Agricultural Issues Academy

Agvocate
ag·vo·cate 
v. ag-vuh-keyt  n. ag-vuh-kit


(verb)
1. to advocate for agriculture


(noun)
1. a person who upholds or defends agriculture




If you would have asked me what this word meant a year ago, I would have had to look it up in a dictionary. But you see, the problem is that the definition above won't be found in any dictionary or on Merriam Webster online.  The true definition of this word lies within those involved in the agricultural industry who strive to tell the TRUE story about agriculture to the world.


One of the first times I ever heard this word used was about a year ago at the Agricultural Issues Academy which kicked off the 83rd Nebraska FFA State Convention.  What is the Agricultural Issues Academy?  For me, it was the spark that lit a fire within me for the agricultural industry, the change in prescription that enabled me to see the need to tell my own agricultural story, and the kick in the rear that I needed to become an agvocate.


This week, I had the privilege of being asked to do a radio promotion for the Ag Issues Academy during the Nebraska Corn Grower's Association's weekly radio spot that airs on rural radio.  Check out the Nebraska Corn Kernel's blog (http://nebraskacorn.blogspot.com/) in the coming days (like Friday) to learn more.  Here's a few pieces of the radio promotion:

Not the most flattering picture of myself, but here I
am AGvocating about beef feeding environments
 during the dinner for the Ag Issues Academy. 

I was one of 36 participants in the inaugural Agricultural Issues Academy held the day before the Nebraska State FFA Convention last year. The academy began as an idea formed from the founding organizations, which include the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, or A-FAN, and Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Corn Growers Association and the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.  Other supporters include the Nebraska Soybean Board, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, Nebraska FFA and Tyson Foods.

It was developed to provide FFA students, like myself, an opportunity to work on our advocating skills while learning about current ag issues.

Prior to attending the Ag Issues Academy participants review materials related to the misconceptions and misinformation of animal agriculture, network with a local industry representative and begin building a knowledge base about a particular agriculture issue of interest to them.  

Last year, I chose to center my "misconceptions and misinformation" research around beef feeding environment: feedlot and backgrounding situations.  We were asked to come up with about 10 talking points that we could use to inform and educate others about the topic we chose.

The academy itself is broken into sessions where students learn how to conduct a media interview, including in front of a T-V camera, plus how to use print and social media to convey a message. I can tell you from experience that the media training was a challenge – but the experience was priceless!

Students also visit the state capitol with ag lobbyists. This provides a great introduction to the legislature and an opportunity to meet with our own state senator and discuss important topics.
Because of the Ag Issues Academy and other agvocating experiences like it, I have chosen to pursue career paths around agricultural education, and possibly agricultural journalism.  The bonds I formed with other students who are passionate about agriculture, as well as bonds formed with agricultural industry members, are ones that will last a lifetime.  

So to all my fellow FFA members, consider applying for next year’s academy. You’ll love it! And to the parents and organizations who support the academy and the FFA organization-THANK YOU! 


Until next time...go out and AGVOCATE! :) 

March Madness

March Madness. This phrase usually refers to a month full of basketball, basketball, and well, more basketball. What does my March Madness consist of? I'll give you a hint: it isn't basketball...

Alright, so I take that back. The 2nd weekend of March I spent in Lincoln, NE because West Boyd made it to the state basketball tournament...Go Spartans! :) While on the whole school note, another huge part of my March has been devoted to the Speech team. Tomorrow I am headed to Kearney, NE for Nebraska State Speech to compete in extemporaneous speaking.

State Officer application all ready to go!

Well, now that all of that stuff is out of the way, let's get to what has been the most exciting part of March Madness for this girl...Nebraska FFA! :D March 1st was the deadline to get in Nebraska FFA State Officer applications.  While I had been working on mine on and off since Christmas vacation, this deadline still snuck up on me way too fast!  No worries though, the application was to Nebraska FFA right on time! :)

Old and new friends coming together
 at preliminary interviews :)

On March 16th I made the 3 hour trip to Kearney, NE for preliminary State Officer interviews.  I was joined by 25 other State Officer candidates in Kearney and together, we went through 7 rounds of interviews on Friday and Saturday.  These interviews ranged from one-on-one interviews with individual nominating committee (nom comm) members, to group teamwork interviews, to individual interviews in front of all 10 nom comm members.  The nom comm was made up of past Nebraska FFA State Officers, agricultural educators, and other agricultural industry leaders.  I remember coming out of one of the interviews seriously contemplating calling my mother to ask her what else I knew about myself because I felt like I had just given my life story 20 times over...needless to say, the interviews were extremely intense, but it was such an amazing experience!  I think my Facebook status sums it up pretty well:

32 hours, 1 iPod on shuffle, 360 miles, 7 interviews, 10 nom comm members, 25 bonds formed/strengthened with some of the greatest FFA members, 3 hours of sleep, and tons of memories later...I am finally home from FFA State Officer interviews in Kearney. :) It truly was one of the greatest experiences! Now, it's a waiting game till Monday morning. :/

Email informing me I had been chosen as a finalist.
I have never been so excited to receive an email in my life!

After anxiously waiting all of Sunday and part of Monday morning, I received word at 10:30 that I was chosen as 1 of 14 finalists to interview at the Nebraska State FFA Convention March 28th, 29th, and 30th! :D The seven 2012-2013 Nebraska FFA State Officers will be announced during closing ceremonies on the 30th.  Until then, I will be prepping for 3 days of interviews.  No matter what happens, this whole experience will be something I will never forget! :)