FFA Day at the Twins

The ninety-something degree day of Sunday, July 17th brought the officer team, members, and supporters to Target Field right in the heart of Minneapolis. The 1:10 pm game against the Kansas City Royals kicked off with a great reunion of those who pride the FFA and enjoy a little Minnesotan baseball while honorary first pitches were thrown out by four members proudly sporting Official Dress.

We as officers in the FFA were also wearing our Official Dress for the first part of the game. Game goers had may reactions to the corduroy walking around the stadium. Some of my favorites were:
"Oh my gosh! You look so hot! I hope you get to take that off soon! But you look really nice."
"I remember when I was in FFA..." (followed by meaningful recollection of memories)
"What’s up with the jackets?" (followed by informational conversation with personal stories)

As the game progressed, names of FFA chapters in attendance were flashed on the jumbotron for all to see. While not every attendee to the game knew the significance, those chapters in attendance were proud to represent where they come from and what they stand for.

A collection of about 25 members and state officers from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin gathered in front of microphones and a high powered camera to lead in the singing of the 7th inning stretch song, Take Me Out to the Ball Game. As we progressed through the lyrics "Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd.", a few different things were going through my mind. "Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I never get back." I was excited that we were on camera leading thousands of people in song "Let me root, root, root for the home team, if they don't win it's a shame." and I was so excited that the opportunity was given for FFA members to join together at a nice social event, "For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game." But the number one thing in my mind was the concept of tradition.

It is tradition that this little jingle is sung for the 7th inning at every ball game, it is tradition that FFA members meet at a Twins game in July every year, it is tradition that we wear our Official Dress, and it is tradition that we proudly honor our values as agriculturists and young members of society.

With every tradition that you meet in your life, take a moment to think about what is behind it. It is the people, the places, and the passions that make a tradition what it is today. I know serving the great state of Minnesota is the passion of your state officers and we are proud of everything behind it.

Stationed by the Ear of Corn,

Katie McNab