Hey Week 5… Are you from Tennessee? ‘Cause you’re the only TEN I see. 😘
Jokes aside, talk about an awesome time at Camp Clements with Tennessee FFA! We cheered, we chatted, & Quiz Bowl’d real hard. It’s safe to say I left the state of Tennessee with a full heart & a lost voice (I may have also acquired a mustache 🥸).
Last, but not least, I depart you all with this final word… CHUCKEY-DOOOOOAKKKK ‼️
My final State Convention of the year… the 97th South Carolina FFA Convention! Talk about a great way to end this season. 😊
During my time in the Palmetto State, I was met with unmeasurable kindness, a genuine love for FFA & what we stand for, as well as quality conversation. I watched both past & current State Officers put on the production of the year, celebrated hard-earned achievements, & laughed a whole lot while doing it.
South Carolina FFA, you are JOY! Thank you for welcoming me like one of your own. ✨🌴🤍
Talk about a cup-filling week at the beautiful North Carolina FFA Camp! ☀️
Second Session — You taught me how to (semi-coherently) serve a volleyball, learn more line dances than I thought possible, & to soak in the moment. Honorable mention: I had sweet tea with every meal & even tried grits. Do I qualify for NCFFA membership yet? 🤣
Thank you for loving me so well! You all rock.
Louisiana FFA, leaving your convention left me with some questions…
1. How do you handle that humidity every… single… day… ?! 🥵
2. Is there truly a proper & etiquette-having way to eat crawfish? (If you ask the 2023-24 State Officer Team, they would quickly tell you “no” based on what they saw from me. 🤣👀)
3. How do I be more like you?
That last question, I really mean it. How do I be more like you? Though my time in the bayou was short, it was more than long enough to show me just how impactful the unwavering gift of kindness is. A gift that you all give to others so freely without hesitation.
You all make me want to do better — by amplifying the communities I’m apart of; knowing that it all starts with an act of kindness. Thank you for inviting me into your community, feeding me well, & never letting me feel like a stranger. Until next time, @louisianaffa ! 💛🦞🎇
We went The Extra Mile at C.O.L.T. 2024 with Nebraska FFA!
Session Three — We laughed, hung out with a baby goat, & learned a lot along the way. We had a PACKED house that allowed us to think on new ideas & create strategies to take home to our chapters. Talk about the joys & perks of community!
Thanks for having me, @ne.ffa ! 😊
Advocating for FFA, career technical education, & agriculture one legislative visit at a time. 🇺🇸
Talk about a great week in Washington D.C.! The team & I met with Ranking Member, Senator Boozman; Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Stabenow; Co-Chairs of the Congressional FFA Caucus, Representative Panetta & Representative Mann; Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack; Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Xochitl Torres Small; as well as personal conversations with my own legislators, Congressman Balderson, Senator Vance, & Senator Brown.
When not in meetings, we visited with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Education (USDE), the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), AgriPulse, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), White House Staff, the United States Botanical Gardens, & Growth Energy.
I’m looking forward to seeing members & State Officers from across the country do the same this summer with @nationalffa ’s Washington Leadership Conference & State Officer Summit programs! 😊
The National FFA Organization strives to serve as the voice for both American agriculture & youth; a crucial piece of the puzzle for solving today’s modern day issues with cutting edge solutions. Thankfully, @growthenergy sees this work as crucial, as they have worked hand-in-hand with our organization since 2010.
During our time in Washington D.C., we met with Growth Energy, who serves as the voice of America’s biofuel industry. Together, we can create a planet that is cleaner & greener all while reimagining what’s possible with crops in our bioeconomy. 🌱
Thank you for your support, Growth Energy!
What a joy it was to come back for my home chapter’s banquet in this season of life!
Like many, we celebrated & reflected on the past year’s achievements, as well as set our sights on new ones. What started as a few farm boys in rural Fairfield County wanting to teaching agriculture in a public high school has since turned into a vibrant program for many. How lucky am I to say I am a product of the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA Chapter! 😊
(P.S. Slide to the end for a *very humbling* photo of my first chapter banquet in 2018. 😅)
Oklahoma FFA — You are loud, proud, & sure know how to host a PARTY! 🤠
Within my short time in Oklahoma, I’ve acquired both “Yes Sir” & “Yes Ma’am” in my common language, as well as a “Hey Y’all” to top it all off. Can’t say I haven’t learned a thing or two since being on the road!
My time in the Sooner State showed me this:
- Eight devoted, charismatic, & energetic State Officers who put what it means to lead by example over leading by a title.
- 15,000+ FFA members come together to celebrate the roots of our organization: the local chapter.
- Countless alumni, educators, donors — you name it! — come together to show those 15,000+ members that they are supported & uplifted in the realm of agricultural education.
Last, but not least, I would not have gone to Oklahoma if I didn’t say this at least once… Go Pokes! 🧡
I left a piece of my heart in Rhode Island… ♥️
To @narragansett.ffa.10 , @ponaganset_chapter_ffa , @ewg_ffa , & @charihoffa , thank you for welcoming me like family for your 76th @rhodeislandffa State Convention!
From signing the Sugar Shack to losing (oh-so-miserably!) in a pie eating contest, each & every one of you have made a lasting impression. It’s no wonder I shed a few tears after meeting some of your families at the State Banquet as they shared with me how proud they are of you all. (,:
You all bring an unmatched energy for FFA like I’ve never seen before… You’ve reminded me to ask more questions; to rethink what I imagine agriculture is; & to just be — wherever I am, however that looks.
I will take ANY reason to come hang out with you all again. Dels date soon? Biiiig love for you, RIFFA.
