STEP UP AND TAKE ACTION page 1 PURSUING INTEGRITY page 4

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Turning Social Media

Adventures in Argentina

March 2013 | Volume 11, Issue 04

In each issue of Bright Ideas, you’ve had the chance to get to know the members of the National FFA Organization’s staff who make state officer programs function. In this last issue, we’re introducing you to the remainder of the team.

GEOFFREY MILLER

I started working at FFA in January 2011 after graduating from Indiana University in 2010. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in business. I first got involved in FFA in high school. Later, I served as an Indiana state FFA officer and interned for three years in the National FFA Convention & Expo newsroom.

I help state officer programs with communications-related projects. My experience includes managing design and production of printed materials, creating news releases, photographing events and working with media to tell the story of state officers. I’ve assisted at State Presidents’ Conference and delivered workshops to help develop communications skills for state officers.

When I’m not working for FFA, I moonlight as a racing reporter part-time for Yahoo! Sports and have covered big races such as the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. I’m a big Cincinnati Reds fan and spend far too much time pondering lineup decisions. I eat too many chicken wings and enjoy working on my car with growing mechanic skills. I don’t like olives and my best song on Rock Band is one by Alanis Morissette.

KATY MUMAW

Hi! I’m Katy Mumaw, originally from the Buckeye State. I have been with the National FFA Organization for five years. Prior to landing a job here, I majored in agricultural communications at The Ohio State University and worked for the Ohio State Extension Office. I am directly engaged in the development of the educational content for the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers and the State Presidents’ Conference. I also play a role in collegiate programs, Washington Leadership Conference and several national FFA awards and recognition programs among other development projects.

Away from the office, I spend as much time as possible with my husband, Jonny, and our beautiful baby girl, Claire. She is now six months old and is simply a delight. I enjoy watching sports, staying active and participating in church activities when I’m not working on my masters in agricultural leadership from Oklahoma State University (the other OSU). I hope that this past year has been a rewarding experience for you as you get closer to your state convention.

AMBRA TENNERY

My name is Ambra Tennery, and while I have only been with the National FFA Organization for a short time, my past, present and future are led by my passion and love for agriculture. I attended Purdue University where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. After graduating, I began my eight-year journey as a teacher in central Indiana. This past year, I earned my master’s degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction. Since joining national staff, I have been awarded the opportunity to work with Blast Off, the National Leadership Conference for State Officers, 212°/360°, career development events, American FFA Degrees, proficiencies and the Chapter Challenge.

I have been beyond blessed with a husband and three kids: Blaine (7), Branson (4) and Brinley (2). Yes, the youngest is a girl, so her two big brothers definitely protect and toughen her up as well. When I am not playing make believe, jumping on a trampoline, having tea parties and separating sibling rivalries, you can find me reading, working on my landscape or just sitting on my front porch with a cup of coffee.

JULIE WOODARD

Greetings from Indianapolis. My name is Julie Woodard, and I’m the organization’s publications manager. I started working for FFA in 2006 and have a degree in journalism from Indiana University. I’m mainly responsible for the start-to-finish production of FFA New Horizons and our new monthly e-newsletter FFA Pulse (sign up now in AgCN if you haven’t already). I also help Shane Jacques with Bright Ideas, which is one of my favorite publications to read. What great info! I learn so much each issue.

When I’m not at 6060 FFA Drive, I’m at home with my wonderful husband Sherman, our two daughters—13-year-old Sierra and 10-year-old Mackenzie—and our 125-pound, 3-year-old German Shepherd, Logan. I love to read suspense and mystery novels, watch movies and hang out with family and friends.

@stateofficerguy on.fb.me/stateofficers FFA.org/stateofficers

n the last two issues of Bright Ideas, we discussed important steps you should take in order to be educated about agricultural issues and how to communicate your point-of-view.

So let’s bring it to life! How will you take action to help build the brand and reputation of FFA and agriculture?

