Monday, May 26, 2014

Blessed beyond words

So... Fair is all wrapped up... I can honestly say that I have never been more impressed with a group of students in a four day period.

They were without a doubt.... Team players, fun, honest, compassionate, helpful, gracious, friendly, hardworking, etc.

Like I said previously, the Healdsburg Future Farmer Country Fair is small. But it is also the type of warm, friendly and fun environment that every kid needs to show at. Yes, people are competitive and yes there is occasionally some drama (wouldn't be a fair without it) but mostly the kids, leaders and fair board ROCK.

Kids worked hard, showed up on time and worked together to make sure everyone was successful. I always feel like there a few kids, no matter the chapter, that check out or have attitude or just aren't helpful but fortunately, for me and them, we didn't have any of that crap. Ain't nobody go time for that! LOL

Not to toot my own horn but I was commended countless times for the higher quality animals, proper behavior of kids and helpfulness of exhibitors. And while I'm not a big fan of compliments-- they make me feel weird, funny and awkward-- I was so proud of the positive compliments about the kids and their progress from previous years. I had heard a lot prior to fair "well the FFA kids..." this and "the FFA kids" that... Mostly negative things about incidents in the past like lack of care, concern and work from the FFA kids. I'm so proud of my kids for putting in the time this year to change that perception of the chapter.

As a whole, it was an extremely successful fair! But this little fair is more than just showing an animal. Students participate in the pen set up, town parade and float, wine barrel planting, animals, selling fundraiser tickets, barn duty (that was new for them), educational displays, running during the auction, decorations, helping others with weigh-in, a wine barrel planter and cake auction, and clean up the day after. And my kids were troopers!

My favorite part of any fair is always the auction. This community is soooooo supportive of the 4-H and FFA kids it is redonkulous! The amount of money people spend is cause for most to have their heads checked. I'm not sure we had a pig go for less than $10 a pound or a lamb for less than $12 a pound. It's crazy and awesome! At the end of the auction on Saturday night, they auctioned off a hog (one of ours- yay!) to donate the money to one of the fair board members battling cancer-- $38 a pound! This is the type of community, program, fair and FFA chapter that I want to be part of for many years. It is so nice for the community to recognize the work and importance of agriculture for young kids.

The most bittersweet moment was after the auction when I had kids stay to take down all our displays, flowers, etc and clean the barns. The amount of kids sitting with their animals and crying was nuts. Now-- I've never cried over selling an animal but I do recognize how hard it is for some kids. And girls cry because, well they are high school girls. But the boys?! These big, strong, tough, badass boys laying with their animals bawling was tough. All the kids showed so much compassion and care for each other, it completely melted my heart. I'm so glad that they feel so invested and connected with their animals that it upsets them when they are gone. It means they care... Which means I've done my job.

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." Henry Ford

All my kids before awards... They clean up pretty nice

Can't forget the parade!! 

And wine barrel planter! 





Sunday, May 18, 2014

Fair Time is FUN Time!

This past week has been completely wild... Lots going on, lots of big news, lots of crazy!

This next week is the beginning of the Healdsburg Fair. And well in Healdsburg... it is quite possibly the largest local attraction all year. People go crazy for this little country fair, Friday is even a "local holiday" and so there is no school. And by little, I mean they hold the dang thing on the football field. There are animal barns and food booths and to me that's all ya really need at a fair! The cool part is all the food booths are community organizations, so no huge random fair carnies selling greasy corn dogs.

I've mentioned that my program is small (less than 100) and at the fair I will have about 35 kids with animals. I have mostly enjoyed all the kids and animals this spring. It's been a huge change for me, moving my mindset to a May fair instead of a July/August fair. Now, I still have kids showing at our county fair in July and August but really just a handful of veterans that are pretty low maintenance.
Working on pen decorations
Even got the boys working on educational displays!

I have been pretty impressed with most of my kids this year. Some have really just gone above and beyond with their animals. There are always some kids that don't really meet their potential but I feel like most have really tried. I'm pretty excited to see how the week goes... Let's cross our fingers for no drama!

P.S. Went to the Giant's Game last night! Had so much fun! In good company too... We got Fedoras as the giveaway... And of course my fat head was too big! We got hulk hands too! Pretty awesome!
Pretty sad about my fedora 
Had a great night!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Turn it Around Tuesday

Okay so the last two weeks I have been in a funk... Ya know, nothing goes right, wanna strangle people (just kidding) and just low on myself, my abilities and my intelligence. 

Well enough of that sorry crap! Last week I sat at our Sectional FFA Officer screening in Santa Rosa with two kids who were determined to win. They both previously ran for Regional Office and were not slated. It's tough to put yourself out there like that and have your peers recognize your abilities as leaders. It's even more difficult to not be slated but then still try to run for sectional office. These kids have guts! I was so impressed with both of them, not because they actually won (cough, secretary, cough and reporter), but because of their dedication to something bigger than themselves. 


What a concept for a kid? Be something, love something, be dedicated to something BIG. Something that will come to fruition many years down the road. The idea of leadership and communication skills that they will carry to endless, meetings, parties, jobs, classrooms, etc. 

They reminded me of something last week... Be patient. Everything in time. When it's meant to be, it will. Be grateful for the opportunity. 

I have had an extremely successful year! And I'm very proud of the progress I've made this year from being in a rut (last year),to practically being a new teacher and advisor. I love my career, my kids, my school and the people who inspire me on a daily basis. 


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day

Happy frickin Mother's Day!!!!!


