1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,520 Hello everyone and welcome to the Within Range Coaching podcast. 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:13,580 I'm Ranger, certified holistic success coach, and in this podcast, I'm bringing down the 3 00:00:13,580 --> 00:00:18,200 journey that entrepreneurs face as they start their organization, find solutions to the 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,340 roadblocks in their way, and create an impact that lasts. 5 00:00:22,340 --> 00:00:26,880 So if you're an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or purpose-driven community member that wants 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,840 to learn how to grow your impact and develop yourself as the person behind the mission, 7 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,080 then this podcast is for you. 8 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:42,000 I know you're just as eager to get started as I am, so let's jump right in. 9 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,600 Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening everybody, and welcome to today's episode 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,200 of the Within Range Coaching podcast. 11 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,840 And we're continuing on with our Walk Across America series, but we're going to take a 12 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,640 step back from the folks and entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and community members that 13 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:02,040 I've met during the journey, and we're going to kind of circle back to one of the organizations 14 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:07,480 that I'm raising money for while I am making my jaunt across our nation. 15 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,160 As most of you know, I'm raising money for three different charities, Bigger Than the 16 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:16,360 Trail, which is a mental health advocacy group, and the Hospice Promise Foundation that covers 17 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:24,200 non-medical hospice-related expenses for those going through treatment, and of course, I'm 18 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,560 also raising money for the Future Farmers of America. 19 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,720 And I mean, I'll probably make a whole other podcast episode about my background in FFA 20 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,440 and why it was so impactful for me and why I chose to raise money for them, but I feel 21 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,440 like by the end of this conversation, you'll have a good understanding of really, I guess, 22 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:46,120 the implications and the importance of it from someone that is currently working for 23 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:47,120 the FFA. 24 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:51,240 And when I say working, I mean, she is in the trenches. 25 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,680 She's been there for 22, 22-ish years. 26 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:54,680 Yes. 27 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:55,680 She's nodding. 28 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:56,680 Yes. 29 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:57,680 Perfect. 30 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,000 So she's been there for 22 years and is currently serving as a communications manager for the 31 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,680 national organization. 32 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,160 I am joined by Kristi Meyer. 33 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,920 Kristi, thank you for joining us today. 34 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:08,920 Thanks for having me, Ranger. 35 00:02:08,920 --> 00:02:09,920 I appreciate it. 36 00:02:09,920 --> 00:02:10,920 Of course. 37 00:02:10,920 --> 00:02:11,920 Yeah. 38 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:13,560 And I mean, I'm already excited to jump in. 39 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:18,880 I feel like we can kind of nerd out on the blue and gold, but in terms of you, would 40 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,400 you mind sharing with us what your intention for today's episode is and a little bit about 41 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:24,400 yourself? 42 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:25,400 Yeah. 43 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,960 So my intention for today's episode is really for people to understand the importance of 44 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:34,080 agriculture education and FFA and what it brings not just to those involved in it, but 45 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,080 to those to support it. 46 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,000 And I can just kind of hop in with a little bit about my background. 47 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:44,560 The interesting thing about me is I've worked at FFA for 22 years, but I do not have an 48 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:45,560 FFA background. 49 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,200 I was never an FFA member and I was not in agriculture. 50 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,840 I moved around a lot with my family and never had the opportunity to join FFA. 51 00:02:54,840 --> 00:03:00,040 Instead, I majored in journalism and went to work for a local newspaper. 52 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,440 And I always joke that it might've been a little bit of foreshadowing because I was 53 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,760 farm editor for six months. 54 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,000 After a while, I loved being a journalist. 55 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,000 I love newspaper. 56 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,240 The hours weren't always the best. 57 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:17,560 And I had a colleague who mentioned that FFA was looking for someone in a communications 58 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:18,880 position. 59 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,360 And when I interviewed for the position, I told the director at the time, I said, the 60 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,960 great thing is I know nothing about agriculture. 61 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,600 So who better to tell that story? 62 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,240 And I've been telling the story of agriculture for 22 years. 63 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,480 And honestly, Ranger, I've fallen in love with it and it means so much. 64 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:34,480 It's why I have never left. 65 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:35,480 Interesting. 66 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,760 So I want to touch on what you just said, the, you know nothing about agriculture. 67 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:40,040 So who better to tell the story? 68 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,840 Like, why do you say that? 69 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,120 Well, I say that when I at least started, right? 70 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,120 When I started, I didn't know anything about FFA. 71 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,360 And so I thought, well, for someone who doesn't know everything, it's probably easier to tell 72 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:57,320 the story and not get bogged down in some of the acronyms and all of the background. 73 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,360 For those of your listeners who are in FFA, they know what I mean by acronyms. 74 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,840 I'll always talk about like this CDE or this LDE, and for those of us who weren't in it, 75 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:08,640 we don't know what it means, right? 76 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:10,600 So I was able to kind of boil it down. 77 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:12,560 I get bogged down by those all the time. 78 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,240 You know, what is it? 79 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,480 SAE, CDE, GHC, that's like all these crazy things. 80 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,080 And it's like when you're, again, I'm just a few years out. 81 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,720 Well, oh my gosh, like almost 10 years out, geez. 82 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,280 And it's still, whenever I see it, I'm like, wait, that was, I'm like counting on my fingers 83 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:30,280 trying to remember. 84 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:34,640 But yeah, no, I think what you said there is really interesting that you're able to 85 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:40,800 kind of let your own curiosity and I guess really just be that sponge and explain it 86 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,320 in a way that others could easily understand. 87 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:47,760 Because you're not getting caught down in the semantics and the jargon, the million 88 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,880 acronyms that are present. 89 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:55,360 You're able to really dive in and tell that story for yourself or your own understanding, 90 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:59,200 which in turn, I assume would make it easier for those reading it to understand. 91 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,560 Yeah, at least that's my hope, right? 92 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:06,240 Is by not really knowing any, I feel like after 22 years, I know a little bit more, 93 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,880 but I'm always learning something new. 94 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,120 And I will tell you, the other thing about this position is I am never bored. 