Think strategically about opportunities you have this year to advocate. Perhaps you can have information sessions at your state convention about agricultural issues. You can involve industry and stakeholder groups representing all interests on the topic. Or perhaps you could dedicate one session of a state leadership conference to advocacy or an agricultural “hot topic.” Be prepared for those one-on-one conversations with strangers where you can tell a story and direct them to trusted sources for more information on the topic they are interested in.

Let’s think through an example. You sit down next to a woman on a plane and she asks the flight attendant for a glass of apple juice… “with no high fructose corn syrup, please.” When you start to engage in friendly conversation with her and she asks about the blue corduroy jacket, she likely isn’t going to care to hear about how modern farming is critical to feeding the world’s growing population. Instead, you might make a connection by telling her about the community garden your chapter started or about the Agricultural Issues Career Development Event, where students debate important current issues. Sharing an experience makes your message authentic. Build your voice and confidence by telling your story about your experience in FFA and agricultural education. It’s always a good place to start.

Not all of us have the opportunity to connect with strangers on the topic of agriculture every day or to engage a large audience or have a platform to speak from. But advocacy also happens with people you’ve known for a long time. It can be eloquently responding to Facebook posts or sharing interesting articles over Twitter with your followers.

Advocacy takes many forms and will be an important component in shaping the leader you choose to be—even after you take off your jacket at the end of your year. Your experiences in this organization will have forever changed you. Use the skills FFA has helped hone in you to continue advocating long after the jacket comes off. Find different ways to advocate in the appropriate situation and setting, and you’ll build not only the reputation of FFA but also your own reputation as a leader.

I

Anne Knapke has seven years of professional experience in international agricultural development and trade and is currently pursuing her masters in international development economics and social welfare policy at the University of Chicago. She served as a state and national officer and continues to facilitate leadership trainings for FFA and other organizations. Originally from Ohio, she now resides in Chicago, Ill.

ADVOCATING FOR AGRICULTUREWant to be an advocate? Step up and take action.by Anne Knapke

1Bright Ideas • Volume 11, Issue 4

By this point, we’ve been through a lot together. Our teams have facilitated workshops, visited sponsors, “formed, stormed, normed and performed” and now it’s time to prepare to adjourn. Cue group, “Awwww.”

Looking forward, we have a couple of options.

1. Plaster on the ugly cry face and sob uncontrollably.

2. Post depressing or cliché status updates every 3.4 minutes.

3. Check out and start planning life after FFA.

4. Finish strong and squeeze as many memories out of these last few months as possible.

SurvivingA StAte FFA OFFicer’S SurvivAl Guide

HOMESTRETCH

THE

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by Alex Schnabelrauch

areas or pursuing futures in different industries. And truthfully, we might not all be best friends. But no matter what, this past year connects us. Will the relationships we’ve worked so hard to nurture through honest support come and go like mullets as fashion statements?

Sure, branching out is inevitable. But disconnecting is a choice. The time to lay a foundation for consistent communication is now. If we don’t reaffirm and strengthen our bonds, we never will and may sacrifice long-term support from our greatest cheerleaders, coaches and accountability partners.

It’s also primetime to get in touch with stand-out members and stakeholders. Send a Facebook message wishing them good luck at state competition. Mail notes to supportive, innovative teachers thanking them for the chance to tour their facilities. Follow up with a sponsor to thank them for their support and inquire about internship opportunities. Again, if we don’t invest time in these relationships now, they won’t survive the hectic transition we’re about to experience.

GO OUT WITh A BANG

I’m not talking about fireworks or a flash mob at state convention. Rather, have you thought about what your last visit before state convention will be? Be intentional and schedule one last chapter visit the week before convention prep begins. Maybe you pick a chapter you’ve never been to or go back to one of your favorites. Regardless, take time to plan one final interaction with members before entering convention mode. I can assure you, you will always remember your last chapter visit.

