FFA Week Day 5: Northern Area

The fifth and final day of the Virginia FFA Week Tour began bright and early on Friday, February 22, 2013. Not even snow could stop the team from making their last day of tours!

The State Officers split into two teams in order to see even more excited FFA members. Clarke County High School helped kick off the morning for the team of Michael Arthur, State Vice-President, Addie Guthrie, State Secretary, and Emily Hill, State Treasurer with a delicious breakfast then the team presented a workshop to all the energetic students.The team was excited to present a workshop to James Wood before they traveled to Strasburg High School, who provided a fantastic lunch for the team and helped encourage them for a strong evening full of more visits. After lunch, the team made their way over to Central High School and pumped up the FFA members with another workshop. Before school was released, they were able to attend North Fork middle school and help the students realize how their abilities can help them reach their goals.

The team of Paryce Bradlly, State Reporter, Rebekah Slabach, State Vice-President, and Dustin Richardson, State President had the opportunity to talk with William Monroe High School about goal making. To end the day and the entire Virginia FFA Week tour, the State Officer team attended the FFA Fun Night and Meeting at Signal Knob middle school which was a great way to conclude such an amazing week.

FFA Week Day 4: Central Area

The state officer team hit the ground running bright eyed and bushy tailed Thursday, the 4^th day of the National FFA Week, by visiting nine schools in the central and northern areas. The state officers split into two teams to divide and conquer all nine schools in a matter of eight hours. Although the team was split, they all got to spend their day with FFA members, laughing, sharing memories and growing each other’s Abilities.

The first two visits of the day were spent at Massaponax FFA and Brentsville FFA, where the officers got to socialize, eat breakfast with members and allow everyone a little more time to wake up for an amazing experience to learn and grow. After breakfast, the state officers facilitated their workshop on Ability for the short rest of their time at the first school.

Later in the morning, the two state officer teams got to visit with Riverbend, Liberty and Fauquier High School FFA chapters. All these schools were so welcoming, energetic, and helpful during the workshops. Moving on from school to school was hard because of the great relationships that were built and formed in the matter of 45 minutes to an hour.

The State Officer Ladies with former National FFA Advisor, Dr. Larry Case, who happened to drop in and say hello during their FFA week tour!

As the day went on, the state officers had to finish up visiting FFA chapters as the schools slowly began to end for the day. Their last stops of the day were Kettle Run, Culpeper, C.S. Monroe technical center, and Page County Middle School. The day seemed to quickly come to a close as the state officer teams reunited at Tony’s Pizza for dinner and mingling with the Northern area officers along with a variety of northern area chapters that came to this event.

Although another day has come and gone this one has left a footprint on each of the state officers lives. Now its time to rest up and get pumped for the last and final day of the National FFA week tour. Till next time, the stories and adventures of the VA State FFA Officers shall continue.

FFA Week Day 3: Eastern Area

Today the State Officer team had the opportunity to visit the following Eastern Area and the following Chapters: Norfolk Technical Center, King William, Lakeland, Hanover, E. W. Wyatt, Stonewall Jackson Middle, Dinwiddie, Atlee, Nottoway, Powhatan Junior, and Chickahominy. We kicked off the day with breakfast with some awesome members.  The team had the opportunity to work with all these students in determining, developing, and strengthening their Abilities.  

Enjoying a delicious lunch with Atlee High School, and E. W. Wyatt Middle school. Emily, Michael, and Rebekah ended the day with a Just Dance Tournament at Nottoway. Sadly, Addie, Dustin, and Paryce lost a game of dodge ball to the Chickahominy Middle School FFA members. What an incredible way to continue to celebrate National FFA Week. Virginia FFA, you are showing us how Limitless you really are this week!

FFA Week Day 2: Southside Area

The second day of the Virginia FFA Week Tour kicked off bright and early in the Southside Area on Tuesday. With two traveling teams visiting seven schools, the day was filled with workshops, delicious food, touring agriculture departments, and mingling with FFA members and agriculture students across the southern region of Virginia.

Paryce Bradlly, Rebekah Slabach and Emily Hill showing off their “Ability” at Halifax County FFA

The first stop was in Nelson County, where the chapter and members hosted a breakfast for the visiting state officers. Prince Edward FFA welcomed one of the traveling teams to their local area and another part of the Southside Area. State Officers facilitated a workshop – helping members recognize and realize their own abilities within themselves. Moving on to Amelia County, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch and fellowship with their chapter officers, advisors, and FFA members.

