Thank You

Thank You for REALLY Making a Difference

In a few weeks, my teammates and I will be passing the torch. We feel so privledged to have been given this opportunity to serve the FFA at the national level. October 22-25 we will celebrate those national winners and supporters of our organization. Congratulations to all of those who have made it to such a high level--that is quite an accomplishment.

I also want to congratulate all those who haven't. The highlight of my year will not be National Convention, I can tell you that. It has been the 360 days before convention. The days that I have met thousands of extrodinary FFA members and teachers. The days that I have seen students roll up thier sleves and make a difference in thier communities and states. The highlight of this year is the fact that FFA members don't just work hard to make an impact during five days of national convention, but FFA members do it everyday. It is hard to articulate this to non-FFA members, but those who walk into an Agriculture program, even for a day, can better understand.

Thank you members, thank you teachers, thank you parents, and thank you supporters for serving a greater cause than yourself. You are the reason this world is a better place than it was yesterday.

Continue to serve, your impact is larger than you realize. :-)

A Team, a Group of Friends, and a Family

A Team, a Group of Friends, and a Family

This year has been a whirlwind in the simplest terms.
As a sophomore in high school, sitting in my first Agricultural Education class with Ms. Higbie, I never would have guessed this is where the FFA would take me.

One of the greatest parts about this year has been getting to know five other individuals who truly live and breathe what it means to serve others…those five individuals are my teammates.

Many people this year have asked me “So Becky, just how well do you really get to know your teammates? I mean, you are always separate traveling the nation.” Believe it or not, we get to know one another better than most could imagine. The first few months we spend together non-stop! After that, yes, we spend a lot of time separated, yet me meet up more often then most would think for training and conference planning. However, this summer, we went our longest amount of time separated. This is why we were given the opportunity to wind down and catch-up with one another this past week at our summer team retreat.

We traveled to the great state of California where we were literally “beach bums” for days! That week with my teammates was the most relaxed I have been all year. October is almost here, and soon, we will be retiring and returning to our separate states. That week with my teammates was just a small reminder of the new family members I will always have. Zach, Tyler, Morgan, Kari, and Brady are each talented, skilled, and caring individuals who will always be there to push me to be the best person I can possibly be.

The connection I have made with these five people is special and unique. I share this with you because I hope it serves as a reminder as to the importance of relationships. I would have never connected with these five the same if it wasn’t for serving on the same team as them.

How many teams do you serve on? Perhaps you are a greenhand, chapter, or state officer. You serve on that team with those other teammates for exactly one year. Don’t let it go to waste. The time it takes to get to really know another person is worth so much. Maybe you aren’t on an FFA team. Think about your peers, co-workers, or even your family. Each area of your life can be a “team” if you let it. I encourage you to take some time to think about those outstanding people in your life. Are you taking the time to really connect with them?

A team is a powerful group of people, use one another to push each other.
To my team, thank you. Thank you for always being there to support me, and push me to grow.

And Finally, but Certainly Not Least

And finally, but Certainly Not Least!

It is hard to believe how quickly this year has gone…national convention, chapter visits, Japan, FFA week, camps, conventions, SPC, and NLCSO’s.

The Sunday morning following SPC, Morgan and I got in our final rental car and hit the road for our last NLCSO in Dover Delaware!

It was hard to believe that Monday morning we would begin presenting our last of these conferences. The states in attendance were Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware. These east coasters showed up excited, enthusiastic, and raring to learn some new tools to use their state officer years to take back to their state’s membership!

Highlights from this NLCSO:

1) The incredible spirit, pep, and state chants that went on to win the ever popular “GRAMMY” award (thank you to which ever state broke the GRAMMY, we won’t name names…cough, Pennsylvania). J

2) The BBQ Cook-out by the Caesar Rodney Delaware FFA chapter—can you say a “taste of heaven!”

3) Wednesday night’s DANCE! That’s right, DJ and all! Morgan and I experienced our first encounter with the CRAZY dance known as the “percolator.” (Hanna, you totally get the GRAMMY for your skills on this dance!)

4) The Banquet dinner where the Governor of Delaware attended and shared her passion for agriculture.

5) The 48 amazing state officers who Morgan and I got to know (definitely the highlight for me).

Needless to say, this NLCSO may have been the final one for Morgan and I, but it certainly wasn’t the least. Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware, thank you. Thank you for caring so much about helping others to discover the value of American agriculture, passion for service, and importance of leadership. Thank you all for what you have done for others, what you are doing this year, and what you will continue to do in your futures.

To all those who Morgan and I got to know at NLCSO’s, remember why you ran for state office. A state officer is just like any other FFA member, except you have a circle of influence handed to you. What you do with that circle of individuals you can influence is up to you. Use what you have learned, continue to grow, and be the best role model and leader your state has ever seen! You don’t need any “good luck” wishes, because I know you all will do a fantastic job without it!

