Forever Blue

I pulled on my black tights, put on my skirt and white collared shirt, stepped into my black heels, and asked my sister to help me put my scarf around my neck for the last time. It was a bittersweet morning in Louisville, Kentucky and I was anxious for something that I had been looking forward to for a long time. After finishing getting ready, and packing up all my stuff in the suitcase, I put on my blue corduroy jacket. This jacket may seem like any old uniform that people wear, but to any FFA member, they know it is much more than that.

As we drove from the hotel to the convention, I reminisced about my time as a member of this national organization. I thought about my first day in Ag I and writing down what size of jacket I needed and what I wanted embroidered on the front of it in 2009. I felt that chilly weather that interrupted Barnyard Day in 2010 but having hot chocolate and blankets to warm us up as we waited by my steer for the anxious first graders to come and learn about where their food comes from. I remembered practicing Ag Sales for months for the State CDEs in 2011 and getting silver, but still feeling accomplished achieving the award that I could put on the front of my jacket. I felt the tears go down my face when I told my favorite teacher goodbye after State Convention in 2012 as he left for his new job in Iowa leaving an immense impact on me. I could feel my heart long for the moment when I hung up my jacket with the rest of the graduating seniors in 2013 thinking that it was my last time in my jacket. It is now 2015, and thankfully with one of my best friends, we were ready to enter the convention hall and get situated for the ceremony that had us feel happiness, sadness, excitement, and passion alongside the thousands of other members who know that being engaged in agricultural pursuits is pleasant as well as challenging.

The morning was a blur as it all happened so fast. We were lined up alphabetically by state then by last name. We walked from the holding room to the stage and on the way, we were given our degrees in an envelope, took professional photographs and were told what to do when we had our 3 seconds of glory on stage. I kept thinking to myself, “Don’t trip on stage!” because I had fallen in my heels more than once during the previous week. When I stepped on stage, the lights were shining bright and I shook the National President's hand and got the key, which attached to my chain that is on my jacket. Just like that, I had been rewarded with the highest degree anyone can get in the FFA.

I was extremely blessed with the supporters that were cheering for me that morning. The members and the advisors of the Weld Central FFA welcomed Quade and I to their chapter that we hadn’t been a part of for two years. They made us feel like a part of the family as we traveled from Denver to Nashville to Louisville. I cannot thank them enough for the memories that were made during my first trip to National Convention. Even though Quade wasn’t necessarily cheering for me, he was just as much of a supporter as the rest of them backstage. He is my longest friend and through our days at CCA and Weld Central, we created a bond that cannot be broken. FFA connected us as well as many other things and we challenge each other to be the best. We decided as a pair to fill out our American Degree applications and I am ecstatic we did. Even though our FFA journey is over, our friendship will continue into the future as far as I can see it.

Along with this group, was a lot of my family who values tradition as much as I do. Rhonda drove from Tennessee and surprised me. She had told me a week earlier that she wasn’t going to make it, but just said that to trick me. I don’t get to see her that often so when I do, it is certainly a treat. My Grandma Evelyn and Papa Vernon have strong pride for the FFA. My grandpa was a member himself and this past summer, we found his jacket that says “Prospect Valley” on the back. They hadn’t been to a convention since my dad had attended but they were more than happy to be there to support me. My Grandma Ruth started crying when I saw her afterward because she was so emotional about the wonderful occasion and the fact that I am growing up. She had told me in August that she would make the trek to Kentucky. My sister, Molly, was dressed head to toe like me. She inspires me to reach for my dreams in the agricultural industry as she does the same thing. I only spent one year of high school with her, which meant only one year of FFA. I was so thrilled to spend this time with her as we represented something greater than ourselves. Last but not least, were my parents; I am so thankful for my dad’s time and commitment to FFA as a past state officer and beyond. As a little girl, I would see his pictures and ask him loads of questions about his time of leadership. Not only was my dad an FFA member, but he’s a farmer. He’s feeding the world and is the reason behind this organization. My mom stands by my dad as a farmer’s wife and a farmer’s daughter. They raised me on the farm with the lifestyle that required me to ride with my dad in that red combine every July, watch new born calves be pulled, and pick homegrown pumpkins. That lifestyle that they gave me is the same one that inspires me every day to advocate for American agriculture that can and will stand true to the best traditions of our national life. Without them, their love for agriculture, and most importantly their love for me, I would not be here. As I walked across that stage just as my dad did in 1987 receiving his American Degree, I felt as if I was in his shoes carrying on another tradition.

When I registered for the 88th National FFA Convention, I was asked, “What does receiving the American Degree mean to you?” I said, “Receiving the American Degree means that I am now a part of the prestigious few that get their highest degree in FFA. Receiving the American Degree means I can hang it up in my future Agricultural classroom and while I teach my students, they can see it and create that dream for themselves. Receiving the American degree means I can represent blue and gold for the rest of my life encouraging leadership, respect, and responsibility while advocating for the agricultural industry.” I believe that agriculture has shaped me into who I am today and I am indebted to the National FFA Organization for making me dream big and helping me see my potential as a person who will always remain, forever blue.