Arriving in Fresno I was greeted by the warm smile of our future team Mom, Mrs. Sonya Parker! We headed back to the hotel and changed quickly for the executive committee meeting and a great taco dinner! Here I had the chance to see members in action, as they informed, debated, and helped to set direction for the convention. It was also a good time to hang out with the regional and state officers, and my wonderful teammate Ms. Becky Sullivan, all over a great meal of course.
After dinner, Mr. Parker, California assistant state advisor, brought Becky and I to the arena to see the convention set up. WOW, this place was huge! I was extremely excited for the weekend to come so I could be a part of a convention of such magnitude!
Friday was contest day, so I took the chance to watch a little Parli Pro with the Foothill Chapter and got to be incognito-meeting tons of members and even a few future state officers. On Saturday morning, Becky, Renee from National FFA, and Mr. Kuber, past president Catherine's dad, headed off to Yosemite National Park for a quick trip to see some majestic waterfalls, high peaks, and beautiful scenery. Saturday night was the first session kick off-including state officers dropping in from the ceiling! If a California State Convention Session won't get you excited I don't know what will! After the session was one of my favorite parts of convention-the dance! Sunday morning was filled with workshops- I mean funshops over at Fresno State. Thanks to all the members who came by! I don't know where the time goes, because before I knew it the Monday night Emerson Drive Concert was over and it was Tuesday morning and the final session. As convention ended it was obvious that Catherine, David, Kate, Michelle, Aubrey and Vernon had given their all and left some big shoes to be filled.
I have no doubt California members will see great things from Marlene, Graham, Brad, Kristen, Levy and Ryan! Tuesday night and Wednesday I spent some time with one of my best friends in the entire world, past president Mr. Jimmy Pierce. The greatest thing about FFA is the people you meet and the relationships you build. Spending time with old friends is always a good reminder of that. Wednesday night I headed off to the airport for a night of flying, falling asleep on the west coast and waking up in Providence, Rhode Island!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
South Dakota
After weeks of flying, I finally get the chance to drive! As Zach and I left his house, each headed to our different conventions, I got behind the wheels of my shiny rental car and headed off from Des Moines, Iowa to Brookings, South Dakota!
This Florida boy doesn't see snow very much at home, so I may have been a little overly cautious driving through what I considered a blizzard ( I was later informed they were only flurries). Driving through this part of America helped me to really appreciate the American farmer- miles and miles of corn, cattle, and our nation's backbone- agriculture. That afternoon I arrived in Brookings and was met by Crissa Zink, past state officer and the best driver a boy could ask for! We got to the arena just as preparations were winding down. I was able to experience the imitations of Erin and Sara as they introduced me to TRUE Scandanavian accents. Lauren, Noelle, Brett and Matt joined me in rolling with laughter at their ridiculousness! One of the coolest parts about South Dakota is how much time you get to spend with candidates, pretty much a few hours every night. This is a fun crew! On Sunday, convention officially kicked off and the arena transformed into a convention hall full of laughter, cheers, and excitement for the state officer team! Before every session and in the candidate room, members attempted to teach me how to jitterbug- a daunting task for someone with two left feet! The week flew by and before I knew it Tuesday morning had arrived which meant one thing- new officers! Having spent the past three days with all the candidates, it was hard to say goodbye but exciting to watch as three new people took the next step in their lives by committing to a year of service. I have no doubt that Maria, Brian, Shane, Wyatt, Josh and Shad will do a great job! After a quick luncheon I headed out with Ms. Linda Peterson, ag teacher from West Central, and my new friend, Noelle to see the world famous Mount Rushmore! We drove all afternoon and night and nine hours later arrived in Keystone, South Dakota to see the mount lit up in all its glory. Words can't even describe the beauty and magnitude of one of our nation's greatest monuments. I could hardly sleep that night as the next morning we spent hiking around the mount. I kept stopping every ten feet to take pictures. After Mount Rushmore the true whirlwind tour began, driving through Custer State park to see buffalo (I felt a little like Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves!) and through the Needles Highway-called so because driving through the tunnels is like threading a needle! On the drive back east we stopped briefly in the Badlands, which are, well, BAD! Sunset on these rock formations is a must see if you're every in this neck of the woods. Late Wednesday night I said goodbye to Mrs. Petersen and Noelle, both of whom I am grateful to for making this trip possible. I had a chance to visit with former National Secretary Jessie Geib's family as her dad took me on a tour of some area farms. I've never seen so many cattle in all my life! Thank you to the Geib family for a great morning and making sure I made it to the airport on time. Now as I write I am settled in for a trip to the Golden State- CALIFORNIA!