It might be tempting to just coast through the last few months and do what’s always been done. Yeah, that’s easy. But is it the best? Of course we could just read the same career development event description last year’s officers read. Or we could rewrite it adding our own flair and personality. Everyone expects the state officers to talk about how much they’ve accomplished in their retiring address. But does it mean more to talk about ourselves or a stellar member? Make state convention—your last responsibility— a testament to your team’s legacy.

While the end of our state officer year can be a little stressful—planning for convention, finishing up college and planning for “life without blue corduroy”

—getting and giving the most during the homestretch takes intentional planning and commitment. But who has time to sit and, like Aristotle, philosophize how to make these last few months a-ma-zing? Well me of course!

So here’s my two cents on how to make these last few months the best part of your state officer experience.

REFOCUS

The National Leadership Conference for State Officers seems like forever ago, right?! For some of us, that might have

been the last time we discussed our big-picture goals. As the year comes to a

close, it might seem like it’s too late to make plans or accomplish those audacious goals.

Newsflash: It’s not over until the sappy Rascal Flatts song plays!

It might seem like your year is practically over, that it’s time to move on. But remember, our year of service is just that —a year. One day fewer than 365 would

cheat us and our members. By taking time to refocus on our team’s vision and mission statement (Pop quiz: Do you remember yours?) we can squeeze the most out of the time we have left. It never hurts to revisit the playbook in the fourth quarter. With one final push of united purpose, dedication and drive, who knows what your team can accomplish! Plus we can use these optimistic, unhindered plans to help set a tone and course for state convention, realigning our team’s single, common legacy.

TAKE TIME TO RECONNECT

Wrapping up our state officer year doesn’t just mean we’re kicked off the gravy train of expense reports. We’re also not guaranteed to see our teammates every month. After convention, we might be going to different universities, starting jobs in other

PLAN FOR AC

This might seem to contradict some of my other points, but the best way to avoid the after-convention (AC) depression is realizing life doesn’t end with FFA. Don’t get me wrong, we’re part of a phenomenal life-changing organization. But there are many other routes to serve others. Our jackets may change, but our hearts don’t have to.

Find an internship. Take a look at corporate websites, visit your university’s career fair, email FFA sponsors or check out the Agricultural Career Network on FFA.org. Go back home for the summer to work on the family farm or for a local business.

Whatever your preference, make an AC plan because, rest assured, state convention won’t be the end of the world. Find ways to put all the skills you’ve honed and talents you’ve realized to work and commit to a lifetime of service, leadership and growth.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out opportunities to reconnect with FFA after your hang up your jacket (hint: FFA Alumni and Collegiate FFA)!

I ThINK YOU CAN GUESS WhICh OPTION I’LL CENTER ON.

Alex Schnabelrauch is the communications coordinator for the Michigan Milk Producers Association, a farmer-owned cooperative serving 2,100 members in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio. She served as a state and national FFA officer and has facilitated various conferences with FFA. Alex enjoys spending time with her family in mid-Michigan and traveling to visit friends.

3Bright Ideas • Volume 11, Issue 4

Pursuing integrityby Barrett Keene

Displaying honesty and integrity in our words and actions should be simple, but it isn’t. When have you found yourself telling a straight-up lie or lying when there wasn’t a reason to lie? Do you ever miss deadlines or fail to follow through on commitments?

In the previous issue of Bright Ideas, we focused on integrity and why it is important in our development and effectiveness as leaders. Based on research by Professor Tony Simons at Cornell University, we defined integrity as the fit between words and actions, as seen by others. It means keeping your promises and consistently living the values you profess.

Dr. Jim Kouzes, one of the world’s most well-respected leadership experts, describes doing what you say you will do (DWYSYWD) as “the most important leadership lesson you’ll ever learn.” There are several ways we can move toward creating a stronger reality and the perception of a strong bond between our words and our actions. While the largest source of internal growth in my life comes from my faith, there are three concrete steps we can all take to bring about growth in this crucial area:

1. Accept the challenge with humility.

The struggle to keep our promises and live the way we challenge and encourage others to live is difficult for every leader. Your influence will unquestionably be enhanced more by a humble and tenacious desire to grow than by attempts to convince others that you are not really as bad as they may think.

