National FFA Week

This year, NC had a special guest in attendance at the 2011 National FFA Week Festivities. Wyatt DeJong, National FFA Vice President spent the week with us, delivering workshops, keynote addresses, and participating in question and answer sessions with FFA members from all over the state. Alycia and I kicked off our week at the Saint Pauls FFA Kickoff on Saturday where members and their parents gave a great start to the week with a charge to members to take advantage of all the activities during the week. During FFA Week, the following schools and regions were visited during FFA week:

• Hobbton High School


• Grantham Middle School


• Mt. Olive


• Southern Wayne High School


• West Craven


• 95.7 WKML Radio Station


• Midway High School


• Lakewook High School


• Bladen Agri-Science Academy


• St. Pauls Career Fair


• Lumberton High School


• Robeson Country Leadership Seminar


• Union Pines High School


• Sun Valley High School


• NW Cabarrus


• Cabarrus County Leadership Seminar


• Buffalo Wild Wings for Chapter Fundraiser


• North Iredell


• North Surry


• Dobson NC


• Ledford

Happy National FFA week to all Members and Advisors! Thank you for such an amazing week!

Grange Winter Retreat

My first ever experience with the Grange was a memorable one. Elizabeth, Alycia, Cory, Justin, Daniel, and myself (left, at Valapalooza) packed our bags for the weekend and headed towards the mountains, where we encountered a rec hall full of individuals just like us, who loved agriculture, and enjoyed having a fun time! Most of the Grang-ers were our age, or in high school...the weekend started out with games, fun, and music. They broke these FFA-ers in and transformed us into home-folk in a matter of moments. The guys and girls split up and bunked in cabins, quaint and filled with the chatter of renewed friendships, laughter, and anticipation for the weekend ahead. Saturday came bright and early, bearing many more events including Valapalooza, where we dance the Valentines Theme evening away with friends. Although the weekend ended quickly, it was an amazing experience and I look forward to participating in again soon! Congratulations to Elizabeth Eastep, elected Grange State Officer for the 2011-2012 Year! (right, Grange Winter Conference attendees/funny faces)

January 2011

January was filled with a variety of events for us state officers. During the month, the did the following:

• Went to the Young Farmer's and Rancher's Conference in Raleigh


• Attended the Wake County Agribusiness Dinner


• Hosted the Truck and Tractor CDE


• Attended the Commissioners Agricultural Forum

Thank you so much to all of the FFA members who competed in the Truck and Tractor CDE this month! It was a huge success!

The Commissioners Forum was an informative and incredibly educational event that hosted over 150 people from across the state of NC. NC Agriculture is strong, and we look forward to working with the agriculturalists who are working hard daily to make a difference in the world we are living in! (Below: State Officers with Ag. Commissioner, Commissioner Troxler)

Muy Bueno, ARGENTINA! Part 2

Sunday and Monday were dedicated to traveling to Buenos Aires (left) and enjoying the life that surrounds it. We visited a crazy-awesome Gaucho ranch were we viewed Argentina's cowboys demonstrate how well they control herds of livestock, and their dancing/tango talent! After an amazing beef-filled meal, we loaded the buses and continued on our journey. Monday morning we went to the Livestock/Cattle Auction where thousands of head of cattle are sold daily. After watching a few auctions we ventured to the city where we took a panoramic tour of Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital and home to over one-third of their Argentine population. The shopping, cathedrals, and unique architecture really set this city apart! The evening was high lighted with a standing ovation at the "TANGO", a globally recognized tango dinner show embellished with wonderful food, and outstanding dance moves!

We had a special treat lined up for us on Tuesday morning! 70 FFA jackets (right), 3 chaperones, and two tour buses entered the gates of the US Embassy where we met with the Foreign Agricultural Services staff. These individuals have an amazing job, and were truely inspirational to each person that was on the trip. After a few questions, snapshots, and a tour of the mansion, we boarded a plane to Puerto Iguazu, the subtropical rainforest at convergence of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina for an adventure I won't soon forget.