You’ve got one year…use it.

A New Experience

A New Experience

Yes, I have been to Washington D.C. before.
Yes, I’ve seen the monuments, the museums, and the intricate metro system.
Yes, I have felt the rushing emotion of patriotism as I stared into the stone that is all that remains to honor those who have fought for us.
Yes, I have been to Washington D.C. before.

Would I go back? Yes.

Before this year’s State President’s Conference (SPC) I had been to D.C. once before for a high school trip. Before returning to D.C. I thought that it wouldn’t be as special my second time there. I was wrong.

As my teammates and I prepared for SPC I started to get anxious, nervous, and excited for those events to come; a night tour of all the monuments, laying a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington Cemetery, and of course, meeting President Bush. The true power each of these experiences possessed was only measurable at that moment you were experiencing it.

First was our night tour. Zach and I were “bus buddies.” This means we shared a bus with state officers and national officer families (yes, our families attended this conference and just hung out in the audience, pretty cool). I’ll tell you a little secret…Zach and I weren’t supposed to be on the same bus, but we decided to switch things around because we never get to work together. Well, let’s just say Karma got the better of us due to our “switching” of the bus partners: over half of our bus, including my mom and little brother, got stuck on an elevator for one hour and 45 minutes, causing us to miss the first part of the tour. We were then known as the “El bus” (short for elevator).

Eventually we finally gathered up the remaining bus members from the elevator and made to where the other two buses were. The night tour was absolutely gorgeous! My personal favorite was the Jefferson Memorial where Zach and Morgan gave reflections on the front steps. I know everyone who was present would agree that was a beautiful sight.

Another BIG event during SPC was Arlington Cemetery. First off, I’m proud to say that I had to have burned of at least five pounds walking up the hill in official dress with the rest of the officers (you all are troopers)! When we finally made it to the top of the hill, there was the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. At 9AM they had the changing of the guards. Then, Kari, Morgan, Tyler, and I lined up to lay a wreath on the tomb. Of all the events that happened in D.C. that week, this was one of my favorites. I’ll always remember the day that those 102 FFA officers stood there paying tribute to those who have served this country.

Speaking of serving our country, one man has been doing so for quite some time. Yes, I am talking about President Bush. Our group of officers has had the honor of meeting the President ever since SPC began. One afternoon all the officers crowded into risers and awaited the arrival of our nation’s leader.

When President Bush entered the room, it was complete silence. A few moments later everyone began to cheer and clap, which then put a huge grin on President Bush. The President spoke with us for 35 minutes. I cannot even attempt to articulate everything that was said. I will tell you this, he blew us away with how open, venerable, and honest he was. When he was done speaking, and after he left the room, I was speechless. I have a whole new respect and value for the individual who serves in this role of being the head of the free land.

The week that we spent in D.C. was even more special than my first time in our nation’s capitol. The officers present represented the FFA well with the respect they showed to those who have given of themselves to ensure our freedom. Thank you.

Yes, I have been to D.C. before.
Yes, I have seen the blue jackets in the hallways of the White house and the trails in Arlington Cemetery.
Yes, I have a much greater respect for what our nation stands for.

Would I go back? Most definitely!

New Inside Jokes From North Carolina!

Awkward Turtle. “Very nice (insert ok sign with fingers). “High five!” What? Pre-foreshadowing (word only found in Morgan Parker’s personal dictionary). GameBoy—need I say more?

Oh, the joy of inside jokes. Yes, yes, we all have them, and there is no greater bond than shouting out the perfect phrase or term to add a little cherry on top of that perfect situation. During the NC NLCSO there were MANY new inside jokes created, all of which I will never forget.

Inside jokes are a sign of the three f’s: friendship, fun, and focus.

The first “f” is friendship. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida state officers are without a doubt good friends after their four day conference that took place at the sunny resort on Wrightsville beach in N.C. Days were full of interactive learning involving the tools needed to “rev up” a state officer’s year, and nights included free time on the beach for friendships to grow. One of the most rewarding parts for me at NLCSO’s is seeing all the state officers at the beginning of the conference—somewhat shy and separated by state, and then by the end of the conference there being a collogue of new friends who never would have met without the FFA. So often I hear state officers after leaving NLCSO say “Why can’t all of us FFA folks just live in one state, then we would always be together!” As much fun as that would be, there is a reason we are all spread across this great nation…we can serve more people when we cover more ground.

