations, but how you respond to these types of situations is the most important part. You can choose to let your misfortune get you down, just like how I was going to let the mud ruin my day or you can choose to laugh through it like Dan did. No matter how sticky the situation is, there is always a reason to laugh and a way to find joy. Strive to make the best out of every situation and enjoy the moment. No matter how bad it looks, you can always find some good. When you get stuck in the muddy ruts of life, it’s important that you learn to laugh!

Laugh Through It,

Mickayla McGill

2019-2020 South Central State Vice President

"2018-2019 State and District Officers sharing a laugh with Mickayla's neighbor Dan"

Changes and Challenges

Lately, when we hop on social media, hoping to find a distraction, we are met with the inevitable. Our feed is cluttered with updates from press conferences, cancellations, old memories, and positivity posts. The reality of what is happening around us slaps us in the face again and again.

The day after State Convention was canceled, I was asked to help out with a positivity project. This project was pretty similar to any other one you can find on social media right now. People smile for the camera and try to spread some happiness. Well, I was not too keen on this idea. A positivity project? Are you serious? What is there to be happy about right now? State Convention was just canceled! These were all of the thoughts running through my mind when I received the request. I was feeling sad, angry, frustrated, confused, and completely lost. The last thing I wanted to do was put a smile on my face and help out with a positivity project. With no idea what to do, I sought the advice of my mom. “How am I supposed to do this? I don’t feel happy or positive about anything right now,” I said to her. Then she looked at me and said, “That’s okay. You can be sad right now. You don’t have to feel happy.”

Big or small, we have all lost something we care about in these last couple of months.
We hear people say, “it could be worse,” “you’ll get over it,” or “there’s always next year.” But I am going to tell you something different. It’s okay to be upset right now. It’s okay to feel hurt and sad. It’s 100% okay to not be okay. Your feelings are valid. We’re facing a lot of challenges right now, and you are allowed to feel upset. No one can tell you how you should feel.

With that, let us not forget that everyone is experiencing loss during this time. Our neighbors, friends, families, and enemies are facing challenges that are just as troubling as ours. Allow yourself and others to take the time needed to grieve. But know that there will be an end to these tough times. There will be a day that we can go out to eat again, hang out with our friends, go back to school, see our grandparents, etc. We might not feel okay right now, but we will get there in time.

Living to Serve,

Hope Brecht

2019-2020

Southeast State Vice President

Life in the Fast Lane

I was in church about a year ago when my pastor did something out of the ordinary for our normal sermons.

He paused mid sermon, hesitantly smiled at the congregation and said “I want to try something a little different for today. I was listening to music as I was prepping this message and a song came on and I felt it was fitting. I want to use it in today’s message” He then nodded to the A/V guy who began to play “Life in the Fast Lane” by the Eagles.

Now, if you’ve never heard the song, I first of all highly recommend it. Northeast State Vice-President Shelby Westhoff and I jam to it just about every time we drive somewhere. But secondly, I want to give you a quick summary of it so we’re all on the same page. The song tells a story about a man and a woman, both wicked as described by the song. They meet each other and proceed down the “Fast Lane” which is a metaphor for things such as drugs and other things I probably shouldn’t talk about in an FFA blog… Anyway, they get caught up in this lifestyle, first greatly enjoying it but soon realizing they’ve become addicted. The song puts it this way, “Life in the Fast Lane, surely make you loose your mind.” The take-away of the song is the two become hooked and eventually lose themselves to the things they’ve succumbed to.

As the song played, Pastor Steve broke down the song similar to what I did above and to be honest I’ve never heard the song the same since. He was pointed with his question, “What’s your ‘Fast Lane’? What’s the thing we get so caught up in we lose sight of what really matters?”

I was thinking about that message earlier this week. To be frank, I’m not any more excited about staying at home then anyone else is. I’ve spent the past two years of my life on the road and to have that and the last leg of my FFA journey ripped from me has been hard. That’s my “Fast Lane”. I have made it such a high priority in my life that I’ve got caught up in feeling sorry for myself now that it’s gone. In all reality, I have no reason to complain. I’m healthy and my friends and family are healthy too. There are people out there that don’t even have that going for them. There are folks who had it rough even before this pandemic, now it’s even harder for them.