I love Mother's Day... Mostly because I love my mother! She's a badass for so many reasons...
  1. She birthed me... All 11lbs 10oz of me... That itself is reason for a day, an award or a street in town.
  2. She tolerated my whining, arguing and years of crazy
  3. She braved the many wardrobe disagreements-- dresses, socks, underwear, pants, bows, headbands, etc... I hated them all and refused to wear each of them at one point in my life.
  4. She encourages me to always follow my gut
  5. Even when she doesn't agree with me, she supports me- like the first time I was ever offered a job and turned it down...oops!
  6. She loves the SF Giants... I mean, who doesn't?!
  7. She is:
generous
caring
a believer
strong
amazing
full of recipes
full of love

My mother is my favorite person... She rocks! I feel lucky to have such an awesome mom!




Happy Mother's Day to the other mothers in my life...
Krystina T.
Kristen L.
Kristen M.
Alyssa S.
Amy E.
Chantelle A.
Carrie L.
Amber C.
Lisa B.
Roxy G.
Sierra B.
and sooooo many more! Hope your day was special and spectacular!

Even used some of my crafty bitch skills to make my mom a mini succulent garden... In Hoyman Browe pottery

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Does Passion Run Out?

Do you think if you're passionate about something, the drive to reach your goal ever runs out?

I wish I knew... Yesterday was the CA FFA State Judging Finals at Cal Poly. This is one of my favorite trips all year, even if it's at Cal Poly (hahaha I kid, I kid- kinda). It is the culmination of a CDE teams season of hard work, dedication and teamwork. It is the final stage of team bonding and "family time". Last year, I had my fist kid ever place in the top 5 and I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of something. The last two years I've had teams in "the hunt", ya know kids that had prepped and been increasingly successful at each field day.
Ms. Emma was 5th high individual last year

So yesterday, was spent a little different than I had hoped. I woke up at my friends house, got breakfast with Mandy and Jesse, went to watch kids have their steer's hooves trimmed (Thanks Big Jim!) and then helped plant their garden and headed home. Now, this was one of the most relaxed Saturdays that I've had in about 4 months. But honestly, it was kind of lame. While I love seeing friends and helping kids with projects, I would be lying if I didn't say I was completely disappointed I wasn't with my teams in SLO. 
Breakfast at The Parish with Mandy & Jesse

My goal since my year of student teaching, is to win a state championship. One of those nice shiny silver bowls that to me says "You are successful. You did it. All your hard work paid off. You accomplished a goal." But how can I do that if I'm not even there? I can't... And neither can my kids...

Is it possible to work years, towards a goal and never reach it? At what point do you give up? Find a new goal, so to speak? I don't want to lower my expectations and goals. Maybe it is my tenacity or stubbornness but I'm not a fan of giving up. But how do I continue to coach teams year after year and not win it? It's like signing up for disappointment willingly each spring. 

How do I continue losing at field days without losing passion? I guess forever... But how can I can inspire new kids each year to sign up for hard work, practice and months of dedication as I lose a little bit of passion each season? No idea....

Maybe someday... Maybe we'll win... Maybe I'll have a BA team again... Maybe I won't lose hope... Maybe I'll find success... Maybe not...  

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Cheers to not being a Genius!

What is a scholarship?
By definition,
- a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation)
- the character, qualities, activity, or attainments of a scholar
- a fund of knowledge and learning 

 

 

 
 
 
 
In high school I was an average student... Literally, mostly B's with a few A's and a couple C's and 2 D's... No honors, no AP, no fancy crazy classes. I don't remember my class rank, my cumulative GPA or any of that fancy stuff. But I was pretty heavily involved in community groups, 4-H, FFA and played some sports. My senior year, I spent the whole second semester filling out scholarship applications. I had already been accepted to Fresno State and declared Ag Ed- Animal Science as my intended major. 
 
The night of my high school's scholarship awards night, I walked away with 7+ scholarship and a pretty hefty amount of money to begin college with. By the way, this was the most scholarships to a single student that night by a lot. And I was the "Ag kid", who brought pigs to school-- suck it honors kids! Hahaha... I was absolutely freaking amazed that people that read my application, essay and mediocre grades and wanted to give me money. 
 
Now that I'm older and still pretty involved in a few community organizations, I am apart of some scholarship committees. And although I'm young, I think being a teacher helps me understand what it takes for kids to get to college but also, how to help those kids appeal to committees. I met with one of my committees yesterday and it was interesting how the different members read and dissected the applications. 
 
To be completely honest (that's the only way I roll), we all valued something different. One was big on grades, one on community service, one on potential and one on being well rounded. 
 
And well... The kids with the 4.4gpa and tons of activities and community service and sports and a well written essay, DIDN't RISE to the top. The reason??? This kid is going to make it... With out without the scholarship we had to award. But isn't it weird that the super student, isn't the top kid? Uh hell yeah! Frickin weird... But it depends on who's reading. I was reading with many older people and one thing I learned from them? They like a story, they like kids with potential, kids who won't waste the money awarded, they like kids who will go big but who are realistic with their aspirations. I feel like when it comes to college and scholarships, your odds are better with pretty good grades, some community involvement, maybe a sport or significat activity (like dance/drama/rodeo etc.), a need, and a STORY! P.S. A terrible, tear jerker story isn't always best, nor is the story about how you're a great leader from playing sports. 
 
Giving a scholarship is one of my favorite parts of being an adult, mostly because it makes me feel like I am able to give something that I was once given (well not with my money-- I wish!). Mostly because if picking correctly, you're helping a kid find their strength, their passion, their future and all that jazz. #iamaboutthatlife
 
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." Benjamin Franklin
A few pictures from my Senior year... 
 
This is our famous "Loser" picture-- we've actually perfected it since then
 
Senior Scram (Sober Grad) with some of my favorite people... 
 
My last fair showing, with my Willits bud, Miranda...