This Florida boy doesn't see snow very much at home, so I may have been a little overly cautious driving through what I considered a blizzard ( I was later informed they were only flurries). Driving through this part of America helped me to really appreciate the American farmer- miles and miles of corn, cattle, and our nation's backbone- agriculture. That afternoon I arrived in Brookings and was met by Crissa Zink, past state officer and the best driver a boy could ask for! We got to the arena just as preparations were winding down. I was able to experience the imitations of Erin and Sara as they introduced me to TRUE Scandanavian accents. Lauren, Noelle, Brett and Matt joined me in rolling with laughter at their ridiculousness! One of the coolest parts about South Dakota is how much time you get to spend with candidates, pretty much a few hours every night. This is a fun crew! On Sunday, convention officially kicked off and the arena transformed into a convention hall full of laughter, cheers, and excitement for the state officer team! Before every session and in the candidate room, members attempted to teach me how to jitterbug- a daunting task for someone with two left feet! The week flew by and before I knew it Tuesday morning had arrived which meant one thing- new officers! Having spent the past three days with all the candidates, it was hard to say goodbye but exciting to watch as three new people took the next step in their lives by committing to a year of service. I have no doubt that Maria, Brian, Shane, Wyatt, Josh and Shad will do a great job! After a quick luncheon I headed out with Ms. Linda Peterson, ag teacher from West Central, and my new friend, Noelle to see the world famous Mount Rushmore! We drove all afternoon and night and nine hours later arrived in Keystone, South Dakota to see the mount lit up in all its glory. Words can't even describe the beauty and magnitude of one of our nation's greatest monuments. I could hardly sleep that night as the next morning we spent hiking around the mount. I kept stopping every ten feet to take pictures. After Mount Rushmore the true whirlwind tour began, driving through Custer State park to see buffalo (I felt a little like Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves!) and through the Needles Highway-called so because driving through the tunnels is like threading a needle! On the drive back east we stopped briefly in the Badlands, which are, well, BAD! Sunset on these rock formations is a must see if you're every in this neck of the woods. Late Wednesday night I said goodbye to Mrs. Petersen and Noelle, both of whom I am grateful to for making this trip possible. I had a chance to visit with former National Secretary Jessie Geib's family as her dad took me on a tour of some area farms. I've never seen so many cattle in all my life! Thank you to the Geib family for a great morning and making sure I made it to the airport on time. Now as I write I am settled in for a trip to the Golden State- CALIFORNIA!
Nebraska State Convention
I say Corn you say Husker! I
say Big you say Red!
Welcome to Lincoln, capital of Nebraska, home of the University of Nebraska, and the site of the 2008 Nebraska State Convention!
In case you didn't know, Nebraska is home to some of the nicest people in the world. From Ms. Johnson, state advisor, to all of my past state officer friends, and all of the great new friends in between, this state is full of great people. I arrived a few days early and had some time to catch up on work and with old friends. As a state officer, I had gotten to be good friends with the Nebraska team, and having kept in touch, I spent a few days taking in the sights of Lincoln. On Wednesday though, things got kicked off with the first session and concert! Someone should have told me to take some dancing lessons before coming, because these people know how to cut a rug! Thursday morning I had my first workshop- more than a hundred students packed in a room made for 50! But it was great, because we had a chance to really get to know one another, and hopefully better define who we are. In the afternoon I had a chance to be a part of the sponsors and awards recognition dinner. I am continually amazed at the high quality SAE programs of our members and the support they receive for their hard work. That night was the proficiency awards in Pershing Auditorium with more than 5,000 people! WOW! Everything ran like clockwork, I've never seen so many awards presented in such an efficient manner. Friday brought an end to my time in Nebraska, but I have many memories I am sure not to forget. Even though I'm headed to Indy, a small piece of me will always be in Lincoln.
say Big you say Red!
Welcome to Lincoln, capital of Nebraska, home of the University of Nebraska, and the site of the 2008 Nebraska State Convention!
In case you didn't know, Nebraska is home to some of the nicest people in the world. From Ms. Johnson, state advisor, to all of my past state officer friends, and all of the great new friends in between, this state is full of great people. I arrived a few days early and had some time to catch up on work and with old friends. As a state officer, I had gotten to be good friends with the Nebraska team, and having kept in touch, I spent a few days taking in the sights of Lincoln. On Wednesday though, things got kicked off with the first session and concert! Someone should have told me to take some dancing lessons before coming, because these people know how to cut a rug! Thursday morning I had my first workshop- more than a hundred students packed in a room made for 50! But it was great, because we had a chance to really get to know one another, and hopefully better define who we are. In the afternoon I had a chance to be a part of the sponsors and awards recognition dinner. I am continually amazed at the high quality SAE programs of our members and the support they receive for their hard work. That night was the proficiency awards in Pershing Auditorium with more than 5,000 people! WOW! Everything ran like clockwork, I've never seen so many awards presented in such an efficient manner. Friday brought an end to my time in Nebraska, but I have many memories I am sure not to forget. Even though I'm headed to Indy, a small piece of me will always be in Lincoln.
