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Wisconsin FFA President
Alicia Hodnik - President
Big Foot FFA Chapter
ahodnik@wisconsinffa.org
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GROWMARK Adventures!
Sep. 02, 2010
Mission: The GROWMARK Annual Meeting
Destination: Hilton Hotel in Chicago
Body Guard and Paparazzi: Mr. Jeff Hicken
Anna, Julie, and I arrived in Chicago last week excited for the day ahead. We were invited to the GROWMARK Annual Meeting and had the opportunity to discover new opportunities in the agriculture world and learn more about how GROWMARK is a strong contributor to the cooperative industries.
On day 1, Mr. Hicken took us to Panera Bread for lunch before the event began. Then we made our way back to the Hilton Hotel to practice bringing in the flags. Representatives from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada were in attendance! We learned the positions and grace it took to successfully get our flags to the front of the hall.
After that, we had a behind the scenes tour of the Hilton-Chicago. Did you know that WWII soldiers used to be housed there? And that they have tunnels designed just for the secret service and important guests? Wow, so much history goes into this hotel! We also had an opportunity to see how the chef makes some of their most creative decorations out of fruits and vegetables!
The final destination that night was to deliver a speech on “Agriculture Technology and Research in 2020.” I don’t think my heart has ever raced that fast, but it was a truly great and memorable experience! To conclude our night, the Water Coolers came and did a singing comedy show for the crowd!
On Day 2, we concluded our experience by putting on a show of the flags and watching those who work so hard for GROWMARK Inc. get recognized! A special thanks goes out to Dan Kelley and Jane Castellano for inviting us to the Annual Meeting and for allowing us to have such a great experience!
MOE (Moment Of Excitement): Our keynote speaker was Mike Eruzione, the captain of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team that won the gold metal! The movie “Miracle” was made based on their win!
Paparazzi Chases CTSO Leaders!
Aug. 30, 2010
About a week ago, a leader from each of the Career and Technical Student Organizations met in Madison at the Capitol. What was our mission? To take a picture together for the CTSO brochure. A representative from FCCLA, FBLA, HOSA, Skills USA, FFA, and DECA met at the capitol for this event!
You may find that some of these organizations function in your school and have a lot of students involved in them! Look out for the Career and Technical Student Organization brochure that comes out later this fall!
Jag Lake Memories!
Aug. 28, 2010
After State Fair ended, the team had one day to recoup until we were on the road again headed to Boulder Junction, WI to the Jag Lake State Officer Camp!
On our first day, we went to Wal-Mart to buy the groceries for the meals we would make that week. I must say I was proud of us because we spent six whole dollars less than last year! Then we went back, unpacked, settled in, and began our work for the year!
Throughout the week we spent time planning the Sectional Leadership Workshops, FIRE Conferences, chapter visits, speeches, and more! This year is going to be exciting and filled with many memories.
We always began our day with a flag raising ceremony, however, this year we were up for a challenge. A few weeks prior to us arriving at Jag Lake, a nasty storm blew a tree into our flag pole so it could no longer stand. We challenged ourselves to still involve the flag in our ceremonies (minus the pole).
On our last night at Jag Lake, the team had been so productive, so I took them to a place that always gives a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. We traveled the 45 miles to Watersmeet, Michigan to see the Paulding light. If you ever get a chance I encourage you to see this phenomenon!
On our last morning up in Boulder Junction, we ended our experience by filming the Sectional Leadership Workshop promo and then packed up our vehicles and headed home!
Welcome to the State Fair!!!
Aug. 23, 2010
What has everything you can imagine either deep-fried or on a stick? The Wisconsin State Fair!
The officer team headed down to the fair on August 4th, destined to spend our time mingling with enthusiastic fair goers, teaching others about agriculture in the Discovery Barnyard, and racing vegetable cars at the Veggie 500!