Our hotel was nestled privately in the cover of the trees, complete with every blooming tropical flower imaginable (right), and interesting colored creatures of every shape and size. This was going to be a part of the trip that would be forever engraved in so many minds. Wednesday we ventured to the outdoors in our sneakers and baseball caps. We jumped on board a small train that took about 170 people into the forest for a four mile hike. At the end of the hike was an impressive view of the Devil's Throat(left) , a breathtaking view of Argentina's Falls. After many photos ops, the group of 70 split into smaller group for a boat ride under the rapids, to the waterfalls! The feeling of the water and the intensity of the falls was beyond words, and absolutely incredible. The day ended on a great note when we took a hum-vee back to the main area, where we viewed toucans, and parakeets or all colors of the rainbow!

As the trip came to a close, more than ever, I appreciated the blessings that we have here in America. This trip was an amazing opporunity that won't soon be forgotten. If you would like to see more pictures of my Argentina travels, go to my Facebook page and check them out!

Muy Bueno, ARGENTINA! Part 1

January 3rd seemed like it took forever to arrive...then, the day finally came! By the time 9:00 am rolled around, I had my bags packed and we were headed to the Raleigh- Durham International Airport where I was leaving my parents, for what I was sure was going to be the trip of a lifetime! (Picture to left: Miami, FL night life)

The sun was just beginning to set, and there I landed in Miami, Florida, with a backpack, purse, and a suitcase that was already beginning to show signs of wear and tear, but it didn't hold me back. If only I could find the hotel shuttle, my trip to Argentina with 70 other state officers was going to be official. After 30 minutes of wandering around the packed airport, I found some friendly faces wearing FFA shirts, of which just so happened to fly on the same airplane from RDU as me. The Virginia State officers were smiling, happy, and just as ready for this trip as I was.

Tuesday the 4th we were in orientation all day...learning the rights and wrongs of being in a foreign country, and different mannerisms that would be necessary to know before the next mornings travel. For dinner we dined on the top floor of our hotel where we looked out and saw the lit up skyline of Miami....

Wednesday...FINALLY arrived and we were ready to board the plane and get this trip on a move. 4:30 am is usually greeted with a tired moan and "just 5 more minutes" but not today, everyone was in the lobby waiting to board charter buses....nine hours and a few airplane meals later, the intercom spoke to us with the voice of the piolet "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Buenos Aires Argentina...Enjoy your stay!" There was a round of applause as the crowd exited the plane. (picture to the right of a view of the Buenos Aires skyline from Hotel de Presidente Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Ar

We filed through customs, claimed our baggage, and met our two tour guides, and charter bus drivers...as we drove to our hotel, we were greeted with the Buenos Aires night life, with music on the streets, resturaunts busy with people, and the skyscrapers highlighted with lighting.

Thursday greeted us with warm weather and a day full of adventures. We traveled to beautiful Pergamino...visiting a farm dedicated to the production of corn, soybeans, and wheat as well as a full size cattle operation. This farm is owned and operated by Alejandro Calderon, his wife, and three children. He took us to his machinery shed where we were blown away at the modern equipment and the conditions of the area! We ended the day off in the Pampas, in the Sanra Fe province just a few miles from Rosario. (Picture to right: Elizabeth and I with Ms. Calderon and his two children)

Friday's Adventures took us to Terminal 6, one of the world's largest crushing and port terminals. I was thrilled with the opportunity to meet with a Bunge representative where we had the privilege of taking a tour of the Terminal 6 facilities. The afternoon greeted us with a tour on the Parana (Yes, like the fish... :)) River via a cruise boat. The captain took us to a private lagoon, where we had a few hours of free time to swim around and catch some sun rays before heading back to the mainland.

Saturday was spent in the Melincue-Venado Tuerte area and was dedicated to a horse farm known worldwide for their polo pony breeding of stallions and mares! We spent the afternoon on a three generation farm in Santa Isabel where we were served every cut of beef possibly imaginable...After a fun day of travel we went back to the resort to enjoy a little bit of the local life, some of us went canoeing on the river, and some spent some time enjoying the sun at the pool in Melincue. (Picture to Left: Sunny, beautiful, Melincue!)