Nevada State Convention
Ne-va-duh! After a short break at home it's officially convention time! My first state convention was none other than Nevada- pronunciation provided in the first sentence. Flying into Reno was amazing-the Rockies, the lights, and finally, the blue jackets! I was greeted at the airport by two of the current state officers, Jasmyn and Danielle, and then headed to the convention center to meet everyone else. After short greetings and practice we made our way to the Golden Nugget for an Awful Awful Burger- Awful Big and Awful Good! This thing was huge! After about half of it I was sure I would need a full day on a treadmill to compensate. Thursday was the first session and a day filled with CDEs. I had the chance to meet some expert chicken judgers from the Wells Chapter over dinner. One of them even let me borrow her lucky hen for my keynote! That evening I had dinner with Dr. Tarplee, Collegiate FFA Advisor at Utah State, and my good friend Mr. Ty Smith. Ty and I were state officers together and had a chance to serve on the nominating committee, so getting to spend time with him and catch up was a plus. First session went great-tons of excitement and a chance to meet the candidates for office for the next year. After the session we headed to the skating rink for a few hours of roller skating! I'm proud to say I only fell once (okay maybe twice). Friday was workshop day and man did we have a blast! Members rotated between my workshop and those of the visiting officers- Vernon from California and James from Washington- these are some cool dudes! That evening, I had dinner with the Sierra Nevada Chapter from Reno, so I saw some true Reno sights. Friday night all of the winners of the CDEs were announced. This provided for a tense but exciting session. Afterward, we all unwound at you know it, the dance! Saturday morning came all to early as the last session began. It was kind of sad to see the old team retire, but as the new officers were announced the convention hall filled with enthusiasm for Jasmine, Jimmy, Charlie, Nicole, Angela and Nathan. After the session, I said a few quick goodbyes and headed to the airport to get ready for the Cornhusker state. Thanks to Ms. Dye and Mr. Barbee, State Officers- Jake, Danielle, Megan, Jasmyn, Heather, Lacey, and everyone else who made my first convention an experience I will never forget!
Partnership Tours
Partnership tours are always exciting-and interesting. Becky and I started our week in Indianapolis visiting with members of the local organizing committee. These are the people who provide a lot of the resources to help make national convention happen. From there we traveled to Detroit, Michigan, visiting with Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and Carhartt, thanking them for their support and interest in youth. The week closed with a visit to the Big Apple- NEW YORK CITY! We had time to do a little sightseeing in between visits to Toyota, Mitsui, and Lab Aids. Friday night found us in D.C. with no luggage- but that's another story!
Experience State
First rate from the first state! What a great way to really kick off visiting chapters, conducting workshops, and hanging out with members! The first week of January our team traveled to the great state of Delaware-the first state to sign the Constitution. Delaware provided some of the best experiences imaginable-from rural chapters surrounded by cornfields, to those in the inner city working with students who had little outside knowledge of agriculture. Throughout the week we traveled the state-in many cases all of it in one day. We had a chance to meet with the Governor, learn more about Delaware's number one industry (poultry), eat GREAT seafood, and most importantly, hang out with some FIRST RATE FFA members! Thank you to Delaware FFA Chapters, State Staff- Dr. H and Mr. Cole, State Officers-Justin, Sara and Amanda, as well as all of the District and Chapter officers who made our week so amazing!
First Month on the Job!
First and foremost, thank you. I cannot tell you how excited, and more importantly, grateful I am for this opportunity to serve FFA members. I firmly believe FFA is the most dynamic organization and does more to prepare students for success than any other opportunity. But what makes it even more amazing is those 500,823 blue jackets that stand for values, character, and a commitment to excellence. Thank you for allowing me to serve you.
Our year as a team started on October 27th with each of our names being called to the stage. Words cannot even begin to describe the level of excitement and anticipation leading up to this point. Even more was the relief as I stood on that stage with five amazing teammates knowing what an incredible year lie ahead of us. Saturday evening included time with our parents, teammates, and our states to celebrate. Sunday morning started us off with breakfast with our families for one last meal together and then it was off to orientation with the past team. Beau, Kacy, Jannette, Coty, Jennifer and Jamie did an amazing job of telling us the ins and outs of national officer life and served to remind us that we always have a friend in them. Sunday night our team headed off to the Indiana FFA Center for some team time and a bit of training. This was a great chance to get to know each other and find out more about what our plans for the year entail.
