National FFA Week: Looking Back & Looking Forward

Happy National FFA Week everyone!

 

Whether you were an FFA member or not, this week is special in that people across the country are all celebrating American Agriculture and the continuing of educating our youth about it. For those of us who were always extremely involved in our home chapter’s FFA Week activities, this week can serve as a sad reality that yes, “I really am growing up.” We went from one year leading multiple philanthropy events, fundraisers, and workshops, to studying for the next test and making it through the first year of college. The first year I spent this week as a college student, there was a feeling of disconnect.  I felt like I was losing a part of myself since FFA was gone. I decided my friends at school didn’t understand, and that there was nothing that could fill that hole being an FFA member left behind. I couldn’t have been more wrong. For all of you new college students dwelling in what FFA and 4-H “was” for you, I’m here to tell you what they still ARE for you.

1.      It’s not actually over.

No, you can’t compete in Parliamentary procedure anymore or go to monthly meetings, but there are a lot of things you still can do as a college student. For FFA members, you are still eligible to show livestock, submit Supervised Agricultural Experience Proficiencies (SAEs) and apply for your American Degree. For 4-H members you can still attend State Conference, show at your county fair one more time, and be a Teen Leader at 4-H camp. There are always more activities to participate in just talk to your county agent or advisor and keep going!

2.      Become an active alumni.

Wow, that word made you feel old right? Well as much as I hate to say it, the day you graduated high school you became the alum of numerous organizations. But push away that negative connotation of the word and look at it just like a milestone- a sign of hard work to become the person you are today who will accomplish great things. Being an alumni is your chance to give back and help those after you have the opportunities you had. Even if you’re the definition of a broke college student, find a way to give back whenever you can. Send an encouraging text, stop by a practice when you are in for a weekend, or even volunteer with another chapter or extension office.  Anything you do will mean something to those members, teachers and agents.

3.      Join something new.

College gives us the opportunity to not only expand on what we enjoyed in high school but also to really find out more about ourselves. So maybe your college doesn’t have Collegiate 4-H or FFA. Joining organizations that aren’t identical to the clubs you were a part of in high school gives you the chance to find new interests and find that group of people that can be your support group and feel like family, just like you have had in years past.

4.      Share what you have gained.

You know how you can’t stop talking about all the awesome things FFA did for you or how you wouldn’t be the person you are today without 4-H? Well why not share this with others. Those new organizations you are joining are looking for passionate, hard working and strong willed people just like you to get active in their club and take future leadership positions. Why mope about what you miss when you can start planning for what you are going to implement to make your new organization even better? Be that active new member who isn’t afraid to speak up in front of the group and can work with any team. You’ll be amazed at how much joy can be attained just by finding your place and sharing your ideas. 

5.      Become an AGvocate.

Okay... the play on words may be cheesy, but the longer you are in college the more you will understand the increasing need for more of these. AGvocates are those that simply advocate for the agricultural industry. This seems like a quite a job for just a college 19-20 year old student but our voice is more important than you know. It’s the small things that can make the biggest difference. Using social media to highlight the positive side of our industry, such as posting pictures of feeding hay or tweeting about vaccinating your weaned pigs, every little bit helps. We don’t have to inform the world about agriculture all at once. We can start with our peers, the future consumers, and work our way up from there.  Use social media to also learn how others are being Agvocates and share others' experiences.    

I hope these tips help you to make it through National FFA Week with a more positive and enthusiastic outlook. Remember the more involved and immersed you get within your college and organizations the better your overall experience will be. The National FFA Organization and 4-H have given you these skills and experiences for you to share with others- don’t let them down!

Renee is a sophomore from Princeton, Kentucky and is studying Agricultural Economics.  She was involved in FFA and other activities in high school, and has involved herself as a CAFE Ambassador, a member of Sigma Alpha, Block and Bridle and other activities at UK.  

It’s always a good time in the COA

I "CatPaw" UK Ag!