Poultry and Dairy CDE's

On November 9th, 2010, FFA members from across the state gathered at NCSU's Poultry science unit for the Poultry evaluation CDE. I was so excited to get to go to this CDE because it is one I never participated in. I stood in awe as I watched students grade poultry with such concentration and so professionally! Burns FFA Chapter placed first in the state, Jesse Carson took second, and Crest High School FFA Chapter took 3rd, great job to all of the FFA chapters that particiapted in this CDE!

Dairy Evaluation took place on November 17th and 18th, where the 4-H and FFA meet at the Rowan County Fair grounds and began the event with an amazing dinner, they heard remarks from FFA State Vice President Elizabeth Eastep, and took a tour of the facilities for the following day's competition. Thursday morning came, and students and advisors showed up ready for cold weather and a long and exciting day of Dairy Judging! After going through each round of dairy judging, and being sorted i nto groups based on FFA, 4-H, Junior and Senior teams, the day was under way and students were ready to get the results from a day of hard work! For the senior division, West Johnston placed 1st, Davie Country placed 2nd, and West Rowan placed 3rd...Great job to all of the senior and junior teams who competed! You all did an amazing job!

FFA Day at the State Fair and National Convention

This year has been a year of many firsts for the North Carolina State FFA Association! One of our most exciting events was FFA Day at the North Carolina State Fair, where nearly 300 FFA members attended to visit with people from Mr. Joshua Bledsoe to our Ag. Commissioner Mr. Steve Troxler! For eight individuals, this was incredibly exciting, because they were serving as the 2010 North Carolina State FFA Delegates along with Justin, Daniel, Alycia, Elizabeth, Cory, and myself...shortly after the state fair concluded, we all headed to the Raleigh Durham Airport to take a flight to Indianapolis, Indiana, where we geared up for making decisions for our National FFA Organization at the 83rd National FFA Convention. For half of the delegates, this trip was a first, as they had either never been on a plane, or been to National Convention, and for others, it was a first for both a plane ride as well as Convention!

The first two days of Convention were packed with training sessions and group events meant to push the delegates to step outside their comfort zones to get involved with individuals from around our nation. Every year, the annual Welcome to Indy luncheon is held for both delegates and sponosors. I had the opportunity to work with some Land 'O' Lake representatives during this luncheon. One of the highlights of serving as a delegate is the Wrangler dinner, where we hear from some of the sponsors of the Delegate Process as well as an opportunity to dress in Wrangler attire and to show support to Breast Cancer through purchasing "Tough Enough To Wear Pink" bracelets. After the Wrangler Dinner, we were whisked away to an Enrichment fun session, where we put on our hard hats to come up with crazy, wild, abstract ideas to solving the worlds problems such as water conservation!

After the Delegates gathered in their discussion rooms, final presentations were made on the delegate issues which were later presented to the delegate body, which was then sent to the National FFA Board of Directors. To all of the Delegates: Job well done, the decisions you made will be impacting FFA members for years to come!

As Advisors, members and guests began packing into the convention center, Indy was turning more lively, with the streets packed at every corner with the ever famous national blue and students bustled to Steak 'n' Shake to get the first milkshake of the week! This year North Carolina Delegates had the opportunity to sit front and center at the general sessions! As the week progressed, the National Officers presented their retiring addresses, FFA members lined up back stage waiting to recieve their proficency awards and to find out who recieved first, second, and third place for CDE's! Josh Shipp wowed the crowed at the first general session with his goofy humor and down-to-earth-lets-get-real words..."and a goat...". Later in the week we had special guest and speaker Judson Laipply, creator of "The Evolution of Dance". Needless to say, everyone loved his words of wisdom, jokes, and crazy dance moves! :) Overall, convention was a blast and I look forward to seeing more students, more blue jackets, and more thrilling special guest!