The countdown for Thanksgiving break is imbedded in many our minds as the holiday approaches us. As we think of the table set with all the great food and surrounded by even greater people, it makes our tummies and hearts happy. We are often most thankful for our food, family, and our health. But as we dig into our food and the meaningful conversation that is to follow the evening, what else should we be thankful for? What should we be thankful for as FFA members and supporters of the most giving industry, agriculture? What experiences should we be thankful for?
Recently, Chipotle announced that several customers had developed E. Coli after eating an item off the restaurant’s menu. My Facebook feed was filled with many in the Ag industry being frankly pleased somehow by this. Personally having never ate at this establishment, I was still shocked by the reaction. We should not be smirking at Chipotle’s unfortunate news. We instead should remind ourselves of how Chipotle is a restaurant with a different ideal to food consumption than many of our own and that is perfectly okay. We as Americans live in a first world country where the option of having the Thanksgiving Day turkey be genetically modified or not is an extremely blessed option to have. We have so many choices when it comes to our food supply, and that is something to be truly thankful for. Which leads me to a greater blessing to be thankful for: diversity.
The diversity we have in our food supply and what we choose is unlike any other country in the 21st century. Not only is it seen in our food supply, but the faces behind it. That’s right, the people who work in this industry all bring important and unique input to the table (no pun
intended, unless you like puns). Be sure and look beyond the basis of the agriculture industry,
production agriculture. We are the future of an industry that provides approximately 1 in 5 jobs
in the United States. That means we are farmers, economists, journalists, educators, lawmakers,
engineers, doctors, salesmen, scientists, and the list goes on. Therefore, it is safe to make the
assumption that not all the work in the agriculture industry comes from the typical production
agriculture background. These inputs drive us to greater achievements not just as an industry but
as a society. How does the diversity in the agriculture industry make you thankful?
Shifting gears, I recently was reminded of how grateful I am for my relationships in FFA. While attending National Convention, a convention of 65,000 people mind you, I ran into numerous fellow members and friends. Some from our association and some not. Friendships that might be separated by miles and time but when put back together are just like they were before. I also was given the opportunity to meet new friends across the nation. How are you thankful for your friendships in FFA?
Going a little farther back in time, I think of when I recognized how thankful I am of my experiences in FFA. This past fall at the State Fair, my teammates and I help set up and run the Wick Building, as well as the livestock shows. On the first night upon arriving at Hutchinson, we decided to help a friend unload their showing equipment. A man seeing what we were doing started a conversation with us, asking the basic questions of who we were, what we were doing at the fair, etc. My teammates and I explained and the question was then asked if any of us were to show this weekend. As we answered it was stated that I was not from a traditional agriculture background, to which the man replied, “Oh you’re a city boy, well the rides are over there in case you’re wondering.”
Shifting gears, I recently was reminded of how grateful I am for my relationships in FFA. While attending National Convention, a convention of 65,000 people mind you, I ran into numerous fellow members and friends. Some from our association and some not. Friendships that might be separated by miles and time but when put back together are just like they were before. I also was given the opportunity to meet new friends across the nation. How are you thankful for your friendships in FFA?
Going a little farther back in time, I think of when I recognized how thankful I am of my experiences in FFA. This past fall at the State Fair, my teammates and I help set up and run the Wick Building, as well as the livestock shows. On the first night upon arriving at Hutchinson, we decided to help a friend unload their showing equipment. A man seeing what we were doing started a conversation with us, asking the basic questions of who we were, what we were doing at the fair, etc. My teammates and I explained and the question was then asked if any of us were to show this weekend. As we answered it was stated that I was not from a traditional agriculture background, to which the man replied, “Oh you’re a city boy, well the rides are over there in case you’re wondering.”
He laughed at his ignorant joke and I couldn’t help but laugh along with him. I couldn’t
help but laugh along with him because I knew how wrong he was. The experiences in FFA
haven’t taught me everything about agriculture, but they’ve definitely taught me the importance
agriculture holds in my life and how I plan to contribute to the industry in a way that only I can
and am able to. This man didn’t know the amount of time, memories, nor energy I and many
other nontraditional agriculture members devote to an organization and an industry that gives so
much to us. He did serve a great purpose to me, and that was being reminded of the incredible
experience and amount of learning I’ve had being an FFA member.
So Kansas FFA, as you pass around the however genetically modified or not modified feast, think of your experiences in FFA leading up to this. I know that I’m grateful for my experiences in the blue jacket, are you?
So Kansas FFA, as you pass around the however genetically modified or not modified feast, think of your experiences in FFA leading up to this. I know that I’m grateful for my experiences in the blue jacket, are you?