April 18, 2013 marked a very eventful day in the UK College of Agriculture, as not one, but two incredible events took place, extending from Commonwealth stadium to the E.S. Goodbarn, and even across Cooper to the Seay Auditorium in Ag. North. UK Field Day was first to the plate, including hundreds of agriculturally-minded students in FFA and/or 4H from all over the state that were prepped and anxious to gain the competitive edge over the other contestants. Events included livestock judging, weed and seed identification, tractor driving, auctioneering, and much more. Between the competitions, the high school students enjoyed some pretty tasty burgers and were able to learn about the numerous opportunities available to them in the College of Agriculture if, or hopefully when, they become freshmen at UK. The event was a huge success for both the college and the visiting schools.

Next up to bat was the annual Ag. Bash, sponsored by the Ag. Student Council and the UK SGA. The event was open to any and all students in the college, and the first 100 students that made a donation to the Ronald McDonald House received a pretty swanky lime green UK Ag. T-shirt. Not to mention, food was in full array, including donations from Chipotle, Qdoba, Wal-Mart, Subway, Cane’s, and the infamous Ale-8. The ginormous steak burrito I enjoyed sure did hit the spot! Also, the entertainment for the event was incredible, featuring the Brown Brothers Band, who sure knew how to get your feet tappin’ and your hands clappin’. It was such a fun event, and the company wasn’t too shabby, either!  Here's a video of the last song as some Ag Student Council members celebrated!

One of the best parts of the College of Agriculture is that days like this are not a rarity. In fact, it’s more of a rarity when there isn’t a campus event going on during the week. This makes for one of the coolest atmospheres on the campus, where every student is passionate about their futures and look forward to networking and taking leadership roles on a weekly basis, not just every now and then. Being a sophomore, I now realize why I have had such a successful past two years here at UK--it’s all about the people I’m constantly surrounded by and the opportunities presented to me by the college. I never thought in a hundred years that I would be giving tours to prospective students or representing the college as a senator for student government. I am beyond amazed where the College of Agriculture has taken me thus far, and how many awesome opportunities are available to us if we merely open our eyes to them. 

What gets me the most excited is realizing that I still have two whole years to be an ag. student, and there’s no limit to what I can accomplish during the time.

Alex is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Biotechnology and is also pre-med.  He is from Eddyville, Kentucky.

See Blue…and Blue Jackets!!!

When the last full week in October rolls around, memories start flowing back into my mind. Last week,  people from all over the United Sates boarded airplanes or made road trips to Indianapolis, Indiana for the National FFA Convention.  I have been in FFA since I was a freshman in high school and I am still a member to this day.  This years’ National FFA Convention was a special one for me because I received my American Degree, which is the highest degree that an FFA member can obtain. It requires dedication, hard work, and a passion for agriculture. FFA has made an everlasting impact on my life. It has made me the person I am today. Whether I was competing on my chapter’s Parliamentary Procedure Team, saying an impromptu speech, or trying to see if I could meet at least one person from every state, I loved every moment! The words “I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years…” are permanently implemented in my head, as I’m sure they are for many people. The adrenaline rush that each and every one of you get when you are in the mist of competing is priceless!  

 

                However, you don’t have to be in high school in order to enjoy the atmosphere of convention. Colleges and companies from every part of the United States attend convention in search of students and employees. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture was there this year in search of blue jackets that want to become a Wildcat! The College of Agriculture Ambassadors and UK Ag Education students worked the UK booth all week.  Not only can people check out colleges that they may be interested in, but college students can look into graduate school or even start networking to line up a job for after graduation.  There are numerous opportunities that are given at the National FFA Convention.  I hope you took advantage of them. Even though I am unable to attend convention as a College of Agriculture Ambassador this year, I know that those who went had a blast!   

As a Kentuckian, I am proud to say that the Convention comes back to Louisville next year!  I hope Louisville is prepared to be flooded with a sea of blue jackets once again! Maybe after their interactions last week and in the years to come, many will want to continue to “see blue.” at the University of Kentucky!