95 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:17,520 There are so many amazing stories out there about our members, our alumni, the difference 96 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,440 they're making in their communities and in agriculture that I'm never bored. 97 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,320 And I'm always having stories to share out with people and let them know what a difference 98 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,360 these individuals are making. 99 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:33,000 Yeah, and if you could just, I want to ask more about the difference, those stories, 100 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,200 how you find them, et cetera. 101 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,960 And again, it sounds silly for me to ask, but can you kind of just explain what the 102 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,520 FFA is and the, like who can be in it? 103 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:43,520 What does it do? 104 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,760 Like give that bare bone basic description for us. 105 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:48,200 Yeah, absolutely. 106 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:52,860 So the unique thing about FFA is our organization is what we call intracurricular. 107 00:05:52,860 --> 00:05:57,160 So in order for a person to be an FFA member, they have to take an agricultural education 108 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,360 class. 109 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,360 So their schools have to have agriculture education classes. 110 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,760 And if they have those classes, then they can have an FFA chapter and be involved. 111 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,120 And there's different levels of involvement of those FFA chapters, right? 112 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:16,560 Some members get all in and participate wholeheartedly, do leadership positions, do competitive events. 113 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,960 Many do what we call supervised agriculture experiences, SAEs, if you were using the acronyms. 114 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:23,760 But those are projects. 115 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,840 Those are projects that are hands-on learning experiences for those members. 116 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:31,920 And the great thing about FFA is that they have those opportunities, right? 117 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,360 So they can kind of explore all those different career pathways. 118 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:40,480 I like to share with people that this organization creates leaders, but it also helps our members 119 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,320 determine what career pathways they're going to take too. 120 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:48,160 And as you know, and your listeners may know too, there are more than 350 careers in agriculture. 121 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,440 It's not just production agriculture. 122 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,480 So it's really an opportunity for our members to explore that. 123 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,600 And a little bit further than that, to really give back to their community because service 124 00:06:58,600 --> 00:06:59,720 is also at key. 125 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:06,640 So FFA really is a student-led organization that creates premier leadership, personal 126 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:08,800 growth, and career success. 127 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,200 Perfect. 128 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,000 And to really tie that all in, there's the three circles of Ag. 129 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:15,180 So there's the classroom. 130 00:07:15,180 --> 00:07:16,180 You go to the class. 131 00:07:16,180 --> 00:07:25,040 I took an agricultural mechanics class, Ag.Biology, Agricultural Sciences 1, which was plants, 132 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,520 Agricultural Sciences 2, which was animals for us. 133 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:32,520 So there's a classroom experience, the SAE, which is the supervised agricultural experience, 134 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:33,840 I'm raising a sheep. 135 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,200 I'm doing a landscaping business. 136 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,540 I'm growing vegetables for the fair. 137 00:07:38,540 --> 00:07:42,600 And then there's the CDE, which is career development events. 138 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,620 And those are the competitions. 139 00:07:44,620 --> 00:07:48,080 So for me, I did the veterinary science one. 140 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:49,640 Started that at my school. 141 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:50,640 Still going. 142 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:51,640 Awesome. 143 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,040 Livestock judging. 144 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:57,800 And then it's like the Napoleon Dynamite thing. 145 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,880 They're going and they're tasting the milk or looking at the different, kind of like 146 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:02,780 the nerdy farming stuff. 147 00:08:02,780 --> 00:08:06,000 But there's also the ones that are like, oh, we're doing prepared public speaking. 148 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,840 This is a 10-minute speech. 149 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,680 We're going to do job interview. 150 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:16,000 Like you were saying, it's not just the boots on the ground, hoe-ers, mowers, but growers. 151 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,760 It's the people that are, like the auxiliary parts of it too, right? 152 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:25,600 The salesmen, the managers, the leadership, the advocates. 153 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:30,480 It's really more broad than I think people think when they hear future farmers of America, 154 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:31,720 which makes total sense. 155 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,080 I've had people be like, oh, you're just raising money for farm kids. 156 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,960 I'm like, kind of, but no. 157 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:38,960 Right. 158 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:43,760 I always like to tell people too that I think that's a misnomer, right? 159 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:48,800 Agriculture is all around us every day from the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the 160 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:50,300 fuel in our car. 161 00:08:50,300 --> 00:08:54,920 Every single thing you touch each day has a component of agriculture. 162 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,640 And I think when you break that down and let people understand how important that is and 163 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:03,440 how important it is to build that talent pipeline in the agriculture industry, it gives it kind 164 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,000 of another perspective. 165 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:06,000 Yeah. 166 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:11,000 And that is a discussion that I've had with, I don't know, hundreds of people basically 167 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:12,000 at this point. 168 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,000 Oh, I bet. 169 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:14,760 You know, just explaining what it is. 170 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:18,280 Like, oh, again, like we were saying, like, it's not just the boots on the ground, which 171 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:27,040 that is very much needed, but it's career in general, not just, you know, it's not like 172 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,920 if you're an FFA, you can only go into ag, you know? 173 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,800 But you have that understanding and that background to bring it into these other careers. 174 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:34,800 Yeah, absolutely. 175 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,480 Yeah. 176 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:41,640 So to kind of explain it on the, let's start maybe from the student side, from what you 177 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,520 have been able to see and what you've been able to observe. 178 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,040 Because again, since you weren't in it, I think you kind of had that unique perspective 179 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,140 of what you've seen in kids that have gone through the program. 180 00:09:51,140 --> 00:09:52,440 Can you talk a little bit about that? 181 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,840 Oh, yeah, I would be more than happy to talk about that. 182 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,880 I'm going to go back a few years, though. 183 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:04,040 So when I started trying to drink from the fire hose, everything that the organization 184 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:10,600 was and meant, but the aha moment for me was when I went to our national convention. 185 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,680 And so our national convention is the largest student convention. 186 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:18,280 And at the time, I think our attendance was about 50 or 60,000. 