Days 5 and 6

Konbonwa! Konbonwa is good evening in Japanese. The team sends greetings from Japan. We are in Tokyo this evening. I hear that back home in Oklahoma we have some serious ice storms.

Yesterday, January 28th, was an exciting and cultural day. We left Tokyo for a city North of Tokyo called Nikko. Nikko is a mountainous and beautiful city. The first part of our day was spent at TASHI-FOOD INC. TASHI is a Tofu plant. We toured the plant and sampled just about every type of Tofu you can imagine!

Tofu is made from soybeans. TASHI imports the soybeans from other countries and does all of the processing there in the plant. We sampled everything from regular Tofu, to Tofu with soy sauce, to a Tofu whipped-mousse-cream-yogurt mixture and even Tofu doughnuts! We also tasted very fresh soymilk as well.

All of the employees at TASHI were so warm and welcoming. They embodied the Japanese culture and continued the excellent hospitality that the Japanese people have showed to us this far.

The TASHI-FOOD plant was a hands on learning experience about the many uses of the soybean for the team. Following that, we made our way to the Toshogu Shrine. The Toshogu Shrine was built in honor of a Japanese Samurai named Tokugawa. The Shrines in Japan have been amazingly beautiful. Every single detail in and on each of the buildings has such significant meaning. The Toshogu Shrine is very big and beautiful. The colors were so vibrant.

After we left the Toshogu Shrine we headed to a Ryokan, a Japanese style hotel, there in Nikko. The hotel is called Okuno-in Tokugawa. The hotel was awesome to stay at! The traditional Japanese style was throughout the entire hotel. There were Kimonos, Japanese style dresses, waiting for us in our hotel rooms. All the meals were very traditional Japanese meals. Our guide for the entire trip, Chiecko, gave us Origami and calligraphy lessons as well. This hotel allowed us to see how traditional Japanese people live.






Today, January 29th, began at the Kegon and Ryuzu waterfalls, Mount Nantai, and Lake Chuzenji. The waterfalls were the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen! Chiecko guided us throughout the mountains to find the best spots to view the waterfalls and take pictures. After we visited the second waterfall I had to just take a second and soak in the beautiful nature that surrounded us. Mount Nantai used to be an active volcano and now it is filled with beautiful water. That body of water is now known as Lake Chuzenji.

We then drove to Utsunomiya city. At Utsunomiya city, we visited Utsunomiya Hakuyo High School. We finally got to hang out with some FFJ members! We toured the high school and checked out the facilities. They had about 10 green houses, a Japanese Pear Orchard, biotechnology lab class buildings, an equine facility and a riding arena. It was crazy!!! I was blown away with the opportunities that the students at this high school had! There was a ceremony that we took part in. It was a banquet that was followed by very traditional Japanese shows. Three girls played traditional Japanese music on a Japanese instrument and one boy did a Japanese samurai sword ritual. It was cool! The FFJ members were so nice. They did not speak a whole lot of English and we do not speak Japanese; however, we were still able to communicate through hand gestures, smiles and laughs!

Japan - Day 4!

Konichiwa!

Yes, we are still on the other side of the world exploring b-e-a-utiful Japan! This morning we left before dawn for the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. It's really difficult to explain how crowded and crazy it is! We walked through very narrow alleys that had boxes piled with fish and watched fresh and frozen tuna be auctioned off, as they are every morning. From there we wove our way through the many vendors that sell the fresh catch to restaraunts and even　individual buyers. Imagine walking through and seeing buckets of live eels and the biggest fish you've ever seen, being cut　in half by a table saw mind you! It was absolutely facinating. And to top off our tour, we dropped into a cozy suisi cafe to eat very, very fresh fish! A big thanks goes out to Mitsui for allowing us to tour Tsukiji! :)

Also FFA members, we had quite the experience while at the fish market because we literally bumped　into Zach Efron and Vanessa Hudgens! No joke! They were there also receiving a tour of the market. Unfortunately, we didn't have the chance to get a picture with them, but how cool is it that they were in Tokyo, Japan at the fish market at 5 am on the same day we were! Not to mention the cool-factor of knowing that movie stars are learning about agriculture in other countries too. If only we would've been able to talk to them about FFA, then we would have really told them about agriculture! (By the way - we do have a picture to prove it, I'll put it up soon!)

