One of the coolest things happened this morning after church when a friend of mine from Minneota High School came up to me and announced,
Lee-"Kirby, I'm in FFA now!"
Me- That's awesome. You paid your dues?
Lee- "Yep, and I applied to get a jacket too."
Me- Wow, this is really exciting! (fistpound/high5/sign of approval). How long have you been a member?
Lee- "Just a week, we're just getting started."
You may think, "What's the big deal, people join FFA all the time?"
Well, if you don't know the history of Minneota, MN -they have not had an agricultural education program since the early 1980's.
What was most rewarding about this moment is a mixture of emotions:
Just hearing the words, "I'm in FFA", brings me back to the time that I officially joined FFA. I imagine the many times those FFA members of the past and present, "joined" FFA. I think, "What difference has been made in their life since they joined?"
Lee's father was an FFA member, and has told me many things about "the tiny, blue corduroy jacket in the attic." Knowing that Lee will get his very own FFA jacket, makes me think of the millions of young men and women who have worn their very own FFA jacket. While each jacket may look different based on the year it was made, what state is on the back or even how many awards are underneath their name- each jacket stands for over 80 years of tradition in agriculture, service of others and commitment to agricultural education.
The jackets that flooded the streets of Kansas City, MO for the 1933 National Convention are the same jackets that were worn last week by over 50,000 FFA members in the streets of Indianapolis, IN for the 2009 National FFA Convention. The same jackets that were worn at the 1st Alaska FFA state convention in 1976, were the same jackets worn at the 1st Rhode Island state convention in 1950. The same jacket worn by a southern Kansas farm boy, who dreams of following in his father's footsteps, is the same jacket worn by a central Minnesota girl, who dreams to be an NCIS agent. The same jacket that has been zipped up by a National Officer from California, is the same jacket that has been zipped up with the excitement of a Chapter Officer from Sleepy Eye, MN. The same jacket worn by each and every leader within our organization, will be the same jacket worn by Lee. The only difference is his jacket will be the only jacket to say,
Lee Bot
MINNESOTA
Minneota.
It's his jacket. And only his jacket will be with him through each every experience of FFA.
Just within my short time in FFA, it has most certainly made a positive difference in my life. I can't wait to see what it can do for those future members of the Minneota FFA Chapter.
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