RNC

Wow I think this could be the high light of my officer year, attending the republican national convention was truly an honor! Finding out at state fair that I was going to be able to be part of this all I could do is anxiously wait all day long. All decked out in our Official Dress and looking sharp as usual, Derek, Caitlin, Katie, Sydney, Brad and I made out way to downtown Minneapolis. The night was ours and believe it or not, we got to walk the red carpet!
The night was filled with walking around a crowd of 4,000 people and meeting new people and catching up with people I had not seen in a long time, you would not believe the number of people at this event, people from near and far. I met so many amazing people that come from numerous different agricultural fields. Being dressed in my FFA jacket I easily noticed and it was very easy to strike up a conversation with someone. A common story we heard was “Be careful those corduroy jackets will shrink and they won’t fit you some day.” I loved hearing all the stories people shared with me about their FFA experience and how proud they were to see us in attendance.

I was also very lucky to share our key message, the key message of the FFA with many news reports and camera men. I was told by the end of the night I should have my smile down after so many pictures. Between socializing and pictures we were able to enjoy some amazing food (the pork chop on a stick was amazing) Dahh you can’t go wrong with pork, there was also a kick butt live bad, where Sydney and I showed them a few dance moves!
I know the high light of the night was meeting the Executive Vice President & CEO of Win Field Solutions Mr. Rod Schroeder. His story is almost identical to mine; growing up in a small down, both having less than 60 kids in our graduating class, both of us were the presidents of our FFA chapters, we both grew up on farms, and both advocates of agriculture. Visiting with him about where I was from, where I am attending college and what I plan to do in the future, I told him this is what I love, meeting new people and coming to events like this. Both of us sharing a laugh together when I told him “I either want to have a job that allows me to do things like this or marry someone who does.” I could have talked with him all night, but it was time to leave for the night. Putting to good use I gave him one of my business cards, along with a thank you and & handshake, before walking away he ask “Do you have an internship lined up for next summer?” I replied “No not at the moment”, handing me one of his business card he said “Well we need to sit down and talk about that.” I couldn’t believe it, talk about a way to end the night.
This was just an astonishing event, and I am so thankful to the FFA and Val Aarsvold for this opportunity. People coming together like this to socialize, enjoy some food, and share the passion for agriculture really remind me why I love agriculture.

SLCCL

State Leadership Conference for Chapter Leaders
July 12-18t
h Hackensack, MN Deep Portage
Mission Possible was the theme for the week! What is your mission? Why are you here this week? Those were the questions. What a week, it was amazing to return and see familiar face from a year ago when I was the rec. director at SGLC, and to start new friendships with new members! People asked how camp was and I would tell them “out of all 7 camps I have been to over the years this has to be one of the top one’s.”

The week brought many high lights a few of them were; at each camp I try and claim room #501, at this camp it became the 501 fraternity. I wouldn’t have asked for a funnier group of guys. Starting a new Olympic sport “ultimate showing” we took 14 showers in 11 minutes. We also had a number of sayings we said throughout the week “nice shoes….”, “Who’s house? OUR HOUSE!” along with a few others. We also won the best room award at the banquet. Thanks for a great time guys! Below is a picture of my staff the guys signed for me and our certificate for best room & fraternity.

Like always I enjoy getting to meet my small group! I had an awesome small group at camp, we were the screwdrivers or as we like to put it the “BFS’ers!” We did alright in the volleyball tournament, but faced a tuff team in the semi finals and lost to the “Purplurz. “ I really felt like I related to this small group more than any other. Learning all their names the first day made it all the better! I miss all of you BFS’ers for life :).

Another exciting part of camp was the service project we did. With our goal of 20,000 service hours this year we had several different projects we help deep portage staff with. I was a part of the invasive species group; we were lucky enough to pull thistles and ragweed around the buildings. We had a great time doing this, whether we were telling jokes, finding animals like snakes, or competed to who could get the most weeds.

As state officers we had plenty planned for all the campers. Sessions to further develop their leadership skills, rec. time, reflections to have them ask themselves what their mission is, and plenty of other activates all of us enjoy. A few of the other activates were a few of my favorites, starting with the Banquet, I served as banquet officer when I attended camp and I recall how much fun it was. This year’s banquet officers did an amazing job, and had one heck of a hilarious skit. Quickly following we had our famous FFA dance! I think we often overlooked we FFA members have some mad dancing skills! Speaking of skills we had a number of outstanding talent acts at the talent show. Lastly I always enjoy beating the lady state officers in the annual watermelon feed!

As I typed this blog I got somewhat emotional because both camps for the summer have come and gone. I can honestly say SGLC & SLCCL are the reason I wanted to become A MN State FFA Officer. Having the opportunity to meet so many members and being a part of building their leadership, personal growth and someday their career success is a feeling I cannot describe. We wrapped up the with letter writing which is also one of my favorite parts of camp. But like every story must come to an end we had to say our goodbyes. It was one of the hardest things I had to do saying good bye to so many members who taught me so much. You will never know the feeling until you have experienced, but the sensation that comes to a person when they read a letter a camper writes them telling you how you impacted their life, and as they sign the letter calling you a role model is remarkable. As I looked out the rear window of the truck back at Deep Portage a tear came to my eye, because I do not now know when I will ever return, all I can say is thank you for 7 wonderful camp, all the memories, and friendships that will last a life time, my time spent here will never be forgotten!