187 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,680 Again, this was 22 years ago. 188 00:10:20,680 --> 00:10:26,760 And watching these students and their faces and as they were meeting other people and 189 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:31,960 connecting and then hearing their stories, it really impacted me of what a difference 190 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,040 FFA made. 191 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:38,280 We had stories of people telling us that they were afraid to talk in front of people until 192 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:39,280 they took an ag class. 193 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:44,560 And then their ag instructor encouraged them to do public speaking. 194 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:46,680 And then they were fine being a public speaker. 195 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:48,280 And then they had leadership positions. 196 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,320 They became a state officer or chapter officer. 197 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:56,720 And so you really watched how their relationship with their ag advisor, encouraging them to 198 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:01,880 think a little bit outside the box and push them, helped them develop not just those academic 199 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:06,560 skills but those soft skills that help you in leadership roles. 200 00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:07,800 So I really noticed that. 201 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,320 And honestly, I think it was maybe that my first or second year, I kept thinking, it's 202 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:16,900 really too bad that my high school didn't have a chapter because it just did so much 203 00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:17,900 for these students. 204 00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:21,680 And so over the years, I've just continued to watch that in the stories that come out 205 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:23,720 of, I was really shy. 206 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:24,720 I was in the back of the classroom. 207 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:26,360 I never wanted to get involved. 208 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,720 I took an FFA intro class and then I started to get involved and decided what pathway I 209 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,320 wanted to take, decided what I wanted to study. 210 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:43,320 A man who won star in agris science one year and he ended up creating a way to end kudzu, 211 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,520 which is an invasive species in the South. 212 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,720 And so he figured out how to do that and he patented it. 213 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,960 And then he went to work for NASA. 214 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,920 So when you hear that, you're like, oh, okay, that's pretty impressive. 215 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:56,920 Yeah. 216 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,920 I think that's so interesting because it sounds like there's such a spectrum of impact that 217 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:07,360 the organization can make on someone, whether it's going from just the shy, probably lacking 218 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:14,520 confidence kid to even being a chapter officer, like putting themselves in that position to 219 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:20,520 lose, to be, we vote on it and all that kind of stuff. 220 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:25,840 So being able to even say, I'll put my hat in the ring to winning it, all the way up 221 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:33,200 to this kid, which I feel like that's a whole story in and of itself, to go all, like invent 222 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:37,280 something that I'm sure other people were trying to figure out, you know, like actual 223 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:38,280 scientists. 224 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:39,520 That's crazy. 225 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:44,080 And I guess more so, I want your opinion on this because the way that I've kind of described 226 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:51,360 it is organizations like FFA and even fraternity that I was in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. 227 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,400 So the ag, I don't know, I felt like it was the college version almost. 228 00:12:55,400 --> 00:13:01,640 It really gives you that padding and like a safe place to fail because, okay, I'm glad 229 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,240 that you kind of agree on that one too. 230 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,740 Like what, what do you think is that, what do you think is important about that for kids 231 00:13:06,740 --> 00:13:08,200 and development? 232 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:09,840 I think it's that support system. 233 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:16,480 So for those who don't know, FFA is often identified by the iconic blue corduroy jacket, 234 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,520 official dress, official dress is that blue corduroy jacket, skirts or pants for women 235 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:26,120 now and black pants for men, but a lot of times we ask our members what that jacket 236 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:27,840 means just because it's a symbol. 237 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:33,800 And so many times we have students tell us that when they sip up that jacket, they feel 238 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:35,840 a part of something. 239 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,020 They feel like they're a family. 240 00:13:37,020 --> 00:13:38,880 They feel like they're a community. 241 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:43,920 And I think that's so important, especially for the age that they are right to feel a 242 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,860 part of something, to have that support system. 243 00:13:47,860 --> 00:13:52,480 So whether that support system be fellow FFA members or the advisor, but I think that helps 244 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,860 them because inevitably there's going to be times in your life where you're not going 245 00:13:56,860 --> 00:13:58,840 to necessarily always succeed, right? 246 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,320 But to have that support system there. 247 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:05,520 And I think that's what that offers, whether it be your fellow chapter members or your 248 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:10,120 advisor or your supporters, you end up having a support system through FFA. 249 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:11,120 Yeah. 250 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,000 And what you're saying right there reminded me of something. 251 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,120 Do you have you ever heard of the American Legion? 252 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:16,120 Yes. 253 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:17,120 Yes. 254 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:22,840 I used something called Boys State, which is like the mock government, whatever, foreshadowing 255 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:26,560 of a podcast episode I have coming up for those listening. 256 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:33,420 And I was sent to it from my school and I ran for secretary of state, I think. 257 00:14:33,420 --> 00:14:35,080 I didn't know what secretary of state did. 258 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:36,080 It sounded like fun. 259 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:37,800 I wanted to be the sauce person. 260 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:39,680 I thought it was cute. 261 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:44,320 And during my speech, I made a con like I referenced the FFA creed, which like this 262 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,360 five paragraph. 263 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:47,360 I don't know. 264 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:48,360 We all recite it together. 265 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:49,360 It sounds crazy. 266 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:51,200 But I said something from it. 267 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,900 And three hours later, after all the speeches and elections, another guy from another chapter 268 00:14:55,900 --> 00:15:02,000 from the other side of the state hunted me down and was like, was that an FFA reference? 269 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,000 I was like, yeah. 270 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,080 And he's like shook my hand and hugged me. 271 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,040 He's all like, I've been looking for other people, blah, blah, blah. 272 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,640 And he had like his chapter pin and his cowboy hat. 273 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,000 I was like, no freaking way. 274 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,000 That's so funny. 275 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,360 And him and I are still buddies to this day. 276 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,320 Like what again, like 10, 12 years ago. 277 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:23,160 So like you're like you're saying that it really is a community that is I don't know. 278 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,760 I feel like it's stronger than like other basic clubs, you know, because we because 279 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:27,760 again, it's inter-curricular. 