Congrats to Joenelle Futrell & OTHERS on being named a National FFA Officer!

On a side note, we are excited that one of our own Wildcats was chosen to serve as the 2012-2013 National FFA Eastern Region Vice-President.  Joenelle Futrell will serve Kentucky and the nation as she and five other National Officers will lead the 550,000+ member organization for the next year.  During her year of service, she will travel over 100,000 miles and have the opportunity to speak to thousands of FFA members and interact with agriculture, education, and government officials.  She is the eleventh National FFA Officer from Kentucky and the first female National FFA Officer from Kentucky.   Futrell is a member of the Daviess County FFA Chapter and is a junior at the University of Kentucky where she is majoring in Agricultural Education.

 Hanna is a senior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Agricultural Biotechnology.  She is from Chaplin, Kentucky.  Her goal is to attend pharmacy school.  She is involved with UK Block & Bridle, and is a COA Agricultural Ambassador. Hanna also received her FFA American Degree. 

Calling All Employable Students!

All college students have one thing in common: they want a job when they graduate.  

 But not just any job- they want THE job.  They want the one that jump starts their career and takes them wherever it is that they want to go.  Unfortunately, many of college students are not sure where to look in order to find THE job.  In all actuality, they may not even be sure what field they want to enter.  

Never fear, fellow students, there is hope for those of us who are unsure what field we want to enter or where to look for our dream jobs!  There is an opportunity that comes here, to campus, in order to help you find what you are searching for.  Each fall, the College of Agriculture holds a Career Fair, in which representatives from different agricultural fields come to tell you about the opportunities their businesses can offer you as an employee.  These career fairs give students the opportunity to learn about many different industries, career options, and internship options all at the same time.  This semester, the fall College of Agriculture Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 23^rd, from 12:00-4:00 pm in the E.S. Good Barn.  All students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity!

Before you head out to the career fair, it is important to remember a few things.  You are an investment to an employer, and they will choose the best investment.  Prove you are that investment by following these tips:  Number 1: Dress to impress in business attire!  You will be meeting potential employers and it is important to make a great first impression. 

 Number 2: Do not forget your resume!  You could have a phenomenal conversation with an employer at the fair, but they may not remember you from among the crowd unless you give them something as a reminder.  This is where the resume comes in.  The employer will look at your resume after the career fair, and if they like what they see, it may lead to an interview or job/internship offer.   

Number 3: Get their contact information!  Follow up is extremely important when searching for a job.  After visiting the career fair, write an email to the companies you are interested in, and thank them for coming to the career fair.  Tell them what you liked about their company, and inquire about any open positions or internships that they may have.  

So, brush up your resume, iron your business attire, and write Tuesday, October 23^rd down in your agenda as the opportunity to find your career!  Maybe you'll see me from 12:00-4:00 pm at the E. S. Good Barn!

- Kendall

 Kendall, is a first year ambassador from Georgetown, Kentucky.  She is an Agricultural Education junior.  She is a student worker with the National Association of Agricultural Educators.  Kendall is immediate past Kentucky FFA President. 

August is Pretty Much Kentucky's Best Month (tied closely with 11 other ones)

It’s August.  That means two things in Kentucky that are near and dear to me: the Kentucky State Fair and the start of UK’s fall semester.

The KY State Fair Bears

I’ve been going to the Kentucky State Fair since I was a child.  I remember the smell of the food stands, the obligatory picture with Fair and Faira Bear (which I loved), riding a few rides, walking through the livestock barns to visit people we knew, and going to 4-H Cloverville to check out how my 4-H projects did.  The Kentucky State Fair has been in business since 1902 and is one of the best (well….best in my opinion) fairs in the country.  Being a 4-H member, it was a pilgrimage making the trip from Monroe County to Louisville to see how my entomology project had done, how was our tobacco entry compared to others across the state, or if my brother’s woodworking project  got a blue ribbon.  We loved our time in Cloverville, but the fair was always about celebrating this great state: our food, our culture and heritage, our talents, and for a young 4-H or FFA member, our dreams.  The fair is a great melting pot for our diverse state.  No matter if you are from Paintsville or Princeton, Tompkinsville or Covington (this was a really hard decision to pick four city names), we are all proud citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the next few weeks- and beyond.  The fair runs August 16-26 and I hope you have plans to attend.  Check out their website to plan your visit and see the wonders that are the State Fair.  I’ll be there with my Kentucky bells on.