We added to our excitement later that afternoon when we visited Toyota, a major sponsor of FFA. They were very gracious hosts and shared very valuable information with us about advancements they are making both in Japan and in the U.S. We are so thankful to have a long-standing and strong partnership with Toyota!

Next, we were forced to make our own lunch! Well, I'm only half kidding...we set our sights on a local farm owned by the Hagiwara family, who showed us how to make sticky rice and hosted us for lunch. The farm tour was beautiful and Mr. Hagiwara showed us his compost, tea plants, and many other agricultural products. All the food grown on the farm is organic, which is a growing market　in both Japan and the U.S. myteammates and I also had a TON of fun playing with Mr. Hagiwara's 2-year-old son Aoi (sounds like owie). We had such a good time and hope that this trip will continue to visit their farm. Tonight, we are visiting with Mr. Chidani, the National Future Farmers of Japan Advisor (he is the Dr. Case of FFJ!) for dinner. Mr. Chidani visited us　in Indianapolis this winter and we are excited to see him again.

Until next time...God Bless!

-Hannah

Japan Day 3 - Riley-

Ohayo gozaimasu!

I hope all is well. Today was another jam packed day here in Tokyo, Japan. This morning after breakfast we met Chieko　in the lobby of our hotel, and headed off. Our first stop of the day was the American Embassy. While there we met with some of the diplomats who deal with agricultural trade between Japan and the United States. It was very　interesting to learn about some of the current opportunities and challenges for American agriculture here in Japan.

Once we left the Embassy, we headed for lunch. I was very satisfied to have a fried porkchop with an egg on top and rice. Yum! We had an opportunity to rest for a little bit. We found a to rest for a little bit. We found a store that sold a little bit. We found a store that sold ice cream! Paul and Nessie treated themselves to Green Tea Ice Cream and I went with traditional vanilla! We also took this opportunity for Chieko to teach us how to properly present gifts.

Our next stop was Mitsui & Company. Mitsui is a sponsor of was Mitsui & Company. Mitsui is a sponsor of the National FFA Organization, and one of the reasons this trip is possible. Mitsui is a company that works with this trip is possible. Mitsui is a company that works with many sectors of the agricultural industry. We sat through several presentaitons from Mitsui staff and learned what the company does here in Japan, and around the world. Did you know that Mitsui is responsible for importing all of the potatoes into Japan that McDonalds will then turn into French Fries! Cool stuff. After we learned about the company we had a reception with more Mitsui staff members, many of which had just graduated from the university and were not but a year or so older than us. After a wonderful dinner, we have now arrived at the hotel and are ready dinner, we have now arrived at the hotel and are ready for another full day tomorrow!

Konbanwa!

Riley Branch

Konichiwa!!!

"When in Japan, Do as the Japanese Do"















Today, we took part in a traditional Tea Ceremony. We learned about the value of harmony, tranquility, respect, and the importance of hosting the ceremony. The tea that is served is Japanese Green Tea.

The Imperial Place (pictured above) is one of the most picturesque places in all of Japan, according to Cheiko (our guide). The Palace is home to Japan's Emporer and Emporess. It is only open 2 times per year to the public, during the Emporer's birthday and New Year's.

During part of the day, we took a trip over to the largest Shrine in Japan. Here we walked through several pillars (pictured right) to "purify our minds." Japanese value purification and enlightenment. We also got to see a wedding ceremony.

To end our evening, Cheiko took us on a " 40 minute boating tour"
Here, we were able to see the night time sky and enjoy the breeze. The weather is nice and the people are friendly. (You are probably wondering where the pictures are of this...well, so am I...the computer and I are having some issues.) As soon as we get that figured out, I will be sure to get some of those posted, you won't want to miss them. Hope everything is going well back in your homestates. Thanks for keeping up with is! You guys rock!

Konbanwa! (Good evening)

Hope to hear from you all soon!

~Regina

Japan- Day 1 (Paul)

Japan!

I had dreamed about this moment for months and now it was finally here. The international ports, tofu plants, and fish markets of Japan were just around the corner for our team. Then, like a speeding bullet, we were off! The flight was about 14 hours long, but was well worth it.

When we arrived we had a quick tour of Tokyo from our friend and guide, Chieko, then headed to our hotel that was much like most American hotels. The city around us is very big as Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world. The bright lights and fast paced life surround us, yet the city is still so quiet. It is so interesting to see how the Japanese culture shares many similarities, yet also has many differences from the American culture.

I cant wait to learn more about agriculture here　in Japan and share it with all of you back home. We will continue to keep you posted on our trip!