Keeping our word only gets more challenging as we continue to move into more demanding leadership roles because we have increasingly diverse demands. Right now, you are attempting to serve and appease your family, your state staff, your teammates, perhaps your professors, your members, and your friends. How’s that working for you?

Maintaining perfection in our integrity is also impossible when we are passionately pursuing growth as a leader. Since working toward the ideals of being servant-hearted, living with excellence, speaking hard truths with love and more takes time and persistence, gaps between how you desire to live (as well as how you encourage members to live) and how you actually live will diverge. We have and will fall short. Be honest and authentic with others in your pursuit of growth, even when it is hard. Modeling the humility and tenacity

involved in true growth can help liberate the members in your state from sources of insecurity and self-consciousness as you emerge from your own.

2. Promise less and deliver more often.

Have you ever expressed nervousness about an exciting opportunity or daunting challenge and the person you were talking to said they could help or even take care of the situation, but they failed to come through for you? There is definite wisdom in Ecclesiastes 5:5, which reads, “It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” We can easily make promises we cannot keep, especially if there is a chance that we might be able to impress the person we are talking to with our influence, connections and overall awesomeness. Our tendency to overcommit is made even worse when the people we are talking to are having a tough time or we are feeling guilty about something. To keep from “writing checks that cannot be cashed,” try the following:

• Don’t try to act like a baller unless you roll like that; in which case, ball so hard!

• Be very clear about what you know you can do as well as the limitations and sources of uncertainty that might prevent you from being able to fulfill your commitment. This is applicable whether you are doing someone a favor or attempting to schedule time to hang out. This is crucial because it is amazing how two people can hear the same exact words yet “hear” something completely different. The FFA advisor who put me on the program to speak at her banquet was no less angry and embarrassed because she wrongly understood that I was coming. As the leader, I should have taken the responsibility to make sure we communicated 100 percent.

• Ask the following two questions before you commit to something:

– Do I really want to do what it will take to fulfill this commitment?

– Am I able to guarantee that I can make this happen despite any variables in the situation?

Remember that your credibility is the foundation of your leadership.

3. Apologize.

Dr. Simons provides three suggestions we should keep in mind when we are apologizing:

1. Apologize and ask for an extension well ahead of time if you see a deadline you probably will not meet or a promise you will not be able to keep.

2. Acknowledge that you made a promise and failed to deliver.

3. Attempt to repair the relationship and work hard to keep it from recurring.

We end with a quote from Dr. Kouzes: “Here’s the punch line: If you walk the talk, practice what you preach, stand up for your beliefs, put your money where your mouth is, follow through on your promises—do what you say you will do—your business will make more money. You will also be more trusted, more powerful, more personally successful; have more loyal and committed people; and be more at peace with yourself.”

Leadership from the inside oUt:

Barrett Keene is a past state and national officer from Florida. He is currently a Ph.D. student focusing on leadership at Cornell University. Since January 2012, Barrett has been walking across the country raising awareness for The Global Orphan Project. He can be contacted at blk56@cornell.edu or through BarrettKeene.com.

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As Miami’s beaches faded into the distance, the 2013 International Leadership Seminar for State Officers to Argentina had officially come to an end. State officers were no longer playing games of charades-Spanglish in an attempt to order a steak or ask where the bathroom is. Tans (or burns) were deeply set, awesome experiences were tucked away and blogs were written. We were all safely on our way home.

Our travels may be behind us, but our trip would never have happened without the generous support of Bunge North America. Formed in the early 1900s, they are a food and agriculture company committed to improving agribusiness and the food production chain. By partnering to develop state officers, Bunge realizes the value of FFA and ILSSO.

Bunge’s support wasn’t limited to the United States, however. Co-owned by Bunge, the Terminal Six grain terminal is half a world away on the Parana River, outside the city of Rosario, in Argentina. T6 is home to numerous enterprises and state-of-the-art facilities. The impressive operation crushed 19 percent of Argentina’s soybeans in 2008. This visit was proof that our industry still has a lot to learn from

others. “Better days through better ways” isn’t just an American ideal. Argentina, just like the United States, is working to feed the world. Just as Argentine agriculture can learn from us, so too can we learn from Argentina.