A special thanks goes out to the Suring, Lodi, Big Foot, and Marshfield FFA chapters for helping make the Discovery Barnyard successful throughout the State Fair! Also, thank you to DATCP for allowing the State Officer team to experience presenting the Veggie 500!
Samantha, Cory, and I had the chance to carry in the flags for the Governor's Auction while at the fair. That night was very memorable because the pre-program was Badger themed! The Badger Band and Bucky came to mix and mingle with the bidders and buyers in the audience and set the tone for the night. Many, many successes and excitement came as a result of the auction.
That same night, Cory, Samantha and I met a gentleman who was the 7th person to join the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association! Wisconsin now has the largest alumni in the entire nation, and we met the man who was 7th to join! This was an exciting moment for all of us.
Unfortunately I caught a bad flu bug half way through fair and only had the opportunity to experience the first five days. However, those first five days were wonderful and I can't wait till next year to go back and visit!
In honor of the Veggie 500…”GO VEGGIES GO!”
Inspirational Spark!
Aug. 09, 2010
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
- Edward Everett Hale
This past week, the Suring, West De Pere, and Lodi FFA chapters have been helping at the State Fair in the Discovery Barnyard. They all have taken such great initiative to make a difference to fair-goers. Great work, everyone!
Sometimes all it takes is someone to volunteer or someone to take an initiative. Will you be that person?
State President's Conference!
Aug. 08, 2010
Hello again Wisconsin FFA!!!
There's nothing like meeting up with officers from all over the United States in the most inspirational city in the nation! Early Tuesday, Noah and I braved the busy city of Milwaukee as we made our way to the airport to fly to Washington D.C. for the State President's Conference!
Day #1: Tuesday was the kick-off of an unforgettable week! After registration, everyone packed up and hopped on the Metro and headed to the stadium to see the Washington Nationals vs. the Atlanta Braves play baseball. The night ended perfectly with a reflections program in front of the capitol building presented by the national officers!
Day #2: Coffee in the morning? There was no need because everyone was revved up for another unforgettable day in Washington D.C.! Noah and I had the chance to talk to the staff of Congressman Paul Ryan, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, and Congressman Ron Kind about one of the most important issues facing agriculture today!
Noah and I continued to discover “One Element” with two days left of SPC! The theme for the State President’s Conference was “One Element” it pertains to the fact that we are all one component of something larger and each have something to contribute. Noah and I continued to search for what element we were!
Day #3: Thursday brought yet another great kick-off to the day! Inspiration from Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier filled everyone at SPC! Unfortunately the rain came in and reached some of our corduroy, but we still felt pride in the ceremonies as we represented the 52 states involved in FFA.
Day #4: This was our last day in Washington D.C before departing for home! We had the distinct privilege of experiencing a night tour of the monuments in Washington D.C. The city has an amazing effect on those who get to be there to see the monuments that honor our history. Needless to say, this week has forever left an impression on not only me, but all of those who have experienced it!
A Hole-In-One Day!
Aug. 01, 2010
Many golf swings made, many chunks of grass gone, many balls in the ponds, but many laughs along the way. This describes some of the great memories made at the Southern Golf Outing in Cottage Grove last week.
The Wisconsin FFA Foundation hosts three outings in the state every year and this one came with many supporters of FFA ready to play a great round of golf!
Noah, Cory, and I spent the day helping with registration, assisting in the putting competition, selling raffle tickets, and being "Vanna White" for the auctions! I've never been to a golf outing where people were so excited to play and have a good time while doing so. I even came prepared with 70SPF sun block and a camera to capture some of the many memories!
Thank you to all of the individuals and companies that donated items for the auction and for the event, your support is greatly appreciated by the Wisconsin FFA, the FFA Foundation, and all of our affiliates!
All in all, it was a "Hole-In-One day!
The Future Is NICE!!
Jul. 24, 2010
Laura, Ethan, Sam, and I hit the old dusty trail on Saturday to Knoxville, Tennessee for the NICE Conference. This conference is held every year for agriculturalists that are passionate about cooperatives and the impact they can make in a community.
