Last week I had the pleasure as an FFA Advisor to take four students to the 84th Louisiana State FFA Convention held in Alexandria.
State convention is always a great time to catch up with other ag teachers, inspire students and celebrate success as students compete in contests throughout the week.
This year was my 7th convention, I have attended 3 as a student and the last 4 as an Advisor for Church Point FFA.
This years them was GROW and I believe our students did just that!
This year we took four students who are just beginning their journey through agriculture education and the FFA. They have been involved in various aspects of the organization including public speaking, landscape and horitculture judging and forestry judging.
Throughout the four days of convention the students sat in on business sessions where they heard keynote speaker Mark Black, who at 23 was told he had a limited time to live. He survived the miraculous heart and double lung transplant he recieved and went on to run in 4 marathons since. Here are some bits and pieces from his speech that inspired the students.
Yes, as a runner I think I was more enthralled than the kids!
The students were also able to participate in sessions that introduced them to the way that parliamentary procedure is used to run a business meeting or session.
Another highlight was electing state officers to represent them for the 2013-2014 year! And though they themselves did not compete in contests they were able to see their peers earn awards for public speaking, marketing and various other contests as well as recieve State FFA Degrees.
During down time we took the kids bowling and played lazer tag (not the best idea when wearing boots!)
Overall it is one of the highlight events that FFA as to offer! As the week progressed I really saw our students GROW and realize their potential within such an amazing program.
I can't wait to see what they will accomplish in years to come.
So a couple of weeks ago was ridiculously busy and FILLED with FFA activities in the great city of Indianapolis! My co-worker Rebecca and I took 8 of our best and brightest high school FFA members to attend the National FFA Convention!
For those of you who do not know what they FFA is, and potentially think I'm crazy, here is a simple explanation...or you could just click here and check out our national website...anywho FFA is originally known as the Future Farmers of America, a club for students enrolled in high school agriculture classes which helps the students achieve premier leadership, personal growth and career success in whatever they choose to do, whether it be agriculturally related or not since we have a diverse group of students involved.
Well last week over 52,000 FFA students from across the country (from Alaska to Puerto Rico and from Maine to Hawaii, and even the Virgin Islands!) descended upon Indy to take part in our National Convention where we elected officers, celebrated accomplishments and heard from inspiring speakers!
Our week started off leaving from Louisiana Monday morning bright and early! First stop Nashville, Tn! After a nights sleep we loaded up and toured the Nashville Auto Diesel College where our students got a first hand look at how NADC trains its students in auto repair and maintenance along with some cool custom paint and remodel jobs. They LOVED seeing the before and after of this old car!
After NADC we headed out to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel where they have GORGEOUS atrium's filled with beautiful plants. The hotel has its own stores (my personal favorite was a cafe with gelato, YUM!) where patrons can find anything they wish from suits to Christmas ornaments, the public is allowed to go in and check it out...pretty amazing I'd say, though definitely out of my price range to stay!
And while at the Opryland Hotel I met up with some old friends! Yeap, 8 years ago I toured the facility with my livestock judging team as a student and took a picture with these exact same statues, couldn't find the original picture but I remember!
A break for lunch at the Opry Mills mall food court next door to the hotel was in order...I'm a sucker for food court Chinese food!
After lunch we visited the Tennessee Agriculture Musem. It was really great to see how much agriculture has changed and how it has influenced the area and what it may have been like to have been a settler during that time.
Housed next to the museum are the horses of the mounted police force. These gorgeous and friendly Tennessee Walking horses were loving all of the attention....and so was this sweet kitty!
That night in Nashville....we did something that can now be scratched off my bucket list! Not that I have one but if I did...this would definitely be on it! We watched a show at The Grand Ole Opry! We were able to hear the sweet melodies from a couple of my country music heroes Pam Tillis and her father Mel Tillis as well as Vince Gill and his wife, Amy Grant! Our night at the Opry was intensified by the fact that it was actually a night to celebrate the birthday of the wonderful and hilarous Miss Minnie Pearl!
I've always loved hearing that HOWWDEEE!
There were several commedians on hand to honor her by making us laugh hysterically! I laughed so much that my side literally hurt! Henry Cho and "Bubba" were among some of the most HILARIOUS and clean comedians I have ever seen! While in Indy we attended the National FFA Convention and heard inspiring speeches from Scott Hamilton, who inspired the students with a message about how if your attitude is rotten the situation will seem so also, and Walter Bond, who gave a speech on being humble...there will always be someone better than you. And were able to see students achieve such high levels of success and receive awards. It was great! Here are a few pictures from the convention.
Yea.......that's a STADIUM FULL of National FFA blue corduroy jackets!!!
Typical sights walking down FFA Way!
While in Indy...we took in some of the historic sights as well! We climbed up to the top of an observation tower to check out the city!
What I didn't mention is the CLIMB to get there! I figured since I run I didn't need to pay the $2 to take the elevator....BAD IDEA!!! BUT I survived it and came back down in one piece!
Yea...you read that right...32 flights of stairs...up......and.....down
The observation tower was actually part of a civil war monument and museum...our boys LOVED checking out that history!
It seemed like it was all too soon before we had to hit the road home...but on the way back we stopped in Kentucky to check out the Jim Beam Distillery and learned how the famous bourbon was made! Pretty neat process!!!
All in all we had an amazing trip filled with education and entertaining experiences that I'm sure our boys will remember for a lifetime to come! We are so very thankful to have brought an amazing group of students and have traveled with Rayne, Crowley and Midland high schools to the convention.
Cannot wait for the next one!! See ya in Louisville, Ky National FFA Convention!