I guess what I’m trying to say is we all walk a different path, each with its own challenges but it’s important that we look out for those we can help along the way. Not get so caught up in what we’re doing that we can’t be of service to others. The “Fast Lane” seems fun at first, but soon we begin to fly by what really matters. It can be easy for us to pretend not to notice we’re caught up in the race.

What’s your “Fast Lane”? If you don’t know, I’d encourage you to do a little inward reflection on what your life truly looks like. Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for an off-ramp.

Go Get Em,

Chandler Jahner

2019-2020 State President

41 (Mostly) Productive Things to Do When You Can't Leave Home

To say that everything that is going on in the world right now is crazy would be an understatement. We are living in unprecedented times, and no one really saw this coming. With these unprecedented times comes an adjustment to a new normal. My new normal has brought on another thing I never saw coming: free time. I’ve been busy for as long as I can remember. 

As a high school or college student, there is always a practice to go to, homework to do, meetings to attend, the list seems endless. Now that schools are closed and events are cancelled for the foreseeable future, many students are not busy for the first time in what feels like forever. To help with the boredom many of us may be experiencing, I brainstormed a list of 41 mostly productive and fun activities to do while we can’t leave home. 

Working with my Apiary (Bee) SAE

1. Work with your SAE - One thing I have greatly enjoyed doing during this time is getting back outside and working with my SAE. I have four bees hives that I tend year round and harvest the honey from. Lately has been the perfect time to do things for my project that always seemed to get put on the back burner like painting hive boxes or expanding the wax production part of my business. What can you do to improve your SAE and bring it to the next level while we have some free time on our hands?
2. Update your SAE record books - Now is a great time to log into the Agricultural Experience Tracker or pull up your Dollars and Hours document and to update those record books! I can remember many long nights spent in my high school ag room going through old receipts and customer records. That could have been avoided had I updated my records more regularly. Trust me, the next time you try to apply for a degree or proficiency award your future self will thank you!
3. Start state fair projects - It may be April, but I am always thinking about my favorite 11 days of the year: the Iowa State Fair (as of this writing we are just 125 days away after all)! The 2020 premium books have been recently uploaded to the fair website, and now is the perfect time to start working on any static projects like photography or ag mechanics. This link will take you to all the FFA premium books and entry deadlines. Work with your advisor to make sure all of your entries are in order. Don’t forget that open classes are an option too. From sewing to dollhouses to woodworking these classes have a lot to offer! Check them out here.
4. Read a book - Okay, I know this one seems a lot like school, but trust me here (After being an avid reader my whole life and working at a library in high school, I’m only a little biased)! Although officially closed, many libraries around the state are offering “drive through” options. If that isn’t true to your area, consider investing in some eBooks you can use on your phone, computer or tablet. If you or your family members have a library card, most libraries in Iowa are connected to this site where you can check out eBooks for free. Just hit the sign in button and select your library to get started. Need some ideas on what to read? This site has a great list of books for teenagers separated by genre.
5. Get a penpal - I’ve been on my phone a lot more than usual lately, so it has been so helpful for me to put down the texts, Snapchats, and social media to send handwritten letters. During this time, I have been writing to some friends and my great grandma who is living in a nursing home that can’t have visitors. Writing a letter to a friend or even to someone you don’t even know is a great way to stay connected during this time. Many nursing homes have ways for you to send handwritten and electronic letters to residents that wouldn't otherwise receive any. Look for local options or click this link to send your letters to an organization that redistributes them to nursing homes all over the country. 

These are a few of my favorites, but check out the list below for some other ideas on how to stay busy when boredom seems to be closing in. Let us know if you try any of these ideas out! Tag Iowa FFA on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook for a chance to be featured on our social media. 