280 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:32,600 Like, you know that you have something in common beyond just I put my name on the like 281 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,320 on a club roster, right? 282 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,800 Yeah, exactly. 283 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,920 And I think that's one of the things that we strive for, right? 284 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:45,000 Is that when everybody gets together at some of these events like our convention, that 285 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,800 they can find people and maybe network with them, right? 286 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,040 Maybe they find somebody from the completely opposite side of the United States or from 287 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:55,480 Puerto Rico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands and can connect so they have something in 288 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:56,480 common. 289 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,000 Who would think who would think you would have something in common from somebody that 290 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:05,680 far away, but having that common denominator to start that conversation, that's important. 291 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:06,960 Yeah. 292 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,880 And I'll pretty much every job that I've ever been in, I asked them if they were involved 293 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,440 in like, oh, like what clubs were you in in high school? 294 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,360 What extracurriculars were you in in college? 295 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,920 You know, because I'm trying to find like, oh, you know, I was an FFA and I'm like, oh, 296 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:20,800 thank God we can be friends. 297 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,380 Not just like if you're not an FFA, we can't be friends. 298 00:16:23,380 --> 00:16:26,880 But it's like, OK, now it's like easier to have a conversation like, oh, what did you 299 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:27,880 raise? 300 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,580 Oh, yeah, that's what my ring is like, you know. 301 00:16:30,580 --> 00:16:33,440 So yeah, that common denominator is so important. 302 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:42,280 In terms of national convention, I went to my first one in 2018 and President Trump was 303 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:47,460 there, which politics aside, whatever, we can talk about that on another episode maybe 304 00:16:47,460 --> 00:16:49,160 that we don't publish here. 305 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,800 But like, it's a big deal. 306 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:57,000 Like I don't I don't think the president of the US would show up to just any club get 307 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,440 together with a bunch of kids. 308 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:04,880 So it's it's a very I don't know, it's maybe from your side you can say something different 309 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:05,880 about it. 310 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,840 But I thought that that was crazy. 311 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:08,840 It was crazy. 312 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:09,840 Yeah. 313 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,720 And my my side has a lot to do with the dignitaries when they come in. 314 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:14,720 Yeah. 315 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,720 Doing the invitations and everything and then working with Irina. 316 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:22,620 So side note, our convention, super large this year, we had over seventy three thousand 317 00:17:22,620 --> 00:17:26,360 people in attendance, but we only have one hundred and five people at the center. 318 00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:30,400 So I always like to sing the praises of my colleagues that one hundred and five of us 319 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:31,500 put on that convention. 320 00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:34,320 So I'm pretty proud of my colleagues. 321 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:35,320 That's amazing. 322 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:36,320 Yeah. 323 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,920 But we always invite the secretary of ag and the secretary of education and then the sitting 324 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:40,980 president. 325 00:17:40,980 --> 00:17:45,880 We usually invite him the first two years so it's not going to conflict with like a 326 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,280 campaigning position. 327 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:54,040 And then we always invite the city mayor of the city and the governor because Indianapolis 328 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,340 currently hosts our convention. 329 00:17:56,340 --> 00:18:01,120 And so the the mayor and the governor have been instrumental in helping us get those 330 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:02,120 supports. 331 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:05,680 So but yeah, it's I mean, I feel like. 332 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:10,760 Those dignitaries understand what our members are right. 333 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,440 Our members are those future leaders. 334 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,520 They're going to make a difference and they're also going to be those leaders in industry 335 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,320 to so. 336 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,680 So they're kind of understanding that if we support these kids, then they're going to 337 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:26,040 be the ones that are kind of like the changing of the guard. 338 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:31,320 They're going to be the ones that are potentially president or governor or mayor or even just 339 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:36,800 a community member that shows up and does the work and is on the committees. 340 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:37,800 Absolutely. 341 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,040 And that's one of the things, too. 342 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:44,280 We talked a little bit about the different facets of FFA, but one area is leadership. 343 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,680 We talked about that some of the leadership conferences. 344 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:51,320 But another area we talk about is advocacy of how to advocate for agriculture, but also 345 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:55,720 knowing knowing that is important, how to advocate, how to know those leaders in your 346 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,400 community so you can work with those leaders, talk with those leaders. 347 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,120 Washington Leadership Conference in D.C. 348 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:03,120 We have that. 349 00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:06,280 That's an opportunity for them to go to the Hill, visit their congressmen. 350 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,600 Same with State Officers Summit, where the state officers can go out to D.C., do those 351 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:14,120 congressional visits so they understand how that works. 352 00:19:14,120 --> 00:19:17,640 That's part of being a leader in your community, right, is to advocate for your community and 353 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,680 for the things that your community needs. 354 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:20,680 Definitely. 355 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:27,720 Hey, listeners, we're taking a quick break to give a special shout out to our friends 356 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:32,400 and episode sponsor over at DK Dorpers. 357 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:37,280 Located in the heart of Galt, California, DK Dorpers is a family farm that's been raising 358 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:41,520 full blood Dorper's sheep since 2014. 359 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:46,320 And let me tell you, they're all about fearless innovation, a value that resonates deeply 360 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,320 with us at Within Range Coaching. 361 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:54,360 They blend the best of U.S. and imported Australian genetics to uphold the Dorper breed standard, 362 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:59,720 ensuring their sheep excel in the show ring, pasture, and in taste. 363 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:04,720 Their sheep are inspected and tagged annually by certified South African inspectors, ensuring 364 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:06,880 you get the best of the best. 365 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,280 So whether you're looking to start your own flock or elevate your breeding program to 366 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:14,400 the next level, DK Dorpers has got you covered. 367 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:19,360 If you're ready to take your farm to the next level, get in touch with Kathy Diaz-Concefid 368 00:20:19,360 --> 00:20:28,480 at 916-956-2657 or drop her an email at dkdorpers at gmail.com. 369 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:33,880 For more information, visit their website at dkdorpers.com or check out their Facebook 370 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:39,560 page and everything is listed down in the description as well for ease of contact. 