Nessie's News

Hi everyone! I look forward to the opportunity to meet and get to you know you as my teammates and I travel this next year. I thought the beginning of this blog dealio might be a good place to share a few things about me perhaps so you’ll know who you are reading about. So here goes- I’m Nessie Early. I’m from a really (really) small town in the Central Coast of California. I have a younger sister Kala (14) who lives with our Dad in Fort Collins Colorado, and an older step-sister Cassie (26), an older sister Alisa (32) and an older brother Nate (29) who all live on their own, also in Fort Collins Colorado. I’m actually chillin (literally) in the Minneapolis Airport right now (due to snow delays :) on my way to visit all of my family in Colorado, which I do as often as possible.


For the majority of my “growing up” I lived on a ranch with my mom in Shandon until this past year when I moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly SLO. I joined FFA my freshmen year in high school and from then on my SAE projects included: market and breeding hogs and sheep, market steers and replacement heifers, dairy goats, and work experience at an animal biotech company. I also showed horses. You can probably tell that I like animals, and pretty much had the whole “e-i-e-i-o” feel at my house… true story. I also competed in FFA events such as prepared public speaking and parli-pro. My favorite ag class would have to be… hmm actually this is tough, it’s between beginning Ag Mech with Mr. Roddick and Ag Science 1 with Mr. Bob. Ag mech because we got to drive a tractor and watch my friend Daisy nearly take out our farm’s fence, and ag science 1 because when Mr. Bob told the class we would put our hogs on “free feed” my friend thought that meant we didn’t have to pay for it hahaha (really it just meant the hogs would have food in front of them at all times). All in all I loved my agriculture classes and ag teachers! Math on the other hand ha ha jk jk.

After my senior year in high school I postponed (definitely for you paril-pro enthusiast) my college entrance to serve as California FFA State Vice President. Perhaps you’ll get the chance to meet one of this year’s Cali officers- Kristen, Graham, Marlene, Ryan, Brad or Levy … they’re good people J After state office I made my way back to academia and completed my freshmen year at Cal Poly majoring in animal science. While at Cal poly I lived and worked at the beef unit (I highly recommend getting involved in your college’s work opportunities, you learn even more and can make great connections with professors). My career goal is to become a professor of animal science. So there is a bit about me, now tell me about you! You can post below where you are from and something unique about your home town. I look forward to meeting you!

-Nessie

The Start of the Beginning!

Howdy FFA Members!

I hope all is going well, I am sitting here in the National FFA Center and I am being taught how to post blogs! I hope all is well with each of you.

Our team has been in Indianapolis for the past few weeks preparing for this next year. One of the highlights from these past few weeks has been working with the staff here at the National FFA Center. Each of the staff members are so passionate about their jobs, and enjoy working for the members of National FFA.

Several things have been happening over the past few weeks. Regina, Nessie, and I had the opportunity to meet members from the Lebanon FFA chapter. The three of us each presented workshops, and we got to go to lunch with some of the Lebanon FFA members. There were many fun members including Kurt, Carlee, and their Ag Teacher Mr. Ernest!

Laila, Nessie, and I also traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to hold a press conference to announce the 2013-2015 National FFA Convention Site. (If you haven’t heard 2013-2015 is Louisville, KY, then 2016-12018 is in Indianapolis!) This event was awesome because there were many FFA members from many different chapters across the state in attendance. It was also great to meet most of the Kentucky State Officer Team: Quint, T.J., Keitha, Megan, Derek, Ashlee, James, and Sarah!

Our team will be leaving Indianapolis soon to go home for the holiday. Soon after New Year’s we will return to Indianapolis.

We have many great miles ahead of us, and all six of us are looking forward to it. I hope you have a Happy Holiday, with no coal in your stocking or Grinch in your fireplace!

-Riley

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

FFA World

Hey guys! The last couple months of my life have been amazing. I quickly finished up the semester at school before Thanksgiving, then headed to Indy for training. The six of us have been learning so much in the last few weeks.

Training has been an intense, but very exciting three weeks. We have met with many FFA members from Indiana as well as business and industry representatives. Last week we held press conferences in both Indianapolis, IN as well as Louisville, KY to announce where National FFA Convention will go starting in 2013. I was at the press conference in Conseco Field House here in Indy. There I met many excited and enthusiatic FFA members from Shenandoah as well as the amazing Indiana State Officer team. Hope to see you guys again soon.

We have a few more days here in Indy before we head home for Christmas. There are many travels just around the corner for us and the six of us cant wait to meet FFA members across the country!

-Paul

"Whether you think you can or you think you cant...Your right."

Writings from Regina

Here we go.....my first blog. I am not really sure how this works, so bear with me. For the last 3 weeks we have been training here in Indianapolis. The staff is fantastic and if you ever get a chance to meet them, do it. My teammates are a blast. There is never a dull moment. We get super excited when we get to talk about meeting each of you this year. Last week Riley, Nessie, and I had a chance to visit the Lebabon FFA Chapter in Indiana. The school was great and the Ag Teacher Mr. Ernest is an inspiration for everyone. He has a great love and passion for not only his students, but agricultural education and FFA. The announcement was also made on December 11 that the National FFA Convention would rotate on a 3 year basis beginning in 2013 with Louisvile and rotating back to Indianapolis for the years 2016-2018, and the list goes on. The city life is certainly different from the farm life of home. I am having to adjust to this cold weather..bbbrrr..... It has snowed every day almost! I am not complaining though. We don't have snow at home, in fact it was 80 degrees yesterday back home. I really like the snow!!!!!Hang tight, I head back home this weekend, and I would love for you to see a little bit about where I live and what I do in my down time. I will have some pics and video uploaded soon (I would love to do it now, but I haven't learned how to do that yet). Until then, have a wonderful holiday season.