1. Update your playlists/make some new ones
2. Play board games with your family
3. Have a nerf war
4. Become a better photographer
5. Learn to crochet or knit
6. Write in a journal
7. Exercise
8. Make a scavenger hunt for your family
9. Color a coloring page
10. Organize your room (or anything else)
11. Create some art
12. Make a time capsule
13. Cook or bake something new
14. Sew something
15. Plant a garden or indoor plant
16. Try origami 
17. Film a “movie” with your family
18. Do a puzzle
19. Create a secret code
20. Learn calligraphy
21. Invent your own board game
22. Build something
23. Decorate your room
24. Family karaoke 
25. Construct a fort (out of pillows or outside)
26. Call or video chat with friends and family you can’t see right now
27. Learn a new language
28. Listen to a podcast
29. Make a photobook (could be a physical one, but there are online options too)
30. Make homemade ice cream
31. Clean out your closet (or dresser, or garage, etc.)
32. Help with household chores 
33. Start and finish a DIY project
34. Make a budget
35. Tie-dye something
36. Play (or learn to play) an instrument

Stationed by the Flag,

2019-2020 State Reporter

Grace Long

Don't Forget Where You Come From

Anyone who knows me could tell you that I love the Rocky movies. There is something about the underdog success story of Rocky Balboa that makes me feel good. Everyone who’s seen the movies could tell you that the film is about a boxer who works hard to become the best, and they would be right. However, I feel that there’s another aspect to the movies that is just as valuable.

Rocky Balboa is a young man living in Philadelphia. In the first movie, we see him with little money and just trying to get by. He enjoys boxing, but he is admittedly not the greatest. There’s a particular part in the first film where Rocky can be seen greeting others on the street and talking to a group of kids about making better choices. Rocky’s life doesn’t start out the best, but we soon see it change.

Rocky is invited to fight one of the best boxers in the world. He accepts the challenge, and begins his training. He trains in a gym owned by an elderly man who quickly becomes a father figure to Rocky. Over the course of the films, Rocky becomes one of the most successful boxers in the world, and it all starts in that little gym.

I love the second movie. Not because of Rocky’s career as a boxer, but because of his life outside of it. He gets married and starts a family. Rocky buys the biggest house, the fastest car, and the nicest clothes. He is the happiest he’s ever been. Rocky is able to leave his little life behind him and live the life he really wants.

Rocky continues his boxing career, and doesn’t stop rising to the top. He thinks he has everything. But eventually, things change. He loses everything. Rocky is back to where he started. He’s back in that little gym where his career started.

Since the passing of the owner of the gym, Rocky has taken over. He trains other underdog boxers in the same gym where he was once the underdog. While Rocky may have lost everything, I love the movie where I get to see him return to that gym.

I think we can all learn something from Rocky’s story. Rocky ended up back in the gym after he hit rock bottom, but it doesn’t have to be that way for us. Rocky’s story reminds me of my own.

While I may be serving Iowa FFA in a larger capacity now, it hasn’t always looked like this for me. I started FFA the same way we all do. I was a high school kid looking to get involved with my local chapter. I joined as a sophomore, and I had no idea what to expect from FFA. I still remember the chapter president who inspired me to continue my journey with the organization. She may not have known it, but she was the reason I kept going. I wanted to be like her. She was my boxing trainer.

As I continued with FFA, it seemed things just got better and better. I participated in contests, learned a lot, and made a lot of great friends. Sometimes I feel like Rocky: I have it all.

I'm sure we all feel like this sometimes. We are doing great, and we couldn't be happier with where we are in life. But, unlike Rocky I think it's important to remember where we started before we hit rock bottom.

Our chapters and the people who were there when we started are the reasons we continue with FFA. They have pushed us to become our best selves. We wouldn't be the agriculturists we are today without them.

Let's be those reasons for other members. This year, I had the opportunity to lead a chapter visit in my home chapter, and it was so rewarding. Being able to spend time serving the very people who believed in me from the beginning was really special.

