It's a New Year, so what?

Families have a lot of traditions for Christmas day. Many families open gifts in the morning. Many families go to church on Christmas morning. Many families take down all of their lights on Christmas day.

A tradition in my family is going to a movie on the afternoon of Christmas day at the Cinemagic theater in Hutchinson. This year my mom and I attended the 1 ‘o’ clock showing of New Year’s Eve.
While this movie looks like just another romantic comedy, it actually inspired me in more than one way.

Every year, New Year’s Eve was never really that big of a deal to me. I never understood why everyone made SUCH a big deal about it. It was just the passing of another day.
It was an opportunity for my friends and family to make resolutions that they inevitably forgot by the end of January, and for people in my small town to have another reason to have a party. I never really got into all of the hoopla.
After watching this movie, I am now looking forward to New Year’s Eve more than I ever have before, and no it is not because I am going on some fancy trip or because I am going to a big bash with friends. I am going to sit at home with my mom and watch the ball drop.

But, my entire outlook is completely different. New Year’s Eve marks an opportunity for us to look back and appreciate and to look ahead and dream.
As I look back at this past year, it really has been the best year of my entire life. I have truly felt blessings and been more fortunate in the past year than I could ever imagine. I performed in my last play at Hutchinson High School in one of the most fun roles I have ever had the great fortunate to play with the amazing students of HHS drama. I graduated from HHS with some of my best friends. I confirmed and began attending the University of Minnesota with a major in Agricultural Education (one of the BEST decisions I have ever made, big thanks to Melissa Nasers!) Finally, I had the greatest opportunity in the entire world in being able to serve the Minnesota FFA Association.

Yep, it has definitely been the BEST year of my life yet! I have been truly blessed. Looking back gives us the opportunity to appreciate the things we may not have seen before. Appreciating our teachers for giving us those difficult assignments to challenge us (even though they made us SO mad at the time). Appreciating that that one friend walked into our life when we needed them most (even when at the time, we wondered how we could POSSIBLY get along). Appreciating our Agricultural educators for pushing us to try something that we never thought we could/would want to do (thanks again Mrs. Rada!). Appreciating that we have a roof over our heads and food on the table when there are so many out there that don’t have those luxuries. Appreciating the little things in life like coffee dates, late night pizza, and a single encouraging note.

This time of year we can look back at the things that have gone well and the things that haven’t gone so great. We can see those unfortunate moments and learn. We can move past them. We can see those events for what they were meant to be and appreciate how we needed to learn and grow from them.
This is also a time to look forward and dream. Dream of the amazingness that will come out of the next year and how WE ARE going to make those dreams reality.
It is our chance to start over or start again. This is our chance to look to the next year to do more, to be better, and to do better.

We don’t want to look back a year from now and regret or wish that we had. We want to say that we did! We want to say that we did the best that we could. We really did put 110% into everything that we did! We did more than what was expected us! We exceeded expectations! We made this year the best that we could for ourselves and for those around us! We will give nothing less that everything that we have!
There was one line from the movie that really stuck out in my head for days afterward, “If you could do anything and know that you could not fail what would it be? Go out there and do it!”

I have never made a New Year’s Resolution before, but here goes:
I will live the next year under that oath. I will stop trying to focus so much on whether or not I am going to fail and do the best that I can with what I have. I will have no regrets. At this time next year, I want to be looking back and thinking that it was one of the best years of my life because I made it that way.
WE ARE in control of our own lives. From this point forward, I challenge YOU to live your life for without worry of failure. Without worrying what others think of you, and do things, serve others, and live your life because it is what YOU are passionate about!

Look back and remember. Smile, laugh, cry, and appreciate.
Look forward and imagine. Dream, plan, and get excited for what is to come.
I encourage you to write New Year’s resolutions of your own, even if you never have before like me, and try your hardest to stick to them.
Good luck, and feel free to ask me about mine!

Stationed by the Flag,
Chelsea

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a Blessed and Safe Holiday Season!

Sincerely,

The Minnesota FFA State Officer Team

The Joy of Service

The abilities, projects, and aspirations of Minnesota FFA members never cease to inspire and awe me. I am swept away by the desire of members to share agriculture with others. I am impressed with the leadership abilities of chapter and regional officers. I was blessed to join Sleepy Eye FFA on their parents' night to celebrate their successes.


We celebrated the involvement of the Greenhand members.(above)

It reminded me of my freshman year in FFA when the possibilities seemed endless, but I never imagined state office would be for me. I barely knew what a state officer was besides the crazy people running around on stage during state convention. I wanted to do well in my Soils Judging and maybe be Chapter Treasurer someday. Within a year of state convention my freshman year a lot changed. I was running for chapter president and serving as a region officer. State office still didn't cross my mind until halfway through my Region President year. I realized that leadership is what I love, and that running for state office was what I needed to do.

The joy of service as a state officer continually makes me stop and think about how blessed I am. I find pure joy in talking to FFA members, like Josh from Sleepy Eye, about their dreams and involvement in FFA. Josh made me smile as he shared his similar experience in soil judging and his desire to farm someday. He has true passion for agriculture and it's inspiring.


The Chapter Officer Team

I arrived early at the Sleepy Eye FFA chapter on Sunday, December 11th to spend time with the chapter officers. I can't even begin to point out the bubbling, excited energy of each individual. They made me feel truly welcome at their chapter and helped remind me what being a leader is all about: service.

Thank you Sleepy Eye FFA for adopting me on Sunday evening, and thank you Minnesota FFA members for making this year a blessed, service-filled adventure.