During our trip, we saw many wonders. Fifteen hundred cubic meters of water plunge over Iguazú Falls per second. The most magnificent portion of the falls is affectionately dubbed “the Devil’s Throat.” As our posse stood peering over the precipice, I realized just how much I haven’t experienced. There are cultures, places and facets to this world we have yet to discover. As state officers, we set the tone for our members. Just like our ILSSO group did at Iguazú, discover the world, be it your physical surroundings or a wilderness within.

And the experiences! Getting our bus stuck in rural Argentina? Check it off the bucket list! A sheep farmer we had just visited had to hook his tractor to the bus and pull as we gentlemen pushed on the other end. Although it may not have been a scheduled part of our trip, people pitched in just like they would have in hometown USA.

Despite the differences between our countries, the similarities struck me the most. From the hospitality shown to us by Mr. Calderon at his crop and beef farm to the pride seen in the dairy farmers who kept a clean parlor, the values stowed in the rural lifestyle transcended the contrasts. People everywhere are people anywhere.

There isn’t enough room in Bright Ideas to detail going to the cattle market, visiting our U.S. ambassador’s residence, seeing a Gaucho show, cruising the Parana River, and learning from our wonderful guides Jorge Cazenave and Jorge Cazenave (yes, you read that correctly). The many lessons and friendships created will linger well beyond our year of service. The trip may be over, but if our associations keep learning, living, teaching and growing, ILSSO need not “officially come to an end.”

Nathan Daninger is the 2012-2013 Minnesota FFA State Treasurer and one of 71 participants in the 2013 International Leadership Seminar for State Officers. A member of the Forest Lake FFA Chapter, Nathan is a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in agricultural education.

ILSSO DE •FINEDverb 1. The act of state FFA officers exploring, living and experiencing Argentina.by Nathan Daninger

5Bright Ideas • Volume 11, Issue 4

Walking toward wisdomby Jill Casten

One of my favorite lines from the official FFA opening ceremony is spoken by the advisor. When I hear the words, “…I hope that my advice will always be based on true knowledge and ripened with wisdom,” they invoke a picture of honor and reverence for me. Perhaps it is because of my FFA background that I correlate wisdom with great leadership, but one thing I can confirm: Wisdom separates the average from the great.

As with the previous articles in this series, which are based on the book Great leaders GrOW: Becoming a leader for life, co-author Ken Blanchard presents his acronym, GROW as four ways we can continue to develop as leaders. The “G” stands for gaining knowledge, followed by “R,” representing the opportunity to reach out to others. The “O” corresponds with opening your world. Now we come to the capstone that pulls it all together: “W,” walking toward wisdom.

When looking at all four concepts and their approach to leadership, it seems as if wisdom is an outcome of all the components of GROW. However, wisdom is not a guarantee. A leader who walks toward wisdom is one who appropriately applies his or her skills, knowledge, experience and personality. This encompasses knowing your strengths and seeking those opportunities that will put your strengths to work. It also means approaching leadership

with an authentic self and not trying to be anything you are not. Additionally, this element of GROW is much deeper than others. Wisdom is different from knowledge. Many of us can learn and gain knowledge quite easily, but it is how you apply this knowledge and put it to work that makes you wise.

There are several things you can incorporate into your leadership development that will help you in your walk toward wisdom. First, walking toward wisdom involves self-evaluation and reflection. Whether you take the time daily or in other purposeful ways, seek the opportunity to self-evaluate after a big project, long day or even a short interaction. It is how we handle those moments and learn from our experiences that allow us to move forward and make the next time better.