Maybe there's a freshman in your chapter that you can encourage to try a summer contest, or a friend who's scared to try FFA that we can inspire to join. Maybe our communities are in need of service in areas where we can help. As FFA members, we have the power and the responsibility to help those around us. Let's not wait until we're back at the bottom. Let's start now. Don't forget to serve where you come from because there are always people in need in the very place where we started.

Run with your challenges,

Natalie Jefson

2019-2020 State Secretary

Life is What You Make of It

Canceled. The reoccurring word that we all continue to hear. It is an end to a season we had put so much work into, all the time we had put into extracurricular activities is thrown away, and for graduating seniors there last month of high school is ripped away from them. Truly a devastating time but life is what you make of it.

As the challenges of life come and go this friend of mine has always radiated positivity and has a smile to share. The challenges she has faced are ones that many could not endure, however, she chooses to make the most of it. The story starts on a dairy farm, milking 90 cows with her husband. Dedication and hard work day in and day out to stay in competition with the falling milk prices was their daily life. Life was simple and sweet, but tragedy struck when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Fighting it not once but twice brought challenges to the family. Through this hardship, my friend remained strong and still radiated positivity to others. As they laid her husband to rest, my friend chose to make the most of life. At that moment she could have chosen to give up but instead, she chose to live life to the fullest. Now raising her four children, starting her own business, and entering the beef industry she is an inspiration to me. Every day she chooses to make the most of the life she was given.

So how can we do the same and chose joy? What will you do to make the most of your life? For me, I will choose to walk through each day with a smile.

Aspire to Inspire,

Shelby Westhoff

Northeast State Vice-President

Finding your Place in FFA

I started the school year just like anybody else but for me there were some new things to get used to, and in all honesty it was a rocky start. My parents made a last minute decision to move and for me that meant transferring schools for my senior year. As one would imagine, it was bit overwhelming. New friends, new teachers, and getting involved all seemed difficult. I’ve never been the athletic type, and I haven’t been interested much in performing, but I knew I wanted to be involved in an extracurricular. Being at a new school forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and explore many different options. None seemed to pique my interest. It wasn’t until the day my agriculture teacher excitedly offered officer applications to anyone with enough courage to apply. I felt nervous and excited for the opportunity. I took the chance, and amazingly was elected chapter Reporter, which was a wonderful feeling. Being immersed in the FFA world is something new for me yet it is hard now to see myself anywhere else.

Soon after the officer team was established, we were welcomed with a dinner specially hosted for us. This was no average welcome dinner. It was our groundbreaking debut. My new officer team and I were fortunate enough to meet Mr. Mike Naig, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. He not only made an appearance at our dinner, he held up my first official FFA jacket as I slipped my arms through that stiff blue corduroy for the first time. A feeling only an FFA member understands. It was heartwarming to see the amount of support from our community that night. The profits from the dinner aided in our trip to Indiana and the 92nd National FFA Convention.

My advisor offered me a seat to National Convention and I gladly accepted. Coming from a low-income family made me extremely indecisive as to whether the trip was worth it or not, but I knew I would regret it if I didn’t take the opportunity. After an entirety of begging, I was given permission from my parents to attend. National FFA Convention was totally worth-while – the begging paid off. The trip was filled with so many new experiences, that I was completely in awe. Something as simple as wearing a rain poncho was new to me. Sadly, I forgot the poncho in the car and haven’t seen it since.

Since then, our Chapter has been highly active, from our lock in winter conference to partnering with Morningside College to create meals for Feed the Farmer, and even competing in CDE competitions. Our Chapter has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. As I reflect on my senior year and look forward to the future, I’m excited to see how Sioux City FFA will grow. I’m proud to say I contributed to the development of Sioux City FFA. All these experiences will stay with me in my following years at college, and into life. FFA has brought me so many opportunities that I otherwise may have never come across. I have grown as an individual and, believe it or not, the highlight of my entire high school career has got to be my decision to join the FFA.

In Blue and Gold,

Valerie Rosales

Sioux City FFA

Chapter Reporter