Beneath the rising sun,
Hillary

Taking Charge

It was January of 1999 and my dad was due to go in for surgery on his knee. A couple of months prior he had torn his meniscus, and after struggling with it for a while this surgery was supposed to get him back to full strength in a day or two. Little did we know, this would be far from what really happened.

After surgery dad was not doing any better. He woke up the next morning with a severe fever, extreme pain, and was sweating heavily. Mom immediatly took him back to the hospital where dad was diagnosed with a staph infection. This landed him on bed rest for the next six months. Questions began to arise every day to follow. Who would milk the cows? Who was going to plant the crops? How would we manage the farm? Would the farm survive?

The road ahead was definitely not an easy one, but thanks to the leadership of one individual, the farm continued to run and manage profitably. That person was my oldest brother, Mike. As a senior in high school, Mike was taking college classes, and serving as the Forest Lake FFA chapter president. This soon became just a fraction of what was on his plate. I remember as a seven year old first grader sitting on the foot of my father's bed, discussing with my brothers, which cows to sell and which fields to plant next.

Mike saw the need to step up and take a leadership role on the farm. It was his leadership in milking cows before and after school, and working to plant the crops and harvest hay, that allowed dad to focus on getting better. It was Mike that kept the farm afloat and ran the business.
There is always going to be a need for young people to step up and become leaders in today's world. In my case it was Mike stepping up on our farm, but agriculture needs to stay progressive and continue to develop future leaders.

CHS is a diversified energy, grains, and foods company committed to providing the essential resources that enrich lives. A company owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest and from the Canadian border to Texas, along with thousands of stockholders. CHS provides products and services ranging from grain marketing to food processing to meet the needs of customers around the world.

In conjunction with the CHS Annual Meeting, emerging leaders involved in production agriculture gathered at the the CHS New Leader Institute. Participants were all nominated by their local cooperative or a producer organization. Over the course of three days, they examined indepth issues and challenges facing agriculture, cooperatives and rural America. They also discussed ways to build their leadership skills, and how to use them to benifit cooperatives and communities. The program's goal is to enhance critical thinking and leadership skills in individuals who show promise as leaders in their rural communities.

We will always have a need for leaders. Will you be the next to step up?

Stationed by the plow

Andrew Miron

On the Court

It's that time of year again. Basketball season! For the past 9 years of my life I have spent every winter thinking, playing, talking, and even sleeping basketball. Seriously, sleeping! I fell asleep on the way to a game once, and I woke up with my hands out to catch the ball. And of course some teammmates witnessed the whole thing. But what I really cherish about basketball are my memories of giving everything while I was on the court.

Now that my first winter is here without basketball games and practice as a steady companion, I started thinking about what it was about the court that made my adrenaline rush and my spirits soar. I thought about my teammates and excuting the perfect play or defensive attack. I thought about the ultimate high of scoring a needed basket and becoming the center of attention in the game for a split moment. I thought about the passion, dedication, and love. And then I thought about the decision to be there- the action it took to be a player, not an observer.

Today, I stood on the recreational court of State Gym at Iowa State University. A newly renovated and expanded facility, I had found a way into the gym a month before it opens to the rest of the Iowa State students. I got involved with leadership on campus and met Dr. Hill, the Vice President of Student Affairs at Iowa State University. He jokingly told me I could be the first one to swim in the new pool. I set up an appointment with him to see his joke through. Turns out swimming in the pool early won't work because I'll be in China for the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers, but we came up with another option. So, I toured the new gym with a few friends this afternoon.

I realized getting to enjoy some really amazing opportunities and moments in life isn't normally because things "fall in to place." It takes planning, hard work, and a whole lot of faith. It takes action. I didn't play basketball for 9 years without some blood, a lot of sweat, and a few tears. But I also didn't play without showing up to practice and keeping my head in the game. I didn't tour the new gym early because I staying in my dorm room studying frantically or just hanging out. I really wanted these opportunities to be a part of my life. So I decided they would be.

Think about something you love. I mean really, really; could-never-lose love. How can you fulfill that passion? How can you make something your moment? How will you get off the sidelines and onto the court?

Be a person of action. Pursue every goal you make. Believe in the power of you. And remember, there are thousands of people in blue jackets across the country who are rooting for you.

On the court and beneath the rising sun,

Hillary

CHS

Friday November 11^th 2011 brought the State Officer team and a few Regional Presidents to CHS, the U.S.-based diversified energy, grains and foods company owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives along with preferred stockholders. Based right in the twin cities area, Minnesota is proud to call itself home to the largest agricultural cooperative in the United States.

We learned about business solutions, grain marketing, and internships and career opportunities during our time with employees of the company. The day was filled with many learning opportunities and great conversation. Throughout our day of learning and sharing we noticed three main similarities between CHS and the FFA; professionalism, genuine interest, and progressiveness.

When we arrived to the headquarters we were greeted by handshake and taken to a conference room that was filled with sincere professionalism by every person entering. The FFA works hard to develop students’ professionalism, the same kind that CHS looks for in incoming employees.

CHS believes in the FFA and its mission of developing premier leadership, personal growth, and career success though agricultural education. The FFA appreciates CHS and all of their work in the agriculture industry. There is a genuine interest taken by both groups, bound by the larger agricultural community.

By earning the ranking of the largest agricultural cooperative in the country, CHS has proven that one of their highest standards is progressiveness. FFA has over half a million members across the country, showing a sincere dedication to being progressive. Both groups are always yearning to push its standards higher and to always promote the best for all of its members.

The partnership between CHS and the FFA is inevitable and the level of appreciation is unbreakable, but the core of it all is the shared passion for agriculture.

Stationed by the Ear of Corn,

Katie McNab