371 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:46,440 Remember, excellence starts with the best genetics and DK Dorpers delivers just that. 372 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:51,360 Now let's get back to the show. 373 00:20:51,360 --> 00:20:56,600 I guess on the adult, adult-y or adult side of the people that work for FFA, like what 374 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:01,440 is it that you guys, like what is that, I don't want to say like a day in the life, 375 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:06,360 but like the basic challenges, the basic jobs, like I think that that's kind of interesting, 376 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:08,800 but I'm not really sure what question I want to ask there. 377 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:09,800 Sure. 378 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:14,880 So I'll touch a little bit on advocacy and then go a little bit on some other pieces. 379 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,080 So with FFA, we're not, we're apolitical, right? 380 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,040 So we don't, we're nonpartisan. 381 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:26,120 When I talk about advocacy, we're really talking about issues that face our members or agriculture, 382 00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:28,680 such as the current farm bill. 383 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,920 With the farm bill, one of the things that we're asking for is for a position in USDA 384 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,400 that works with the youth organizations. 385 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,340 So like FFA and 4-H. 386 00:21:37,340 --> 00:21:41,520 So I just want your listeners to be clear that we're not taking any political sides, 387 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:43,000 you know, of how the advocacy works. 388 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,880 So that, that's also like a, a very fine line you have to walk, right? 389 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:51,760 Of how do we advocate for our members and make sure that it's not political. 390 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:56,200 So we have a team who does advocacy and also literacy that talks about ag literacy, how 391 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:00,160 we share that ag literacy works on pieces like ag day. 392 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:04,560 We have a whole division, our educational division, which works with our advisors, which 393 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:08,480 helps try and give them resources that they might be able to use in the classroom with 394 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:09,700 their members. 395 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:14,760 Then we have a leadership division who works with our state officers and with our conferences, 396 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:15,800 our leadership conferences. 397 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:20,000 So they figure out what that curriculum looks like, where those conferences are going to 398 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,600 be, hire the facilitators and works with members. 399 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:28,360 And then we have an events division where they coordinate with all those conferences. 400 00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:33,280 And of course, with the convention, which is one of our largest events as, as you know, 401 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:38,720 as you've gone for your listeners who have, who just think it's, oh, just a little convention 402 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,460 to put it in perspective. 403 00:22:40,460 --> 00:22:46,360 We use Lucas oil stadium, bankers life field house, where the Pacers play or played until 404 00:22:46,360 --> 00:22:49,680 they got beat by the Celtics. 405 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:56,640 The Indiana state fairgrounds, seven event hotels, and we book about 120 hotels for that 406 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:58,560 week of convention. 407 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:03,840 So it's a very large event that takes up the entire city and we have a team who works with 408 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,560 all of those venues to make sure we have the facilities that we need. 409 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:12,800 So that's kind of a, an overview of some of the people who touch members every day. 410 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,160 And then of course we have the stuff that doesn't touch members every day, like our 411 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:20,280 finance department and in our IT department that we couldn't do anything without. 412 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:24,200 And then we have our foundation and our foundation works with our corporate sponsors and our 413 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:30,240 individual donors to explain the FFA story and hopefully get support so we can continue 414 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:31,280 to do those programs. 415 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,040 So that's kind of, that's kind of it in a nutshell. 416 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:38,200 I will say that COVID was a little bit of a struggle for all of us. 417 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:39,960 We were all working from home. 418 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,600 The organization was great when we did go back. 419 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:43,600 We did hybrid. 420 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,880 So three days a week we're in and we get to see everybody. 421 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,840 And then two days a week we're still at home. 422 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:53,840 But yeah, it's like I said, 105 people, but those individuals are very busy and we all 423 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,280 have a passion for agriculture and for our members. 424 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,360 Yeah I think that's, that's always so funny to hear. 425 00:23:59,360 --> 00:24:03,600 Because when you're a member or I don't know, an outsider looking in and like seeing all 426 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:08,480 the blue jackets and this and that, like you don't think of the 105 people that are, I 427 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:14,200 guess what the people behind the mission kind of using my own nomenclature there, but that 428 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:15,560 are making it all happen. 429 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:16,560 Right? 430 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,680 Like it's, it's always so fascinating for me to hear like the organizational structure 431 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:23,720 that businesses, nonprofits, et cetera have. 432 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:27,320 Because yeah, I mean, 105 people, it sounds like a ton. 433 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,360 And then once you start kind of getting involved in everything, you're like, okay, that's not 434 00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:34,600 a whole lot for, for a conference that has 75,000. 435 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:40,080 Because isn't FFA total like 300, how many people are in across the nation? 436 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:41,760 Do you know at the top of your head? 437 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:47,960 Currently we're more than 945,000, but we are trending towards a million. 438 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:50,640 That is insane. 439 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:58,000 And what considerations need to be made as the membership grows on a national level? 440 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,360 Cause it's, it's mostly the chapters that would be growing. 441 00:25:00,360 --> 00:25:04,640 So I figured the ag teachers, I'll probably have my ag teacher on at some point, but like 442 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:09,600 what is that significance as you, as you kind of push to a million on the national level? 443 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:10,600 Yeah. 444 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:11,600 A couple of things. 445 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,360 One, definitely there's such a need for ag teachers, right? 446 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:19,920 Because I don't think people understand that our ag teachers are so amazing because yes, 447 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,140 they're teaching, but they're also our FFA advisors. 448 00:25:22,140 --> 00:25:26,360 So they're doing so much outside of the classroom with their FFA members and it's definitely 449 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:28,760 not a nine to five job for them. 450 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,800 And so you run the risk of burnout. 451 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,680 So we really need to make sure that we have that support for them. 452 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:38,960 You know, how can we support our ag advisors and ag education teachers and how can we encourage 453 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,800 those members to go into education? 454 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:47,400 But then the other option is our other avenue we really need to look at is how do we make 455 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,520 sure that all FFA members feel apart, right? 456 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,200 Like how do we make sure that they feel included? 457 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:57,960 And so that's, that's one of our jobs is to make sure that we break down those barriers 458 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,120 so that anybody who wants to be a member can be a member and then make sure that we have 459 00:26:02,120 --> 00:26:03,640 those opportunities, right? 