What do Cracker Barrel, GooGoo Clusters, Taylor Swift, and Moon Pies all have in common? Well, they all originate from the state where I had the opportunity to spend my FFA week - Tennessee! Along with the state officers (Wesley, Samantha, Chelsea, Kelsey, Cody, Lauren, Rebekah and Michelle) we spent the week promoting the theme of Blue Jackets, Bright Futures. From working with students in workshops, speaking at banquets, to interacting with foundation sponsors and other supporters, we worked hard to secure a bright future for the FFA and its members.
One morning the state officer team and I had the opportunity to interact with legislators, and even speak on the floor to the Tennessee House of Representatives!
From Munford to Cedar Hill, I visited 12 different chapters on the western side of the state. I was continually blown away by the quality of programs, the excitement of their members, and the many different areas of involvement. The Mumford chapter officer team put on some of the most interactive, and engaging chapter meetings I have ever seen! I also had the opportunity to visit the chapter of former member Taylor Swift, in Hendersonville!
At the end of every chapter program, I made sure to take some time to tour each school's facilities to see some of their different projects. I saw greenhouses full of ferns (which are a top seller in Tennessee), high tech hydroponic units, small animal units (equipped with boa constrictors and Iguanas), school farms, and aquaculture.
Being from Eagleville, Missouri my family had actually stopped and taken a picture by the Tennessee sign on our way home from a family vacation. Little did I know, I would have the opportunity to go back and have lunch with the Eagleville FFA Chapter a couple years later. Eagleville is also home to past state president Chelsea Doss. It was a full week, but I couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate FFA week. Thank you Tennessee, and keep up the great work!
2 comments:
hi zack,
i think in the past year you were a great insperation to our ffa chapter and also to many others. you helped in keeping a worthwhile tradition alive. i am also from missouri and am proud to be from the same state as our national ffa president. and am gald that young teens and adults are still as involved in our ffa program as the many generations before us. we had a great year with you as prez and hope to continue with many more great years.
-Desiree K.
Aurora, Missouri ffa chapter
I hope you keep up the great work in anything & everything you do.
~Yesenia Ramos
Fallbrook FFA California
Post a Comment