Day #1:
Saturday began with a BANG as Jennie Gentry put on exciting ice breakers for students from all around the nation! Later that night, everyone got the chance to test their entrepreneurship and cooperative business skills by creating a group called a STUCO that would sell their product to attendees at the conference and compete to try and earn the most money.
Day #2:
“Want to buy a silly band?” were the words I heard when I woke up Sunday morning for yet another amazing day at NICE! Sunday brought us a nice devotional service, passionate speakers, and a lot of useful information on cooperatives!
Day #3: This day was all about the adventure and thrills of a theme park! The entire NICE Conference traveled out to the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. The night ended with a quick refreshment break and a climb back to the dorms for a good night’s rest after a day full of excitement! Sam and I had a moment of excitement after buying Canjos. Canjos are banjos made out of cans that are fully tuned and ready to play! We couldn’t wait to bring that talent back to Wisconsin!
Day #4: Another early morning in Tennessee brought us new experiences and kept building on our knowledge of co-ops. That night brought gals and guys to an impressive banquet that would honor all of those involved in making the NICE Conference possible. We were extremely proud of some of our own because Rachel Sossaman of Colby and State Vice President, Ethan Giebel were finalists in the Youth Scholar competition. Congratulations to Ethan- he will be invited back to the NICE Conference next year as the Male Youth Scholar!!
“America’s Got Talent?” Yes they do! Over fifteen of the participants at NICE got on stage to show their talents to the audience. We witnessed a future Beethoven, awesome singers, and the future of the cooking channel!
Lastly, we kept up our enthusiasm as we popped, locked, and dropped our way to the dance! There was even a balloon arch to support our excitement to dance the night away!
Needless to say, we didn’t only create a memory lane, but we created a memory highway! I can’t wait to do some road work to expand that highway as the team heads out for the next adventure to the Wisconsin State Fair in a couple of weeks! Hope to see a lot of you there supporting the Discovery Barnyard and the Veggie Races!
Until next time, take care and be safe!
Inspirational Spark!
Jul. 15, 2010
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” –Marcel Proust.
Summer is a key time of year where we all have the opportunity to travel and see new places and learn new things. However, I bet we can all think back to a time where a trip had changed our life completely. As you embark on new adventures and see new sights, keep Marcel Proust’s words present!
This next week Laura, Ethan, Sam and I are flying out to Knoxville, TN for the NICE Conference and the rest of the team is beginning their awesome experience at Farm Technology Days in River Falls!
Safe Travels!
Make Way For HIGH IMPACT!
Jul. 13, 2010
Where do you find leadership, historic preservation, and over 50 impacting bodies? Springfield Illinois!
This past week, the state officer team set sail for Springfield, Illinois for the National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO). This journey brought four days of learning and excitement while working with state officers from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. The theme for this conference was "High Impact" presented by national officers, Alex Henry and Chelsea Doss.
On our first night, the Illinois Association had an ice cream social for everyone to attend so that they could get to know their fellow state officers. One of my favorite parts of this night was when Morgan from Indiana and John from Illinois taught us some of their native line dances!
The rest of the week was filled with impacting sessions that taught us how to effectively serve this year. At night, the team spent time bonding, watching The Blindside, and visiting the Lincoln Museum. Needless to say, those four days went quicker than I could have imagined!
As much fun as we had, we also got down to business! Wisconsin State Officers raised the flag on Wednesday morning with an impacting message to leave the group with. Then on Wednesday night, the team performed a touching reflections program and gave a token for everyone to take home with them.
Thank you to the Illinois Association and their Executive Secretary, Mr. Craft for hosting the National Leadership Conference for State Officers (NLCSO) and for being so gracious to Wisconsin while we were in town!
Enjoy the week!
Inspirational Spark!
Jul. 04, 2010
Welcome to a second year of the "Inspirational Spark" blogs! Keep in touch with your inspirational side by checking out the"Inspirational Spark" blog additions.