The second way to accomplish this walk toward wisdom is to seek honest feedback from others. Coupled with self-evaluation, the observations of others provide helpful insight for all of us. After working on major projects, workshops and presentations, I ask others to help me identify things I should stop doing, things I should start doing, and things I should continue to do in my own management and teaching style. It can be hard to hear some of the stops and starts, but such specific, constructive feedback is necessary if we truly aim to improve ourselves.

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Jill Casten is the director of training and development at the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C. She served as a state officer in Kansas and has worked for the National FFA Organization as a conference facilitator and staff member for collegiate programs. A graduate of Kansas State, the University of Nebraska and Virginia Tech, Jill loves college football.

The third area in which you can improve your walk toward wisdom is to ask for counsel from others. What makes this different from feedback? Feedback is about the past and reflecting on what has happened. Counsel is about the future and anticipating what comes next. A great way to connect what we’ve learned while reaching out to others and opening our world is to find a mentor or someone you can learn from. Such a person can be a great resource for not only feedback in the immediate past and present but also someone to help you map out where you would like to be and help you seek opportunities to continue your growth. I would advise you to find one (if not more) mentors that can serve multiple purposes as you learn from their experiences and wisdom.

Finally, any walk toward wisdom is going to take time. Take a deep breath and allow for patience to kick in. Anything worth pursing is going to take time. Don’t give up after a few setbacks in your quest for leadership; stick with it! We live in a culture that rewards the immediate, but there are some things, such as wisdom, that require much more dedication, sweat and tears. Think about those leaders you respect and admire because of their wisdom. I bet if you asked them about their accomplishments, advice or impactful moments, it would have something to do with what they have learned over time.

Just like with all of the other areas of GROW, walking toward wisdom is not finite. It is an ever-evolving and iterative process. If you have one takeaway from the book GrOW and philosophy on leadership from Blanchard, I hope that it is to seek continual growth and improvement in your work, your interactions, and your approach to life in general. The book’s message resonated with me in so many ways. I saw it as something attainable, straightforward, and realistic for a leader at any point in his or her life. As you close out your successful year as a state officer, I hope you have taken the time to set goals for the future, are seeking opportunities to continue to serve and will make the commitment to your own growth as a leader.

7Bright Ideas • Volume 11, Issue 4

acebook creeping…Facebook stalking…a distraction from homework…whatever you want to call it…let’s be real, we all do it. One day I was taking a “study break” and fulfilling my daily quota of Facebook time by scrolling through my newsfeed. As I did, I stumbled upon a status, “It’s days like these

that I’m thankful I’m a vegetarian! At least I know I won’t be getting swine flu from all of those hamburgers I won’t be eating ha ha!” I sat there staring at the computer

screen. Eventually I decided it was just one of those “well bless her heart” moments. But I couldn’t get over how much was just plain incorrect with that status. First off, hamburgers and swine, we’re not exactly talking about the same species here and H3N2 is not transmitted through the consumption of pork as long as it’s cooked properly.

As FFA members and agricultural advocates, we all have a passion for our industry and what it represents. We recognize the importance of feeding, fueling and clothing our world. For all of these reasons, it can irk us to our core when we hear a degrading or incorrect statement made about the industry we love. And let’s face it: With the average American being two to three generations removed from the farm, it’s inevitable. Not to mention, agriculture has been receiving a lot of face time in the news lately with a historic drought, outbreaks of H3N2 and the Farm Bill up for renewal. More people are expressing their opinions (sometimes

not always the most educated opinions) and their venue of choice is social media.

It can be tempting, oh so tempting, to go off on a tangent to correct fallacies posted on social networking sites or when websites like Yahoo publish a list of the top five useless college majors and three of the five are based in agriculture. Agriculture has faced its fair share of challenges in the last year, adding to the public’s perception. So as we face this unfortunate reality, how do we responsibly and effectively handle these situations? To the right are some helpful hints of how to turn social media sass into class:

KEEP YOUR COOL. First and foremost…patience. We must keep a level head in these situations and refrain from fighting fire with fire.

KEEP IT POSITIVE. Our attitude, as well as the information we present, must always remain positive. As state officers, we are a reflection of agriculture. Our actions and words have the ability to bring agriculture to the forefront and help others take notice in a good way.