Fun, the second “f” of our inside jokes. Without a doubt, a conference wouldn’t be enjoyable without fun. The other day I read a new quote in the book I am reading called Stimulated. The quote says “You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”—Plato
How true is this statement? In North Carolina people built friendships when they were just enjoying themselves. Whether we were playing with marbles and jelly beans during sessions, or whether it was the state tournament in volleyball…FUN was definitely present! If you haven’t figured it out yet, we in the FFA know how to work hard, and how to play hard. Are both important? YES!!

Our third “f” of inside jokes is focus. You’re probably thinking “Wow! I thought inside jokes through your focus off of whatever you were talking about?” Yes, this is one reason the word focus comes to mind when we talk about inside jokes…yet the focus Morgan and I saw at NC’s NLCSO was the opposite. The 28 state officers present were so intensely focused with what the curriculum and what was being said by others, that they was no room for mistakes! This intensity caused some funny inside jokes to arise. In this case, the focus the students had just meant they were more prone to catch those funny moments of the conference!

Those many inside jokes created in N.C. were a result of the friendships made, the fun we had, and the focus the state officers retained the entire conference. Thank you! Thank you to those present for bring our three “f’s” to our four-day conference—it wouldn’t have been the same without them! To those who weren’t able to attend, remember this: friends, fun, and focus can make a conference one of the best experiences you have ever had! When it comes down to it though, it is up to you to bring these three components to the event or activity you are participating in. Don’t be afraid to relax, be yourself, meet new people, and soak it all in!

Who knows? You may just walk away with your own little group’s worth of inside jokes…and those jokes are priceless!

"Whatever you are, be a GOOD one."

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

In the land of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln is one of the biggest heroes. Why? Well, the quote above is just one of his many beliefs that set him apart from the “average Joe” during his time. President Lincoln believed in pushing yourself, never settling, and always striving for the betterment of the common good. Whether a street cleaner, a chef, or a lawyer, whatever you were—he believed you should be a good one!

This is a phrase we can take to heart in our time as well.

During the Illinois NLCSO, state officers from IL, MO, WI, and IA learned what it meant to put your best foot forward. Over four days these members learned about how to create a vision for their year, how to implement their visions, how to stay committed and accountable throughout the year, how to overcome conflict and nurture trust, and finally, how to develop as a team to not just be a “group of people,” but rather a high-performing team.

One of the greatest messages NLCSO has to offer is the fact that “title does NOT matter.” Yes, for all of you believers in the “ranking order” based on title, sorry to burst your bubble. Whether you are parliamentarian or whether you are President…it all comes down to how hard you work. You get out of the experience what you put in; all you have to remember is to be a good FFA leader.

For those 48 state officers present, they now understand the importance of self-drive. For all of you who didn’t have the opportunity to attend, just remember this:

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

A truly great dancer...and a truly great leader!

Mississippi NLCSO

Dancing is so much more than steps. As silly as it sounds, this comment is true with leadership as well. Leading is so much more than words and meetings.

The other night I had a chance to flip on the TV (yes, I do watch TV on occasion), and the show "So you think you can Dance" was on. During the short segment I saw, the judges talked about how dancing is more than just technique and motions...you have to "feel" it. A truly good dancer shows their passion through their eyes, as if you can see their heart shining through in their dance. I immediately thought about a truly great leader. A great leader is like a good dancer in the sense that their heart and passion shines through in all that they do.

This past week, Morgan and I had the honor to meet 27 amazing dancers, well leaders actually.


We were down south where the associations of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Puerto Rico at the Mississippi FFA center for the National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO). During this four day conference Morgan and I saw the passion, enthusiasm, drive, and servant-hearts of these state officers through their words and actions.



Much of our time this week was spent learning about team development, effective workshops, implementing vision, and commitment to team and self; however, we had some more personal interaction as well. My most memorable moments came from those conversations during meals, late at night, and during our social outing at the bowling alley. It was during these times that I really got to see what motivates each of these young leaders. Whether it was an influential agricultural teacher, a role model in the FFA previous to them, or just a love of helping others...each of these state officers has a reason they love doing what they do.


For these 27 students, their year is just beginning. They have the opportunity to live out their dream of serving as a state officer. It is important for all of us to remember however, that no matter what your title is, what truly makes a difference is your actions. For all of us, state officer or not, don't be afraid to take initiative and be the leader you wish to be. We always have the power to take action on a vision is we believe in it enough.

Dancing is so much more than steps. Leading is so much more than words. To those state officers present at the NLCSO in Raymond, Miss., this past week, thank you for what you have and will continue to do for FFA. Continue to grow and use your new knowledge to act on the vision you have for your states. For all of those who were not present at this NLCSO, you can be a great leader as well (you probably already are). Follow your heart and take action!

Best of luck to all of you, and know that if you ever need a mentor, friend, or just an ear to listen...I'm here for you.