Halifax FFA enjoying some time with the State Officers after their workshop on Ability.

After lunch, one of the traveling teams journeyed down close to the North Carolina border to visit and spend time with the Halifax County FFA chapter. With over 40 FFA members gathered in the auditorium, the state officers helped share their FFA stories and experience, as well as challenge and encourage members to live life Limitless! Central Middle School in Lunenberg County was the next stop on the Tuesday’s part of the FFA Week Tour. These young, enthusiastic members and students definitely brought excitement in the afternoon and were a real encouragement to the state officers because of their passion for the FFA at such a young age. These middle school members peppered the state officers with questions about agriculture, the FFA, and life!

The State Officers giving Park View Middle FFA an agriculture book, provided by Ag in the Classroom, to read on National Ag, Day in March

Even though school ends around or after 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the life of a FFA member sure doesn’t! The state officers were fortunate to be part of chapter meetings at the Central Middle FFA (Charlotte County) and the Park View Middle FFA chapters. With some ice-breakers and fun activities and getting down to business during the meetings, it was time for some fun and food afterwards! Park View Middle FFA hosted a pizza party for some of the state officers, while the FFA chapters in Charlotte County provided an amazing, homemade supper for its members and guests.

Armed with more memories and special moments from the Southside Area and its FFA members, the state officer team is resting up before moving on to the Central Area on Wednesday’s stop of the VA FFA Week Tour.

FFA Week Day One: Appalachian Area

Monday morning kicked off the State Officer Teams travels across Virginia to celebrate National FFA Week with over 50 chapters! Day One was spent traveling in two groups to several awesome schools across the Appalachian Area.
Team One consisted of Dustin, Michael, and Rebekah, whereas Team Two consisted of Emily, Addie, and Paryce. Team One traveled to Holston High, Abingdon High, John S. Battle High, and Tazwell High.
Team Two began their morning with lunch and a workshop at Pulaski High School where they were also joined by the Giles High School officer team. After their kick off visit they traveled to Rural Retreat where they conducted another workshop and had time to mingle with two different classes.

Pulaski High School

Rural Retreat

For lunch, Team Two visited Marion High School where they enjoyed a BBQ luncheon with some of the chapters officers and members, which really gave them time to mingle and get to know and learn about each other. After the luncheon several other students joined in for a fun, energetic workshop. After visiting with Marion High, the team arrived at Grayson High for another workshop before heading to dinner.
For dinner, the entire State Officer Team met up with the Appalachian Area Officers at Macado’s in Marion. It was great getting to know them and hear them tell their stories. After a few hours of good food and fellowship, the State Officers departed to their hotel to recap on a fantastic first day and prepare for a day full of visits in the Southside Area on Tuesday.

Winter Training!

The weekend before one of the biggest weeks of the year, FFA week, the state officers set out to meet at Virginia Tech for two days full of preparation for the week to come. They kicked off the weekend Saturday right after lunch a Litton Reaves, there entire day was packed and planned down to the minute with practice public speaking, technology training with state staff and convention planning.

The quote for the weekend!

Sunday was a little more relaxed but still busy to get those last minute details to make sure this coming week goes great. They learned how to communicate and build relationships with sponsors and advisors with Kelsey Brunton, a graduate student at Virginia Tech who works for VALOR. This weekend of training helped fuel the state officer’s determination for the remainder of their year.

Career and Technical Education State Officers Join Forces in Richmond

On January 24^th and 25^th Virginia State FFA President Dustin Richardson attended the Virginia Career and Technical Education Conference in Richmond, VA.

During the conference, career and technical education instructors, student organization leaders, and various other representatives visited the General Assembly to advocate for career and technical education. Various student organization presidents were present to represent students from across the state at this conference. HOSA, TSA, FBLA, FCCLA, and FFA were a few of the student organizations being represented.

Career and Technical Education State Presidents meeting with Delegate Orrock to discuss the benefits of being involved in CTE leadership positions.

As part of the conference, the State Presidents passed out gift baskets to all the Delegates with information about the importance of Career and Technical Education. Additionally, all the student organization presidents were able to view a session at the General Assembly to get a better understanding of how government decisions are made and were also introduced to the entire Assembly by Delegate Robert Orreck.