KNOW YOUR STUFF. It is essential for us to remain up to date on our information. Utilizing Farm Facts (published by the American Farm Bureau Federation), following organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Twitter and subscribing to agricultural podcasts are a few ways for us to glean useful information.

BE PROACTIVE. Our best bet is to act proactively and not rely on being reactive. Take the time to visit elementary and high schools, give speeches, attend civic group meetings, engage in community service, involve the public in FFA functions and meet with legislators. We can even use social media to our advantage, possibly posting a fun ag fact of the day or sharing your story about how agriculture and FFA have shaped you.

RENEW YOUR COMMITMENT. As state officers, we assume the responsibility of representing our industry in a positive light and educating the public. We have committed to serving as agricultural advocates for hopefully not only this year, but for a lifetime. What will you do to share our message?

DIFFUSING DIFFICULTDILEMMASTurning social media sass into classby Tiffany Rogers

F

Tiffany Rogers attends Michigan State University studying agribusiness management and hopes to attend law school to become an agricultural lawyer. She has served as a state and national officer and currently works for the Michigan FFA Association and National FFA Organization as a conference facilitator. She can be contacted at roger187@msu.edu.

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OFF THE SHELFGeneration iY, by Dr. Tim Elmoreby Bethany Bohnenblust Parker

ThE READ

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the message go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

The above quote is a call to action from one of my favorite books. It makes quite clear that we have only one option: We must hear and act!

Dr. Tim Elmore makes it very clear in his hallmark book that as guides and leaders of our generation we must act. With his leadership experience and research, he paints a picture of challenges that our generation, you and me, may face.

ThE REALITY

Dr. Elmore poses characteristics of our generation that are hard to swallow but, in general, true.

We are an intensely social generation. In case we don’t want to mail our friends a letter we can call, text, email, instant message, FaceTime, Hey Tell, Facebook message, @Tweet, blog, use GroupMe, or even send a smoke signal. Seriously, we are rarely out of ways to communicate with someone—yet many still lack the basic skills for face-to-face communication.

Dr. Elmore also points out that we are a generation that loves to dream lofty dreams. Especially within the National FFA Organization we are, from my experience, some of the most highly motivated, focused, goal-oriented people of our age. But many of our classmates, and if I dare say us, can characterize his idea of the “slactivist”—both a slacker and an activist.

As I read this book, it really caught me off guard. I wanted to take a defensive stance. Yet, if we are willing to live in ways that “develop those qualities of leadership, which an FFA member should possess,” then we can be the role models of our generation.

ThE RESPONSE

• Check out the YouTube video “Generation iY.”

• Have a roundtable discussion with select state staff, advisors, members and state officers to discuss the possible disconnects that could happen due to differing perspectives.

• Humbly and honestly evaluate how you personify some of the characteristics as a member of the iY Generation. Be willing to challenge your own perspective or behavior.

• Handwrite a thank you to parents and mentors who have positively influenced you.

remember what you’ve been taught. Unapplied knowledge is wasted knowledge.

Bethany Bohnenblust Parker is a past state and national officer and a current student at Kansas State University studying agricultural communications and international agriculture. She can be contacted at bethany.bohnenblust@gmail.com.

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that

you are a listener…Act on what you hear!”

9Bright Ideas • Volume 11, Issue 4

FFA MissionFFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership,

personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The Agricultural Education MissionAgricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the

global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resource systems.

The National FFA Organization affirms its belief in the value of all human beings and seeks diversity in its membership, leadership and staff as an equal opportunity employer.

The National FFA Organization is a resource and support organization that does not select, control, or supervise state association, local chapter or individual member activities. Educational materials are developed by FFA in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education as a service to state and local agricultural education agencies.

Bright IdeasNational FFA Organization

6060 FFA DriveIndianapolis, IN 46268-0960

The State FFA Officer Programs are made possible through sponsorship from the following organizations as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.