August also means that it’s time for classes to begin at the University of Kentucky, and other colleges, too.  One of my favorite sounds is the Wildcat marching band practicing the UK Fight Song across campus on Stoll Field.  On a good day, like yesterday, I could hear it when I went home from work.  Classes begin here August 22^nd and campus is abuzz with students here for sorority recruitment, RA training, and now K-Week.  If you don’t know what K-Week is, do yourself a favor and check out their website.  The basic gist of this week is that it is the OFFICIAL orientation to being a Wildcat wrapped into over 200 events and sets the stage for a truly great year.  There’s free food for days.  One student told me that if you paid for food during K-Week, you weren’t doing something right- and I totally agree.  We are having New Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 21 at 1:30 PM in Seay Auditorium of the Ag North Building.  If you are one of our incoming students into the College and reading this, you will want to be there.  You can meet faculty and staff, students and even the Dean.  With the start of classes also means football season and the excitement of the fall semester.   

We’ll leave all of that excitement for another post.  Keep on rocking in the free world.....

- Jason Headrick

Jason Headrick is the director of student relations in the UK College of Agriculture.  He works with prospective students & families with admissions and the college selection process.  His email address is jason.headrick@uky.edu.  

Spring is in full bloom for the Cats

The students at UK always anticipate the Spring Semester. It is filled with midterm exams, spring break and of course the “Madness of March!” As we all know, we achieved the infamous “number 8” as the Men’s NCAA National Champions. But with all of these exciting events, the College of Ag students are definitely not passing up a chance to keep busy by planning many exciting events for the spring.  So nonetheless, these Ag Cats are staying crazy.

Last week, our Ag Student Council hosted Ag Bash and it was an awesome event! Ag Bash is fun, exciting and a great way to wind down the semester before finals. Live music was performed by Hannah Ellis and there were games, free food and t-shirts. Hannah Ellis is a current student at UK; she graduated from Taylor County High School and is a fantastic singer who has toured and performed at all types of venues.  We had around 250 of our students come out and enjoy the weather and games. During the Ag Bash, we collected donations for the Ronald McDonald House. Items included shampoo, conditioner, soap, mouthwash, dental floss and other personal items.

This week, we are planning a large event on the main UK campus called Agriculture Awareness Day.  The event will be held this Wednesday, April 18 from 9 AM to 2 PM.  Ag Awareness Day will be located in the area around Memorial Hall and one of our College buildings, Erikson Hall.  Booths and displays will be set up and our main goal in the day is to educate the University community about the ag industry and the true impact it has on their day, share the positive message and encourage self- education of agriculture to everyone at UK and beyond. Numerous clubs will have booths set up around the area with different activities and information about agriculture and even the history on UK. What better way to become involved on campus then to come visit the Ag Awareness Day! There will be food, interesting facts, t-shirts and much more.

The spring semester always flies by way too fast. With Spring Break, exams and, of course, cheering on the Cats, this semester will be over before we know it.  If you ever have any questions about an event or the College of Agriculture, please check us out online at www.ca.uky.edu, or even like us on Facebook. I hope to see you at Ag Awareness Day this week!

Amanda is a junior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Agricultural Economics.  She is from Georgetown, Kentucky.  Amanda is a member of UK Agribusiness Club, UK Ag Student Council, is a COA Agricultural Ambassador, Past Kentucky FFA State Officer, and is an intern for the Kentucky Beef Council.