Chelsea's Travels: Delaware FFA Convention

Delaware FFA Convention 2010!

The Delaware convention was so special. As the first convention I attended of the year, I was nervous about meeting the expectations of FFA members. However, I had a great time meeting members, gaining friends, and making memories that will last a lifetime. If you ever get the ever get the chance to go to Delaware - GO!

Billy Saylor (PA State Chaplain), Brandon Monk (VA State Treasurer), and Caleb Wright (PA Regional State Vice President)

Delaware is full of talented middle school members.

Bill Stagg, National FFA Organization

Several chapters received their charters from the National FFA Organization.

Students were eager to participate in the small, but energetic convention.

Some of my friends who competed in Floriculture posed for a picture.

The Adventures of Alex: Partnership Visits, North Carolina and Team Time

The last two weeks can be summed up by one word: blessed.

I’ve been to The Windy City, Motor City, The City of Oaks and the home of the 2010 Final Four Tournament (GO GREEN! GO WHITE!).




One of my favorite experiences throughout my recent travels was attending the North Carolina State Soils Banquet at Bunn High School. The North Carolina State Officers – Carrie, Caroline, Amanda, Alex, Jacob and Robert – did a phenomenal job! The food was amazing even though I had to ask someone what the little deep fried breads were (hush puppies). And I had a blast interacting with all the chapters who were competing the next day! The Western Harnett FFA Chapter was nice enough to let me sit by them for dinner and I had so much fun getting to know them and singing karaoke to the live entertainment.



Check out some pictures from my Partnership Visits with BASF and the soils banquet!

This week I’ve had the chance to hang out with my teammates while training for NLCSO with emotional intelligence expert Ernie Mendez. It has been so nice to reconnect with them, hear about their travels and listen to their stories about all the awesome students they have met. Here at my top five highlights from training so far:

1. Getting Cold Stone ice cream with Randa as our pre-dinner “appetizer” on Sunday night
2. Talking to super-excited Chase in the soccer-mom van on our trip back to the Wingate
3. Hearing about Bethany’s travels to Hawaii and lost baggage fiasco
4. Learning to swing dance with the master of moves, Levy
5. Looking forward to spending three weeks of my summer with Chelsea presenting NLCSO

Have a Happy Easter and stay tuned for Idaho’s convention in just a week and a half!!

Catching up with Chase-Montana State Convention!

Montana's State Convention this past week in Bozeman will no doubt go down as one of the best! Record attendance with over 1,400 members advisors and guest participated in the four day conference in Bozeman. Montana FFA has had a tremendous year in 2009-2010 charting 6 new chapters and continuing to develop more new opportunities for MT FFA Members. Congratulations to this years team for the hard work and dedication and welcome to the 2010-2011 State Officer team! The theme of "Empower your Actions" is a reminder to each of us that actions always speak louder than our words, and I know that each member who attended this convention is headed home with a new ambition to serve through their actions. Thanks for a great week Montana FFA, and congrats to all CDE winners, Star Finalists, State Degree recipients and new State Officers.

Randa's Journey! Partnership Visits-Colorado and Texas

Hello Friends!!

The past week was time to switch gears from state conventions and have my first week of partnership visits! I spent the beginning of the week traveling with Chase as we met with companies such as WhiteWave Foods, Lextron and much more! But before we kicked off the week Mr. John Rakestraw and his family hosted us and the local FFA Chapter, Saint Vrain FFA, at their house for some awesome home cooking. Chase and I enjoyed meeting the students and it was a perfect start. About halfway through the week I flew into Texas and met up with Levy where we met with companies such as Justin Boots, Ford and AgWorkers Insurance. I truly learned a lot through the week about many different components of businesses and I'm so grateful to our sponsors for what they do!

Bethany's Blessings- Aloha from Hawaii!

Aloha from the beaches of Maui!

Celebrating with the Hawaii FFA Association over the last 2 days has been spectacular! With over 100 members from 10 different chapters gathering in our blue jackets, we spent time really learning on how to LEAD OUT LOUD!

Here are some of the members I got to hang out with!

Part of our time at Maui Community College, where convention was held, included a tour of their agriculture facilities. We got to see a demonstration of how Poi is made.

Poi is a Hawaiian word for the primary Polynesian food staple made from the root of the taro plant. Poi is produced by mashing the cooked corm (baked or steamed. It looks almost like purple pudding.

The taste is um...interesting. You could actually blow a bubble, just like bubble gum, with the poi because it was so thick.

Then one of my favorite parts was the talent show, which included a self-defense lesson, traditional Hawaiian dance, and a showcasing of chapters singing their schools Alma Maters. I wish Labette County High School had an Alma Mater!!!