460 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,520 We talked about more than 350 careers in ag. 461 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:11,840 Well, knowing that there's a lot of opportunities for different SAEs, whether it's raising livestock 462 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:17,200 or maybe it's something as like working in a pet store or working at a zoo or we have 463 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:25,640 one young lady, she worked as a whitewater raft guide because that fell under outdoor 464 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:28,840 recreation, which was a proficiency area. 465 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,920 So you know, really letting people know that there's different opportunities there and 466 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:37,240 helping them understand that while also helping them understand the importance of agriculture 467 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:38,880 education. 468 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:43,200 We're growing a lot in urban settings and I think there's a couple reasons for that. 469 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:47,720 I think that people now do have an interest of where their food comes from, right? 470 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:52,860 So there's a lot of opportunities to do greenhouses, rooftop gardens, you know, and really help 471 00:26:52,860 --> 00:26:55,560 people understand where their food comes from. 472 00:26:55,560 --> 00:27:02,240 But also the sciences, science is huge right now, especially like biotechnology and food 473 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:03,240 sciences. 474 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:04,840 So there's also a big push there. 475 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:10,840 So our challenge and our job is to break down those barriers for those members who want 476 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:14,760 to be a part to make sure they're a part and also make sure that they feel welcomed. 477 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:20,600 Yeah, so it sounds like a lot of like diversity inclusion, whether it's, you know, nationalities, 478 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:26,960 skin color, all these, you know, like you were saying from the middle of nowhere town 479 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:31,160 all the way to these metropolitan areas, because I'm sure that those kids are also kind of 480 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:35,880 like, why would I want to be in the farm group, you know, but like you're saying, it's also 481 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:43,840 that diversity and inclusion of careers, of pathways, of titles, jobs, careers, because 482 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:48,440 I know that the way that I kind of saw it in FFA was whatever job you have, you can 483 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,240 argue it for your project, right? 484 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,560 Like there's some way that you could connect it. 485 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:59,240 But even if you're making that stretch and you're fighting and arguing for I felt like 486 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:03,040 that was like a proficiency in and of itself of trying to convince the I teacher that this 487 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:04,040 counts. 488 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,180 I think she kind of played along with it too sometimes. 489 00:28:07,180 --> 00:28:09,740 But you know, you look at it through a different lens. 490 00:28:09,740 --> 00:28:13,400 It's like, how is this actually benefiting me right now? 491 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:18,040 Like okay, well, if I'm working as a cashier in the grocery store, and you're like reading 492 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,360 in the proficiency, like how can I get this to work? 493 00:28:20,360 --> 00:28:24,940 Like you're taking a more active role in it even, which I feel like for kids is also so 494 00:28:24,940 --> 00:28:29,480 important to see the value in every experience. 495 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:30,560 Yeah, absolutely. 496 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:35,440 And everything that you're learning right in that hands on experience is something that 497 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:36,440 you can apply. 498 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:37,520 You know, we really talk about that. 499 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,920 Like I think sometimes we forget those soft skills that are needed. 500 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:44,920 And so so many of those opportunities like working at a grocery store, those are skills 501 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,760 that you can take to other places, right? 502 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:52,280 Because okay, you might think, well, I'm just stocking shelves, or I'm just checking out 503 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:57,720 items, but you're having that interaction with people, you're still having those dialogues, 504 00:28:57,720 --> 00:28:58,960 that connectivity. 505 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:03,320 So there's really a lot of pieces that you're learning as you go along. 506 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:09,580 And those experiences when you're 14, 15, 16, aren't that big of a deal until you're 507 00:29:09,580 --> 00:29:14,160 in your 30s, and you find someone that doesn't have those skills. 508 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:15,160 Correct. 509 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:19,340 And you go, oh my good, how would you mean you don't know how to run a POS, like a point 510 00:29:19,340 --> 00:29:20,340 of sale? 511 00:29:20,340 --> 00:29:23,120 How do you not know how to greet a customer when they walk in? 512 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:24,120 You know what I mean? 513 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:30,320 So it's like you get that leg up because you're having to do these different basic skills 514 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,440 over and over and over again, that I feel like it becomes kind of like what you're saying 515 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:37,000 earlier, like the what is it like the curse of knowledge? 516 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:38,000 Right? 517 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,600 You don't know that people don't know certain things, and it doesn't make sense to you. 518 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,720 But it's like, you didn't know that 10, 15, 20 years ago. 519 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:47,720 Exactly. 520 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:48,720 Exactly. 521 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:49,720 Yeah. 522 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:52,500 And that's the student side, that trajectory. 523 00:29:52,500 --> 00:29:55,600 So you come in as a freshman. 524 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:56,600 I don't know. 525 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:00,560 I felt like that was the biggest thing was that I didn't know all the opportunities that 526 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:05,360 you could do until I was a junior or senior, because there's just so much stuff going on. 527 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,120 You're getting all these different things thrown at you. 528 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,200 And then you're a senior and you're like, well, shoot. 529 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:13,640 Like there's all these other things I could have done. 530 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:14,920 I wish I had more time. 531 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:15,920 But like you don't. 532 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:21,240 And I think that's a great thing about FFA is once you're an alumni, and this is my experience, 533 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:24,420 like there's still opportunity to be involved. 534 00:30:24,420 --> 00:30:25,800 So like, can you kind of touch on that? 535 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:32,400 Like as a alumni or I feel like my fiance, once we move in together and everything, like 536 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,360 she's also I'm going to drag her into something. 537 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:41,560 So even if you weren't in FFA, like what is that that involvement look like from the alumni 538 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:45,480 slash adult side that doesn't necessarily work for the organization? 539 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:46,480 Yeah, absolutely. 540 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:50,360 Well, I'm actually glad you brought that up because our alumni and supporters, we recently 541 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:52,220 changed the name to alumni and supporters. 542 00:30:52,220 --> 00:30:56,880 And that's because if you were not an FFA member, you could still be an alumni. 543 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:02,360 For example, I was not an FFA, but I am a lifetime alumni member. 544 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:06,400 Basically the reason that we did that is we know so many people want to give back. 545 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:10,920 So sure, people can get back monetarily, but if they're in alumni and supporter groups, 546 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:13,320 they can also give back as mentors. 