In Blue and Gold,
Paul Moya

Washington D.C. + Pictures!

The team went to Washington D.C. with a few million of our closest friends to attend President Barack Obama’s Inauguration. While in D.C. we had a Board of Directors meeting. The team was quickly able to see that the Board of Directors, Board Consultants and National FFA Staff are all extremely passionate people and we have full faith that the Organization is in remarkably good hands. The team was able to get tickets to attend the Inauguration. All of the team made it to their ticketed area except Riley. His gate closed and he and a few thousand people were turned away. If you want to learn more about this story, facebook Riley and he will be happy to tell you about it. President Obama gave an outstanding speech. The team was deeply moved to be at the Inauguration. We were surrounded with so many incredible people that day and we ended the evening very proud to be an American.

Here are some of the pictures from the day of President Barack Obama’s Inauguration!

During one of the Inauguration events, the team had the honor to meet former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and his wife Mrs. Schafer.

Washington D.C.

The team went to Washington D.C. with a few million of our closest friends to attend President Barack Obama’s Inauguration. While in D.C. we had a Board of Directors meeting. The team was quickly able to see that the Board of Directors, Board Consultants and National FFA Staff are all extremely passionate people and we have full faith that the Organization is in remarkably good hands. The team was able to get tickets to attend the Inauguration. All of the team made it to their ticketed area except Riley. His gate closed and he and a few thousand people were turned away. If you want to learn more about this story, facebook Riley and he will be happy to tell you about it. President Obama gave an outstanding speech. The team was deeply moved to be at the Inauguration. We were surrounded with so many incredible people that day and we ended the evening very proud to be an American.

Hannah's Happenings

Hello Everyone! I hope the beginning of the New Year has found you all in good spirits! I'll give you more information about my background in the near future, but for now I thought I'd update you on our upcoming endeavor as a team.

We are extremely excited right now because in t-minus 6 hours, we will be departing the U.S.A. for Japan! While there, we will study international agriculture and meet with members of the Future Farmers of Japan (FFJ). Not to mention eat tons of sushi ;) Each day of our trip we will be posting a blog detailing our adventures. Be sure to log on and see what we've been up to!

Also, we will be doing our best to post pictures and videos on Facebook and FFA Nation. Check them out!

God Bless,

Hannah

Riley on the Run! - Delaware Experience State

Howdy all,

I hope you all are staying warm. The past few weeks have been jam packed! Recently we traveled to Delaware. We spent the week practicing our state convention keynotes and workshops. The entire week was an awesome experience! We toured every county of the state, experience Scrapple for the first time, and had our first Wawa experience! Wawa is a convenience store in the Northeast that has basically anything you can think of! My personal favorite was their milkshakes. We got to travel with Brittany, Sam B., Sam S., Lori, Jena, and Justin, a crazy group of state officers. I wish to thank each of them for making the week a wonderful experience.

Also during the week, we were joined by the New York state officer team. My teammates and I presented enrichment training for the NY and DE state officer teams. Thanks to both teams for being amazing!

On our final day in Delaware we stopped at Milford High School, where they were making a huge contribution to the Toyota Million Can Challenge Program. Thanks Milford! We also stopped and toured a tilapia farm! This place was huge! One this one location, there were about 250,000 fish! That is a lot of sushi!

Experience week in Delaware was a week of new experiences, and trying new things. As we approach FFA Week in February, think about how you can Step Up in your school, and help your FFA chapter Stand Out. What can you do, to being the message of FFA, and agriculture to your school administrators, and community? We have an amazing opportunity to showcase the talents and success of FFA members during FFA week, let’s all try something new!

I hope your New Year is going well.

-Riley

Chilling (literally) in DC

Howdy, once again....hope things are going well for each of you. I really hope it's warmer in your states than here in D.C. Single digit temperatures are quite cold! Yesterday, Riley and I took a little stroll down the Washington Mall to see some historic sights. It's amazing to take in all of the history that this one city encompasses! We went to the Smithsonian, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House! Perhaps the best thing was going to the Archives and seeing first hand the original copy of the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. It was so hard to see the ink on them because they are so old. Security guards stood on either side so that no one would even touch the glass....trust me, they let me know real quick you couldn't touch the glass! Freezing wind chills pushed us to walk just a little bit faster than normal. Things are getting ready for the inauguration...tons of people line the Metro and the streets in hopes of catching a glimpse of history.