Mahalo Hawaii FFA for the memories!

Levy's Latest (Oregon State Convention)

Hey Y'all,

I arrived in the afternoon on Thursday, March 18th and I already what I had in store that coming weekend! Fun, Fun, and you guessed it... more Fun! I was finally back in Oregon for my second time visiting their State Convention! It was such an amazing experience to be back and meet so many more wonderful Oregon FFA members! This year convention was held at Oregon State University and truly made me a Beaver Believer! Convention had a great keynote speaker, legit dance, and many chapters who hosted the VSO's and I for some great evening activities over the course of 4 days!

Some of the students in my first round of workshops! SYNERGY ROCKS!

The VSO's and I: Jordan Lippincott (California), Kiana Wilcox (Idaho), and Brett Moriarty (Washington)

Some students from the Amazing Chapter of Astoria! (From L to R): Chelsey, Amanda, Tim, Carissa, Hayley, Alicia, and Courtney.

The new Oregon State Officer Team:

President - Alex

Vice President - Brittany

Secretary - Briana

Treasurer - Reva

Reporter - Jake

Sentinel - Bailey

Bethany's Blessings- March Partnership Tours

States in thisLast Week

*Massachusetts-for State Convention

*Rhode Island

*Montana-to visit Chase

*Illinois and Michigan-with Alex for partnership visits

Where Alex and I got to go on Partnership Tours:

*Kraft

*Institute of Food Technologist

*Carhartt

*GMAC

*Ford

*Dodge/Ram

*Hantz Farms

*Kellogg's

The Best parts of Michigan:

*Home of your Eastern Region VP

*Spent some time on Michigan State Campus

*Ate ice cream at the MSU dairy bar

*Saw the official '8 Mile' sign

*Visited Greek Town

*It's the Bowling Capitol of the World

*Hanging out with the AWESOME Michigan FFA State officers

Randa's Journey- Nevada FFA Convention

Hello Friends!!



As this year continues the experiences are new and and amazing! I was fortunate enough to attend the Nevada FFA Convention held in Reno, Nevada and the state officers did a phenomenal job. Thank you to Casey Gallagher, Kali Evanson, Jackie Dulgar, and Michelle Gibbons for an awesome convention and opportunity!


































The week started off with a fun zone for all FFA members to attend, relax and enjoy before the first session.




























I even had to join the fun and attempt to hula hoop!





























The Nevada State officers wanted me to feel at home being away from Texas and all.































Nevada FFA members participated in a service project that taught elementary students about agriculture and they did an outstanding job!



























All participants in the service project.

There was an Agriculture Mechanics Olympics where members participated in traditional mining competition.

Visiting state officer from California, Tatiana Prestinizi and I at the skating ring.

Nevada having a great time roller skating!

I met some amazing members like, Alex here during my workshop presentations.

Thank you the Sierra Nevada for taking me to lunch. I had a blast!

The retiring state officers taking off their jackets.

Finally the new names were called of the next state officer team. Congrats!

The last day of the convention, Kali and Angela took me to see the beautiful Lake Tahoe!

Throughout my time in Nevada, I learned and was inspired by the FFA members there. To see so much talent and passion that they have for this organization is truly exciting for the future of the FFA. Congratulations to all CDE, scholarship and degree winners. Keep up the amazing work and thank you for a great experience.!

Chelsea's Travels: Kansas City

WHERE IT ALL STARTED.......

FFA was founded in 1928 in Kansas City, MO at the Hotel Baltimore. For years, members attended National FFA Convention in Kansas City until convention moved to Louisville and then to Indianapolis. As a young member, I was mesmerised with the story of the 33 farm boys from 18 states who started it all. They envisioned an organization where they might share their interests in agriculture and build a strong foundation for their careers. As I traveled throughout the Kansas City area meeting with sponsors and spending time with Bethany and Mrs. Brubeck from the FFA Foundation, I thought back to the stories my advisor at Eagleville High School, Bruce Haley, used to share with me.

This is the cite of the Hotel Baltimore. The city commemorates the FFA founding with this large emblem and a plaque explaining the historical event.

For 70 years, FFA members roamed these very streets. Generations of students have grown and developed at the National FFA Convention.

Lee Ann Brubeck and Bethany pose for a picture on an old cattle trading floor.

I was thrilled to stop by the Golden Ox. We also stopped by the Hereford House for dinner. These are two places that many past members have told me about over the years. These restaurants are where many members would go for a nice dinner during convention. I felt so fortunate to visit the same ground that people like Leslie Applegate, first National FFA President, walked on. Many past Tennessee State and National Officers reflect fondly upon memories in Kansas City and have shared those memories with me. That trip meant a lot. I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on our organization's history and the people who have made it all possible.