547 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:16,840 A lot of our alumni and supporter chapters work with their local chapters and maybe they 548 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:21,800 go help them to practice for their competitive events or maybe just to travel when they're 549 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:24,440 going to their state convention or to their state conference. 550 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:28,080 So there's so many opportunities for people to give back. 551 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:33,800 And that's also an opportunity also, like if you have a potential SAE for a student, 552 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:34,800 right? 553 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:39,200 Maybe you're like, hey, maybe it's a local veterinarian who has an opportunity for someone 554 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,200 to work in the vet office that they can be like, hey, this opportunities here. 555 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:44,360 Do you have any members who are interested? 556 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:51,800 So as an alumni and supporter, you can really give back and help those members really become 557 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:56,880 part of the community, help with their SAEs, help with their proficiencies. 558 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:58,920 And I think our members appreciate that. 559 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:04,960 I think they appreciate having that adult connection of what their life can look like 560 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:06,920 a little bit after, right? 561 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:12,320 And then I think the other piece too that a lot of alumni and supporters help with, 562 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,720 many of our chapters like to give back to their communities. 563 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,900 I would be remiss if I did talk a little bit about service. 564 00:32:17,900 --> 00:32:21,280 Many of our members have service projects in their community where they give back, whether 565 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:24,120 it's community gardens, working at pantries. 566 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:28,880 We also have a couple who have done dock toys for the local shelters, but you'll have those 567 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:33,400 alumni and supporters who will be there for them to help during those projects, right? 568 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:37,360 Like be there on site with those projects or encourage them of how to get involved. 569 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:43,000 So there's so many opportunities for people to get involved and play a part. 570 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:48,560 So my shameless plug, Ranger, is they can visit FFA.org backslash alumni and supporters 571 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:53,240 and see how they can get involved locally and even nationally to give back and help 572 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:54,240 those FFA members. 573 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:58,920 Sorry, I always try to Google things as people talk about it so that I can kind of see if 574 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:00,960 I see anything of interest. 575 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:05,280 I misspelled something, so I'll do it later. 576 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:11,200 But yeah, and I think that's the, I don't know, there's also such a cool aspect of being 577 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:18,240 able to, when I was in college, when I was in high school, I showed poultry, right? 578 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:23,080 And in college, I worked with one of the local 4-H groups, which is, I'd say it's on the 579 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:26,280 same parallel as FFA, but different, right? 580 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:28,600 And I was the poultry leader for a few years. 581 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:34,360 And I don't know, it was just so funny and cool getting to talk about chickens for hours 582 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:36,620 and hours a week. 583 00:33:36,620 --> 00:33:38,280 And I think that's the fun thing too, right? 584 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:42,440 It's like you get to kind of nerd out with the kids and you know, it's a challenge in 585 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:47,000 and of itself because you take this information that, again, like we were talking about earlier, 586 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:48,760 that is so common. 587 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:53,880 Like I seriously had to explain what a beak is or a comb or the crop. 588 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:59,000 And it's like, those are names that I picked up on my own after a while, but now you have 589 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:05,080 to take all that information and make it appropriate for your audience, which I think is something 590 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:11,100 that, I don't know, not that I didn't do when I was in FFA, but not as intensely as I did 591 00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:16,480 as a supporter and alumni of the organization, right? 592 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:22,720 So it's like, even then there's still so much to learn and throw yourself into essentially. 593 00:34:22,720 --> 00:34:24,240 Yeah, absolutely. 594 00:34:24,240 --> 00:34:28,080 And I think, you know, I'd be remiss if I didn't say as an alumni, I learned a lot from 595 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:29,600 those members too, right? 596 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:30,600 Yeah. 597 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,080 Like it's definitely a two-way street. 598 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:34,600 Yeah. 599 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:39,080 And I think that that's also, it's humbling almost, right? 600 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:40,080 Yes, absolutely. 601 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:44,400 Or it's like, wait, did this kid just teach me something and I'm supposed to be the expert? 602 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:47,160 It's like, how do you manage that now? 603 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:51,840 But yeah, I think that's so fascinating and so interesting. 604 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:56,840 And I guess further on, what am I trying to say with this one? 605 00:34:56,840 --> 00:35:05,240 When it comes to that support and that advocacy, I guess on like the advocacy level, and I 606 00:35:05,240 --> 00:35:09,400 mean, I don't know, I feel like it's like always towing the line of being too political. 607 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:13,920 Like is there a way for folks that are our alumni to get involved in that aspect of it? 608 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:18,800 Maybe volunteer with like the other adults or is that something we leave to the professionals 609 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,880 rather than being hands-on with the kids? 610 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:21,880 You know what I mean? 611 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:22,880 Yeah. 612 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:26,480 I do think that's one that you have to tread really lightly on. 613 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:31,600 So I don't really know if there's a way for the adults to really get involved in that 614 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:32,600 piece. 615 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:39,880 I would say make sure to keep an ear out with your local school boards with the CTE, career 616 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:45,040 technical education, because that's what FFA falls onto is the career and technical education. 617 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:48,800 And so we always say, you know, make, listen and make sure that those programs aren't getting 618 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:49,800 cut. 619 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:53,720 That's probably the best way to advocate, advocate for your FFA chapter and for your 620 00:35:53,720 --> 00:35:54,940 CTEs. 621 00:35:54,940 --> 00:35:58,880 That's the most important because when schools look up budgets, often those are the areas 622 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:00,200 they look at first. 623 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:04,360 So the best way for you to advocate is to be an advocate for agriculture education and 624 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:07,160 FFA and really support career technical education. 625 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:08,160 There we go. 626 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:11,600 I think that's what I was looking to ask for because yeah, I think because again, what 627 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:13,040 is it like with government stuff? 628 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:17,520 It's like the local level is what's most important because that's what directly affects you rather 629 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,800 than the crazy stuff happening on national or international, right? 630 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:21,800 Okay. 631 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:23,480 So I think that's, that's exactly what I was looking for. 632 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,940 So and I don't have kids or anything. 633 00:36:26,940 --> 00:36:32,080 So with that advocacy, is that something that you kind of just pay attention to in the local 634 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:33,080 school board site? 635 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:37,480 Like, do you have to be have a kid actively involved to show up to those or is it kind 636 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:40,040 of just, I know this is important. 