the Hall of States
Alabama FFA Association Alaska FFA Association Arkansas FFA Association California FFA Association Connecticut FFA Association Delaware FFA Association Illinois FFA Association Indiana FFA Association Kentucky FFA Association Louisiana FFA Association Maryland FFA Association Massachusetts FFA Association Michigan FFA Association Mississippi FFA Association Missouri FFA Association Montana FFA Association Nebraska FFA Association Nevada FFA Association
New Hampshire FFA Association New Jersey FFA Association New York FFA Association North Carolina FFA Assoc.
North Dakota FFA Association Ohio FFA Association
Pennsylvania FFA Association Puerto Rico FFA Association Rhode Island FFA Association South Carolina FFA Assoc.
South Dakota FFA Association Tennessee FFA Association Texas FFA Association Utah FFA Association Vermont FFA Association Virginia FFA Association Washington FFA Association West Virginia FFA Association Wisconsin FFA Association Wyoming FFA Association Association members quizzed visitors that stopped by the booth
about the role of Horticulture in Connecticut: “How long is the aver- age Connecticut greenhouse?” they asked. (Answer: One mile.) California, which won the Best State Presentation Award for its booth, boldly and creatively told its story using uncommon art sup- plies, such as crushed rice, rosemary, curry and other homegrown agricultural products. FFA member Cathy Simpkin from Quartz Hill, Calif., said, “We’re number one with the largest association mem- bership,” as she proudly pointed out the various displays that pro- claimed California as the “#1 Agricultural State.”
While the Hall of States showcased America’s agricultural strength, it also spotlighted the spirit and drive of the newest generation of FFA members to honor our country’s most precious heritage.
terry brAdsHAW kIcks oFF conventIon sessIons
“I believe in everything you do. I believe that you should have everything you dream of,” exclaimed Terry Bradshaw, the keynote speaker of the opening session of the 79th National FFA Convention. “You will reap tomorrow what you sow today. It might as well be darn good stuff!”
Terry Bradshaw is the co-host and analyst for “Fox NFL Sunday”
and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His message for FFA members focused on one simple solution to live happily – find your smile early in life. “It’s been my experience that I need to start everything I do with a smile – my day, every speech,”
Bradshaw said after his speech. “It helps me get through my day.”
Bradshaw also encouraged FFA members to be happy, smile, motivate others and be who you are. “In today’s world, people want things done yesterday. We are all wanting to hurry up, and it’s all about me, me, me,” he said. “One good person can have an impact on several people, and FFA is leading the way.”
Bradshaw concluded that he chose to speak at the national FFA convention because the FFA members have an amazing energy that he rarely encounters at other speaking venues. “This [convention] is a huge deal!” he said.
“Young people are a great audience, and this one is a unique experience. Being involved in agriculture earlier in life, I have an understanding of what hard work goes into their lives. These young people love animals, crops and good, hard work outside. Everyone is so different and that inspires me.”
Bradshaw’s admiration of FFA members goes beyond their hard work and dedication to agriculture. “These are solid human beings,” he stated. “These young people are not in the newspaper for negative things. They are in there for their values and respect that they have for the community. This is the heartland of America. This is what we want for our future!”
He admires FFA so much that Bradshaw asked for a member to send up “a 52 extra long jacket.” As one made its way to the convention stage, he challenged FFA members to develop a deep foundation embedded with family connections and personal values. “The deeper your foundation, the higher you will go in whatever you do,” he said.
“Especially in the FFA, you can go as high as you want. It’s up to you!”
At last, after several attempts, a lucky Wisconsin FFA member’s jacket and tie was a perfect fit for Bradshaw’s six-foot-three- inch frame. Taking a cue from convention theme, “Blue Jackets, Gold Standards,” Bradshaw connects the blue FFA jacket with strength and respect that FFA members personify.
Finally, the former quarterback asked FFA members to find their purpose in life. “You just need a reason to get out of bed,” he encouraged. “If you have no purpose in life, you will have no fulfill- ment, no reward. You need a reason to endure!”
Following the speech, FFA members gave a rousing standing ovation and very much enjoyed hearing such a great opening session keynote address. Scott Quaintance from the Clyde, Ohio FFA chapter thought that the talk was very inspiring. “The speech was great! Terry got me very motivated to go out and find my purpose and to always strive for the best day everyday!”
clArk kellogg: our stAndArd oF experIence
For the first time, the 79th National FFA Convention welcomed CBS sports analyst, Clark Kellogg. “I am blown away,” he said.
“You have no sense of something until you experience it yourself.
This convention is amazing!”
During the fourth general convention session, Kellogg opened his speech by challenging FFA members to take control of their lives. According to the former Indiana Pacer, there are two as- pects of life that are in our control – attitude and effort. “We fall in to the trap of letting what we do define who we are,” stated Kellogg. “The things we do are just small parts of who we are.
We need to define ourselves by our attitudes and efforts.”
Attitude, Kellogg defined, is the humility of our lives. The rec- ognition of our own opportunities in controlling our own at- titude is the key to humility. “Don’t allow anyone else define or make you do anything you don’t want to do,” he explained. “No one can make you mad. They can lead you to disliking, but only you have the power to look negatively and be mad.”