Of course it's not all play. Today was day one of the National Board of Directors Meeting where many of the decisions are made that directly affect FFA members. Meetings from 9-5 will wear you out! In fact, it's time to hit the sack now. Enjoy the weekend! Keep in touch!

~Regina

The Experience of a Lifetime

Imagine if you will the insanity of riding in a 15 passenger van only there is only room for 6 comfortably…maybe we should learn to pack lighter. Seriously, Nessie is currently riding over the wheel base, and I am scooted in amidst everyone’s luggage. Quite a sight. It’s worth it though. Experience state is a week we will never forget. Tucked away in America’s Northeast is Delaware. An amazing state full of pride for their communities and agriculture. We are wrapping up this week now, but it will be one that lives on forever. I will never forget the awesome state staff, state officer team, and the many members I met. It’s amazing what you learn about people when you just take the time to say hi….try it sometime, it might change their life, and yours.

Experience State--Part 1

Let the experience began. A welcome to Delaware with open arms started the trip off fantastically. I never knew that the Northeast could be so beautiful! DE’s executive secretary, advisor, and 2 state officers greeted us at the airport we loaded up our luggage and headed 2 hours north to Dover where we will spend the next week mixing and mingling with students from all over the state. Armed with flip charts, ipods, and a smile, let the workshops, keynotes, and student interaction begin!

New Year's Celebrations!

Here I am, hanging out in Jeromesville, Ohio with Hannah’s family and my teammates. Today was a blast, we spent the evening snow tubing. Literally going 70 miles an hour straight down an hill that is estimated to be 1100 feet! Yes, I screamed like a girl, but it was FUN! It’s snowing here and is super cold. I called back home and in Georgia it’s in the 70’s! What a change in temperature. I am starting to adjust to it though, it’s not a problem. I love the snow! I got to celebrate a DAWGS WIN over Michigan state today!! Oh, and a traditional New Year’s dinner prepared by Hannah’s mom was super good!! BTW, this was my first New Year’s Celebration ever! So, exciting, especially since I got to share it with all of you!

Paul's Travels (Delaware Experience Week)

Hi Friends!
The last few days of my life have been truly amazing. On January 8th the entire National Officer team arrived in Washington, D.C. where we were picked up by Sam, Justin, Dr. H, and Mrs. Stacey. We then drove from D.C. to Delaware and have had a great time here. We have been visiting schools and presenting keynotes and workshops. On Saturday the New York and Delaware State Officers joined us for a day of recharging our teams. We had a blast and made some new friends too!

I am so happy to be here in the First state of Delaware. We had our fair share of scrapple and Grottos Pizza while in Delaware, and even made a trip with FFA members to the beach. I have never been around so much water in my life and it’s so great to be around members who are so enthusiastic about FFA. Thanks Delaware and New York FFA for making my week one that I will never forget!

Your Friend,
-Paul

Christmas Times a Comin!!!

Christmas times a comin’ Christmas times a comin…..and it’s here. Man it’s great to be back in the peach state! Home of sweet tea, peaches, and of course GA football! Ain’t nothing finer in the land than a GA Bulldawgs fan!!! Where do you begin? Hugs and kisses from the parents made me feel like I had never left. I have so much I want to do over the next week, but I don’t know where to begin. I want to spend so much time with my family, but sometimes I just wanna be by myself and soak it all in. Ahh…the smell of rain, the feel on the warm fireplace, and a stomach filled with Mema’s Chicken and Dumplins. I think this is the recipe for a perfect Christmas Season!

Paul's Travels (OHIO)

Hi friends!
I hope each and every one of you had a very Merry Christmas! I went back home for a few days and spent it in New Mexico with my family. It was wonderful to be back home and see all those I loved so much. Then the National Officer Team all went to the great state of OHIO for a few days. We spent some time at Hannah’s house and had a fun day with the members of Hillsdale FFA! Man can those guys play some corn hole! Riley and I play a game against Cody and Jeff and got beat bad! They are good. The Hillsdale FFA Chapter, as if they weren’t cool enough already, is also the back to back State Champions in Parli-Pro in Ohio. Congrats guys!

It's times like Christmas when I am around the people that I love so much that I realize how lucky and blessed we all are. Take time to value those around you and spend time with the people you love most. We all have people in our lives that care so much about us. Take a second to tell those people thanks. Value the people in your life, not the things.

OH-----IO!
-Paul