Virginia State FFA President Dustin Richardson had the opportunity to give a speech on behalf of all the student organizations being represented. In his speech he emphasized the importance of Career and Technical Education and how these courses are creating our future leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and government officials. The conference was an overall success and the importance of Career and Technical Education was greatly emphasized through all the legislative meetings and sessions

Young Farmers of Virginia State Convention: Williamsburg

The last weekend in January, your state officers attended the Virginia Young Famers Convention held in Williamsburg, Virginia. The convention kicked off Friday evening with an opening banquet where the team gave a presentation on our travels and experiences in Argentina.  After the banquet, we mingled with other convention attendees and enjoyed some team time.

The State Officers touring Colonial Williamsburg.

On Saturday morning, we had the opportunity to explore Colonial Williamsburg. We had a great time wandering around, touring various buildings in a beautiful, snow covered historical location. It was difficult to resist the urge to break out into a snowball fight at times; but our team definitely learned a lot about Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed our time to bond and have fun together.  When we arrived back to our hotel, we attended a brief business session at the convention, and then broke out into two groups to compete in our choice of an Ag Stewardship or a Farm Business Management competition. Later on in the evening we attended another banquet and heard an incredible message about the importance of advocating for agriculture from a representative of the US Cattleman’s Association!

The next morning we enjoyed a closing session over breakfast. We thanked the Virginia Young Farmers for allowing us to attend their convention, and for their support of the Virginia FFA Association, and departed for home.

Virginia Agribusiness Banquet

For a handful of representatives of the Virginia FFA Association, the night of January 10 was spent at the Virginia Agribusiness Council’s 42nd Annual Legislative Appreciation Banquet held in Richmond, VA. The night was one of meeting new people, showing off some of Virginia’s finest agricultural products and recognizing the many individuals that help to make the agricultural industry here in Virginia all that it is today.

After arriving at the Richmond Raceway Complex, we were greeted by members of the Agribusiness Council and participated in the Virginia’s Finest Reception. The reception was a way for local farmers and businesses to advertise their products and to give guests a little taste of many different aspects of the agricultural industry in our state. From peanuts, to jams and from oysters to fresh fruit, we were able to see first-hand how diverse the agriculture industry in Virginia really is.

After speaking with many old friends and meeting many new ones, we were ushered into the banquet area where we enjoyed a delicious meal alongside Senator Emmett Hanger and Delegate Charles Poindexter, two long-time supporters of our youth, our organization, and our industry. In attendance was also Governor Bob McDonnell and members of his cabinet, over 100 members of the General Assembly, and many leaders within the agricultural industry. After dinner, special guests of the evening were recognized and recognition was given to those who have made major contributions to the agriculture industry.

Past State Officers Brian Walsh, Katie Lukens, and Tori Avvenire had the opportunity to network with Governor McDonnell and Dr. Larry Case, former National FFA Advisor.

The Council’s “Distinguished Friend of Agribusiness Award” was also presented at this time and awarded to Governor McDonnell for his continued support and service to the Virginia Agribusiness Council and the Agricultural industry in Virginia. After the awards ceremony, the night came to a conclusion but all in all it served as an extraordinary opportunity for us to experience the diversity of Virginia Agriculture and to give a big “thanks” to the leaders of our industry and state.

Sustainable Agriculture: Addie’s Ag. Issues Platform

My Ag platform this year will be focused on Sustainable Agriculture. I felt urged to choose this topic because my junior and senior year in high school I was enrolled in an environmentally based governors school program, where much of our curriculum was focused on the environment, sustainable agriculture, and a strong emphasis on buy fresh buy local. This program taught me so much, and opened my eyes to agriculture systems that I knew nothing about before. Sustainable ag, protecting the environment, and glorifying the small-scale, local farmer are all topics that are near and dear to my heart. I enjoy learning about sustainable ways and talking to local farmers about what they do to ensure the success of their farms. Plus, when it comes to food, who can say no to some fresh, healthy, tasty produce?! I hope to present fun, interesting posts each month, providing new knowledge and fun facts on all the topics above throughout the year!

It is important to stay up to date on information regarding sustainability and buy-fresh-buy-local because it really affects the small farmer and the local agrarian community. Knowing what is going on, and what local farming, CSA, and Agri-tainment opportunities are available near you can help each individual strengthen not only their communities agriculture, but also economy! Hopefully some of the information I hope to provide through this blog will spark the interest of members, and be useful knowledge. Some of the topics I write about this year will also hopefully be useful for FFA related events including CDE’s such as public speaking (topics and extemporaneous information), Envirothon, and Environmental and Natural Resources.

I would also like to challenge any readers or followers to contact me with topics they are particularly interested which fall under the “Sustainable Ag” category. I would love to do some digging and throw in some articles based on what you, the readers, truly want to hear about!!