The rest of the week included a short shopping trip (not a favorite of mine, but that's another story), and even more fun, meeting the National FFA Staff. The staff here at the center do a great job of providing resources and ensuring FFA members have everything they need to truly make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. After some brief orientation on Tuesday to logistical matters, our team headed out to dinner downtown and back to the hotel for some relaxation before the trip home. Wednesday morning we all headed back to our homes, which for me included a slight delay in Charlotte due to mechanical trouble (evidently planes cannot fly with the door open). In Gainesville I was greeted by all of my friends and spent the evening catching up and readjusting to college life for the next month.
Monday, November 19, the South Sumter FFA Chapters (my home chapters) held a dinner in my honor. I was only expecting a few people to show up, but I was indeed honored and moved by the number of people who cared not only about me, but the success of our FFA chapter. I come from a chapter rich in tradition and history so it was great to reconnect with past state and national officers, and to spend time with some amazing South Sumter FFA members.
Thanksgiving in the Revels family is truly a sight to behold. Four generations, 50 people, and two tables of food make for a great day! As this would be my last chance to see a lot of my family for a while, it was great to spend time talking about the year ahead and just being able to relax and be myself. Come Friday though, I was back in Florida Gator mode. Something you will find out about me is that I have five true passions- my faith, my family, my friends, FFA, and FLORIDA GATORS! Friday night was the annual Florida-Florida State Basketball game. We stood in line for a few hours and got great seats, but unfortunately, had to watch the reigning NATIONAL CHAMPION Gators fall to the Noles. Oh well, the best is yet to come. Saturday was the annual matchup of Florida-Florida State in football, which we of course won by a large margin. This was a great last day as a college student and great time to spend with friends.
Sunday brought our team back to Indianapolis for me training. After a short delay in Tampa and a missed flight in Atlanta, I finally arrived in Indy early Monday morning. I won't bore with you all of the details of the next week, but rest assured it involved lots of TRAINING. Learning about piece of the National FFA Organization and finding out more about everyone's roles (including our own) is crucial to a successful year. As the week ended, it was important to reflect back on what we had learned and how we plan to carry this out through the year. Tune in next time for the California Agriculture Tour!
Our year as a team started on October 27th with each of our names being called to the stage. Words cannot even begin to describe the level of excitement and anticipation leading up to this point. Even more was the relief as I stood on that stage with five amazing teammates knowing what an incredible year lie ahead of us. Saturday evening included time with our parents, teammates, and our states to celebrate. Sunday morning started us off with breakfast with our families for one last meal together and then it was off to orientation with the past team. Beau, Kacy, Jannette, Coty, Jennifer and Jamie did an amazing job of telling us the ins and outs of national officer life and served to remind us that we always have a friend in them. Sunday night our team headed off to the Indiana FFA Center for some team time and a bit of training. This was a great chance to get to know each other and find out more about what our plans for the year entail.
The rest of the week included a short shopping trip (not a favorite of mine, but that's another story), and even more fun, meeting the National FFA Staff. The staff here at the center do a great job of providing resources and ensuring FFA members have everything they need to truly make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. After some brief orientation on Tuesday to logistical matters, our team headed out to dinner downtown and back to the hotel for some relaxation before the trip home. Wednesday morning we all headed back to our homes, which for me included a slight delay in Charlotte due to mechanical trouble (evidently planes cannot fly with the door open). In Gainesville I was greeted by all of my friends and spent the evening catching up and readjusting to college life for the next month.
Monday, November 19, the South Sumter FFA Chapters (my home chapters) held a dinner in my honor. I was only expecting a few people to show up, but I was indeed honored and moved by the number of people who cared not only about me, but the success of our FFA chapter. I come from a chapter rich in tradition and history so it was great to reconnect with past state and national officers, and to spend time with some amazing South Sumter FFA members.
Thanksgiving in the Revels family is truly a sight to behold. Four generations, 50 people, and two tables of food make for a great day! As this would be my last chance to see a lot of my family for a while, it was great to spend time talking about the year ahead and just being able to relax and be myself. Come Friday though, I was back in Florida Gator mode. Something you will find out about me is that I have five true passions- my faith, my family, my friends, FFA, and FLORIDA GATORS! Friday night was the annual Florida-Florida State Basketball game. We stood in line for a few hours and got great seats, but unfortunately, had to watch the reigning NATIONAL CHAMPION Gators fall to the Noles. Oh well, the best is yet to come. Saturday was the annual matchup of Florida-Florida State in football, which we of course won by a large margin. This was a great last day as a college student and great time to spend with friends.
Sunday brought our team back to Indianapolis for me training. After a short delay in Tampa and a missed flight in Atlanta, I finally arrived in Indy early Monday morning. I won't bore with you all of the details of the next week, but rest assured it involved lots of TRAINING. Learning about piece of the National FFA Organization and finding out more about everyone's roles (including our own) is crucial to a successful year. As the week ended, it was important to reflect back on what we had learned and how we plan to carry this out through the year. Tune in next time for the California Agriculture Tour!
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