637 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:41,320 I believe in this. 638 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:44,560 We should keep this in our county or district or whatever. 639 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:49,160 I would just say most school boards, their agendas are always public. 640 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:50,920 So you can always just kind of keep an eye on it. 641 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:55,240 So in its school board meetings are open to the public unless they're an executive session. 642 00:36:55,240 --> 00:36:58,940 So if there's ever an opportunity where you hear that they're thinking about taking away 643 00:36:58,940 --> 00:37:04,400 some of those CTE classes or FFA classes, just, just get involved and explain, you know, 644 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:09,720 the best way actually to stay involved is volunteer at an FFA chapter as an alumni. 645 00:37:09,720 --> 00:37:12,640 And then you'll know when those things come up and you won't have to worry about looking 646 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:14,520 in the local paper or try to follow. 647 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:18,540 So become involved with your FFA chapter and then you'll know if there's ever an issue 648 00:37:18,540 --> 00:37:21,640 that you need to talk to the school board about. 649 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:22,640 Exactly. 650 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:27,680 And, and with that, my, the veterinary science team that I started, the, it, the, what was 651 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:28,680 it? 652 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:34,120 Not the advisor, the coach, the mentor leader who the adult that knows actually what they're 653 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:40,640 talking about with it was the local veterinarian that I also interned for, for four or five 654 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:43,800 years and she's still involved to this day. 655 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:49,000 So whatever you do, there's, there's some kind of project that you can be involved in. 656 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,560 So yeah, absolutely. 657 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:55,000 But yeah, I think that's a great place to kind of end it is this is, you know, this 658 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:59,920 is what FFA does for students, the career technical education, you know, in the classroom 659 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:05,120 hands on, you know, working for someone, doing your own thing, doing your project, competing, 660 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:11,960 whether it's at the local state, national, whatever level, involvement for alumni and 661 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:15,280 supporters, whether or not you're involved or not, I feel like everybody can kind of 662 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:20,920 understand the importance of being there for students, mentoring them, teaching them these 663 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:27,080 skills and how to maintain that in schools and ensure that this kind of trend continues 664 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:28,600 so that we can hit a million. 665 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:32,280 Is there a projection for the million that you guys know of or? 666 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:37,760 Well, we are hoping, usually we know our new membership numbers in August, so we're hoping 667 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:40,720 come August we'll be able to make a big announcement. 668 00:38:40,720 --> 00:38:43,120 Oh, how exciting. 669 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:44,120 Yeah, awesome. 670 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:48,560 Well, Chrissy, is there anything else that you feel these listeners should know about 671 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:53,120 or one last tidbit they want to walk away with or anything? 672 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:57,480 You know, I would say that we have great stories of our members and if they would like to see 673 00:38:57,480 --> 00:39:01,200 some of those stories, follow us on social media at National FFA. 674 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:06,660 We're on Instagram on X and on Facebook and actually on LinkedIn, too. 675 00:39:06,660 --> 00:39:11,280 So if some people want to really kind of see some of our working with some corporate sponsors, 676 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:12,720 you can you can find us there. 677 00:39:12,720 --> 00:39:16,480 But yeah, follow us on social and if you need a lot more information about us, just visit 678 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:17,480 FFA.org. 679 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:18,480 Perfect. 680 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:20,000 I think that's fantastic. 681 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,940 And as always, all the information is going to be linked down in the show notes, the direct 682 00:39:23,940 --> 00:39:29,480 for your all of your social media accounts, the website donations, et cetera, et cetera. 683 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:33,080 And I'll even put the alumni and supporters link in there as well because I finally found 684 00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:34,080 it. 685 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:35,480 There's dashes in between the words. 686 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:37,080 Oh, oops. 687 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,560 But yeah, awesome. 688 00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:40,960 Kristi, thank you so much. 689 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:47,040 I appreciate your time and I will talk to you guys throughout my journey and I'll probably 690 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:48,040 be on. 691 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:49,040 Wonderful. 692 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:50,040 Ranger, thanks so much. 693 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:51,040 Good luck on your journey. 694 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:52,040 I love following you. 695 00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:55,000 And if you need anything else, you know where I am. 696 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:56,000 Perfect. 697 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:57,000 Thank you. 698 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:58,000 Thanks. 699 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,460 And thank you to our listeners once again for taking time out of your day to listen 700 00:40:00,460 --> 00:40:03,160 to today's episode of the podcast. 701 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:05,280 I personally had a great time talking to Kristi. 702 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:09,960 I felt like I could finally nerd out about the FFA and it was really fascinating for 703 00:40:09,960 --> 00:40:16,960 me to hear the I guess the professional behind the scenes side of it because I feel like 704 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:21,040 as a as a member and alumni, you see very much, you know, the blue jackets, the hands 705 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:22,800 shaking, the baby kissing on that end. 706 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:27,000 But you don't really hear a whole lot about the actual work that goes in to make all the 707 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:28,320 magic happen. 708 00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:32,120 So if you'd like to be a part of that magic, as Kristi said, get involved with your local 709 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:36,760 chapters, get involved with your local organizations, even if you weren't a member before, it's 710 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:43,000 still a great way for you to get into your local community, help support members and 711 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:48,400 high school students as they start to develop the skills that will help them in their future 712 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:49,780 careers. 713 00:40:49,780 --> 00:40:52,480 All their information is going to be down in the show notes. 714 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:56,880 So go ahead and feel free to check them out, their social media, their website, et cetera, 715 00:40:56,880 --> 00:40:57,880 et cetera. 716 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:01,320 And again, a thank you to today's episode sponsor. 717 00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:04,100 Their information will be in the show notes as well. 718 00:41:04,100 --> 00:41:09,440 And if I can ask one last thing of you, it would be for you to give us a rating and review 719 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:13,000 on whatever podcast platform you're listening to. 720 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:16,600 Ratings and reviews go a long way in terms of helping support the mission of the podcast, 721 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:19,760 which is to help more people help more people. 722 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:22,000 So if you can just do that, I would very much appreciate it. 723 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,800 If you've made it this far, I feel like you have something to say about the episode or 724 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:27,240 the podcast in general. 725 00:41:27,240 --> 00:41:30,560 So if you could please do that, I'll be eternally grateful. 726 00:41:30,560 --> 00:41:36,640 If you could share today's episode, I will be sure to share your share on my social media. 727 00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:37,720 Thanks again, guys. 728 00:41:37,720 --> 00:41:41,840 And as always, have fun, stay safe and be yourself. 729 00:41:41,840 --> 00:42:01,920 We'll see you in the next one.