Getting the reward is based upon what kind of effort we put into something, according to The Ohio State University gradu- ate. Kellogg also challenged FFA members to take their efforts on the high road. “Seek higher ground, because even if you fall short, you are still progressing,” he described. He related ef- fort to the old metaphor of reaping what we sow. “Once we sow thoughts, we reap actions,” he clarified. “When we sow our ac- tions, we reap habits. Then when we sow our habits, we reap characteristics.” When we do this, we are developing the skills that it takes to control our efforts. “With the excellence you’ve shown here in FFA, you are already on that track.”
The once Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference re- ceived a grand ovation when he concluded the talk. “It was awe- some to see a fellow ‘Buckeye’ speak to us,” said Abby Snyder of the Zane Trace, Ohio FFA chapter. “He inspired us to really take the initiative in taking control of our lives. He was great!”
Blue jackets, gold standards, and Clark Kellogg – three experi- ences that made the 79th National FFA Convention a success.
scott mckAIn: our stAndArd oF prIde
The National FFA Organization welcomed back a former FFA member and Hoosier to conclude the 79th National FFA Con- vention. “Everything that I have accomplished all started from the greatest youth organization on the earth – FFA,” said ninth general session keynote speaker, Scott McKain. The former Na- tional FFA Officer accredits the organization to his lifetime of successes.
McKain, a former member of the Crothersville, Indiana FFA chapter focused his keynote address about celebrating life, not missing out on the good “stuff” and being persistent. According to the best-selling author, we do not directly reap what we sow;
rather, we are always using our experiences to exponentially har- vest greater successes.
However, McKain also alluded to the fact that this is not an easy task. “There are so many excuses,” he explained. “Too many peo- ple are willing to give up. Now you have a choice to make: You can get better, or give up. I wanted to get better.” In a story that he shared, McKain said that he participated in the prepared public speaking career development event as a freshman. After months of preparation, he lost the competition. For the next three years, he made his goal to win at the state level. After several attempts, and several losses, he was finally at his se- nior year in high school preparing for his speech. He waited for the results and realized that he had come in last. His advisor offered the words of giving up or getting better. “To this day, I have never forgotten those words that he said to me,” McKain reflected. “Now I ask you…will you give up or get better?”
Following the cue of the theme, “Blue Jackets, Gold Stan- dards,” McKain displayed his own national officer jacket.
“Wearing this jacket was the best year of my life,” he com- mented. “I can’t believe that I am back here and speaking to all of you.” When he received the phone call to speak at the national FFA convention, McKain said that it was a dream come true to come and speak on the big stage. “I make my liv- ing on my words, but now they are escaping me,” he said look- ing out into the crowd of more than 10,000 FFA members.
McKain concluded his address with his favorite poem, “Tomorrow.” “…but the fact is he died and he faded from view,”
he recited, “and all that he left here when living was through was a mountain of things he intended to do…tomorrow.”
Afterward, the crowd gave an emotional standing ovation that moved the speaker to tears. “I wrote a list of the fifty things I wanted to do before I died, and speaking at the national FFA convention was number one on my list,” he said.
“Everything is a result of FFA. I just wanted to let FFA members know that they can do it, too…just don’t give up!”
guItAr vIrtuoso InspIres tHrougH song
“What if” and “why not?” Those are the two questions that key- note speaker Mike Rayburn asked of all FFA members at the seventh session of the 79th National FFA Convention.
Rayburn said asking yourself “what if?” opens up all possibilities.
Asking yourself “why not?” gets you to the obstacle that is hold- ing you back.
Rayburn, award-winning guitar virtuoso, used his astonishing guitar talent to put a different twist to everyday songs, while motivating FFA members to think differently and to look at life from a different perspective.
“I want people to think differently and to not change for the sake of change, but to change for the sake of improve- ment,” the entertainer said.
He was voted “America’s Campus Entertainer” three times in four years. Rayburn has played the guitar for 36 years and draws from life experiences to motivate crowds to aim high and turn their own problems into opportunities. He said that the guitar is the best way to illustrate something that he is passionate about.
“To change anything at all, the first thing we have to change is our brain and the way we think,” he said. He en- couraged FFA members to pay attention to what their brain is asking. Rayburn explained, when asking yourself what if and why not, a fundamental change takes place. “Your brain will no longer look for reasons why you can’t, but your brain will begin to look for reasons why you can.”
He took on the personas of different musicians and incorporated humor into his message to FFA members. The audience heard his impression of Led Zeppelin singing Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” Jim Hendrix singing “Green Acres,” and Bob Marley singing like Garth Brooks. FFA members at the session laughed hysteri- cally, sang along and shouted out their own requests.
Between songs, Rayburn said that he believes there is a gold mine of unrealized potential in everyone. He explained to FFA members that they are surrounded everyday by moments to access that po- tential. “I have discovered that the biggest challenges you will face in your life will hit you when you are not ready for them,” he said.
He told FFA members that we motivate ourselves by rewards and punishments. “This is also the way we train rats,”
he said. “What sets humans apart is our ability to respond to the greatest motivations.” Rayburn also said that we have a sense of purpose which puts meaning behind everything we do.
“What I want you to take from here today is to draw from that purpose, draw from that sense of why you are here, ask your self ‘what if and why not’ and then act on those possibilities.” He wants FFA members to be able to look back at themselves later on in life and know that they stood for something and that they made it count.
By keeping those two questions in mind, Rayburn wants everyone to look at their problems as possibilities and to aim higher than just the middle. “Aim higher than mediocrity,” he said.
“It’s great getting to talk to people at a younger age. I’m inspired by what they [National FFA Organization] stand for,