"I have learned that if we advance confidently in the direction of our dreams, and endeavors to live the life we have imagined, we will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." –Henry David Thoreau
WI FFA - Powered By Potential!!!
Jul. 02, 2010
The term "Busy As A Bee" only faintly describes the work that the state officer team has done in the past week. The team headed to Madison on Sunday night for the Wisconsin Association of FFA Professional Development Conference! Throughout this week the state officer team chose themes for conferences, officially introduced themselves to the advisors in their section, and announced the STATE FFA THEME!
We began our week celebrating Noah’s birthday with a night of mini golfing and dinner at Red Robin’s! From that point on, the team went to work on developing themes for this year’s conferences, learning more about what this year has in store, and getting excited to meet their sectional advisors! Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Amber Bennett of Badgerland Financial, Ms. Nicole Nelson of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation, and Ms. Regina Oldendorf and Mr. Herman Seebandt of the Wisconsin FFA Alumni.
After learning more about the agriculture and education based organizations in Wisconsin, the team announced the State FFA Theme at the banquet. In Wisconsin, we have those who support FFA and agricultural education on a deep level and have a large passion for their students. That is why the 2010-2011 State FFA Officer team has chosen the state theme to be… POWERED BY POTENTIAL!!!
It has been said time and time again by the state officer team “We want to build from the inside, out.” With this in mind, the many goals and motivations that will drive this year to success have revolved around the power that potential gives us. Every student, every member, every person has potential. Since 1928, our organization has thrived on the celebration of potential. This is why we are so proud to announce that Wisconsin FFA is “Powered By Potential”!
Until next time, have a safe and happy 4th of July!
3...2...1...BLAST-Off!!!
Jun. 27, 2010
On Monday morning the team woke up bright and early, ready to attack our first day of BLAST-Off with energy and enthusiasm! Cory Epler broke the surface and taught the team the how to identify leadership and how to use our team strengths to our advantage!
Before BLAST-Off, each officer was asked to make a "Me In A Box.” Five of our most beloved items that describe our personality could be placed in this box. After the laughs and the tears, I am proud to say that this year's grape-loving officer team is unique and each of us possesses our own individual skills that will bring the association to new heights!
The last two days of BLAST-Off were filled with ACTION PACKED EXCITEMENT as we learned how to deliver our first speeches and took our first round of team photos at Kiel Photography!
We are getting ready to pack our bags and jumpstart the week by heading off to Madison for the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators Professional Development Conference. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2010-2011 State FFA theme! It will be announced this Wednesday at the WAAE Conference banquet!
Until then, have a fantastic week!
81st Wisconsin FFA Convention!
Jun. 18, 2010
The words "Aspire. Act. Achieve." have been lived out this year by FFA members all throughout Wisconsin.
This past week at the 81st Wisconsin State FFA Convention, over 3,100 members, supporters, and guests witnessed all of the hard work that everyone has put into recognizing the achievements of the members in our organization.
Thank you to all of the individuals who put their hard work and time into making this year and Convention successful! Also, congratulations to all of the award winners at this year's Convention. Your achievements have shown brightly this year and have made a huge difference to our Association!
Lastly, thank you Wisconsin FFA for everything in the past year. Your support has allowed me to serve another year in the Association and I cannot wait to see how this year's officer team brings the organization to new levels!
This year, the Wisconsin Association of FFA will be represented by 10 fantastic individuals: Amy Kringle, Secretary; Samantha Becker, Vice President; Laura Hornby, Sentinel; Julie Orth, Vice President; Cory Brown, Vice President; Ethan Giebel, Vice President; Anna Peissig, Reporter; Sam Tauchen, Treasurer; Whitney Barnes, Parliamentarian; and Noah Wiedenfeld, Vice President.
The new team hits the road on Monday for BLAST-Off training in Spencer! As we head out onto the open road and begin driving on a new route this year, we must remember that every mile will bring a new memory!
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