The Torch of Leadership Has Been Passed

And now...Nebraska FFA...your 2012-2013 State Officer Team:

L to R: Johnny Ference-Secretary, Alix Mashino-President, Maci Lienemann-Vice President,
Amber Burenheide-Vice President, Brooke Jindra-Vice President,
Andrew Ambriz-Vice President, Doug Larsen-Vice President

See that girl, 2nd from the left? Yeah...that's me! :) I am extremely ecstatic to serve Nebraska FFA with these 6 other amazing individuals that I get to call my teammates! On March 30, 2012, our lives were changed forever as we heard our names called during the last session of the 2012 Nebraska State FFA Convention. Since then, we've all been a little busy...

The 7 of us have been hard at work since convention brainstorming, planning, and just getting to know one another.  We just wrapped up Images training on Friday.  We now have a couple weeks to catch up on school and things back at home before heading to Aurora for SOD (State Officer Development) at the end of this month.  After that will be Pre-COLT (Chapter Officer Leadership Training), starting on May 8th, with COLT starting on May 17th.  

Throughout this next year I hope to keep everyone up-to-date on the happenings of your Nebraska FFA State Officer team. I am SO excited to see what this year has in store for us, as well as Nebraska FFA!  We can't wait to get out there and meet all of the awesome members that make up the Nebraska FFA Organization!  

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! :)

The FFA Creed: Part 5

Even though this was supposed to be Friday's post, I figure as long as I had it done by the end of FFA week it still counted right? :) Here it is, the last paragraph of the FFA Creed...

The FFA Creed

By: E.M. Tiffany

5th Paragraph

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.

.

Photo Credit-Keeping it Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl

(https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

3 lines...41 words...180 letters~1 belief!  

~*~ "I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life...": If I had to choose one thing to believe in, after God of course, I would choose agriculture!  Because of the kind of individuals involved in this great industry, its future has never been brighter!  There is no question that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life.  What are the best traditions of our national life you ask?  Well, in my opinion, these would include the values of honesty, hard work, respect, etc.  

~*~"...and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.": With technology today, not only are we able to exert an influence in our home and community, but we can exert an influence around the world!  While one may think that their voice doesn't matter, I am here to tell you that IT DOES!  I'm just a high-schooler from a small town in Nebraska, but I have the privilege of getting to share my views on agriculture through this blog.  With over 500 views, I am reaching more people than I could have ever imagined!  All you have to do is take a chance, make an effort, and let your voice be heard.  It is up to each of us to take an active role in our part of this inspiring task!

The FFA Creed: Part 4

The FFA Creed
By: E.M. Tiffany

4th Paragraph
I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining, in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

Photo Credit-Keeping It Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl

(https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

~*~"I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining, in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself;": Growing up in a rural community, I have learned the value of a dollar.  We all have times in our life where we run into financial hardships, but it's how we deal with these hardships that really tells what kind of person we are.  One can take the easy way out, begging for the help of others, but there is another option.  This option entails working for what you want, compromising with others to satisfy your needs.  Yes, millions of dollars may make life easier, but I would rather earn what I have by working hard.  The satisfaction of knowing that I have earned everything I possess is worth more than any amount of money!

~*~ "in less need for charity and more of it when needed;": Being completely honest, this line of the creed is probably the most difficult for me to blog about because I don't know if I fully understand it myself, but here's what I take it to mean...because life isn't perfect, charity is needed.  Some situations call for more charity than others.  (Yeah, I know...short, sweet, to the point. Haha)

~*~"in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.": The only way to be truly satisfied in life is to be comfortable living in your own skin.  Being involved in many group settings through different activities (especially FFA), I've experienced first hand that your attitude not only affects the way you act around people, but it also affects the way people around you act.  Being honest, compassionate, and respectful are a few ways to "play square" with others.  The Golden Rule pretty much sums up this part of the creed: "Do unto others as you would have them to unto you." 

The FFA Creed: Part 3

Alright people, we're almost half way through National FFA Week 2012. Hope you've been making the most of it! It's Wednesday, so you know what that means...my views on the third paragraph of the FFA Creed:

The FFA Creed
By E.M. Tiffany

3rd Paragraph:
"I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others.  I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturalists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil."

Photo Credit-Keeping It Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl

(https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

~*~ "I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others.": Leadership and respect go hand in hand.  One may think they are a leader, but without earning the respect of their fellow teammates, these so-called leaders are nothing more than someone who thinks they have all the control.  

~*~ "I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure,": While FFA members are known to be hard workers physically, working early morning and late night hours, this part of the creed illustrates how far we are willing to go intellectually. Trying to secure all the knowledge and skill possible enables us to be the best possible agriculturalists we can be!

~*~ "and in the ability of progressive agriculturalists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.": So yeah, no pressure on progressive agriculturalists, but our future pretty much depends on them. :) Haha. In all seriousness though, the future of America truly does depend upon the success of progressive agriculture.  Without increased productivity, those 9 billion people expected to be living on Earth in 2050 will go hungry.  Without sustainable agriculture, we will run out of land to produce the food needed for those 9 billion people.  As you can see, progressive agriculturalists have a lot of work to do in the next 40 years, but I know that we are all more than willing to put forth the needed effort! 

The FFA Creed: Part 2

The FFA Creed
By E.M. Tiffany

2nd Paragraph:
"I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny."

Photo Credit-Keeping It Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl (https://www.facebook.com/lens.of.a.farm.girl or http://www.erinehnle.com/proofing/pages.php?gid=38)

I have spent my whole life living and working on my family's farm/ranch.  I have experienced both the pleasant and challenging aspects of agricultural life, but I wouldn't give up either of them!  Although many long and cold hours are spent in our calving barn, there is no better feeling than welcoming a new born baby calf into this amazing world that God has created for us!  While fixing fence in 95 degree weather with no wind and high humidity isn't exactly my idea of fun, the memories I have made working alongside my dad, mom, and three sisters are ones that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  If there were not discomforts of this way of life, we would not be as appreciative for the joys that we experience.