What do you want to do when you grow up?

Several times in my life, I have pondered this question. Frankly, I am still not sure! However, for some members of the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA Chapter and High School, they have an idea where they want to get started.

On Tuesday, Doreen invited Crystal and I to the annual Career Fair at HLWW hosted by the FFA chapter. There were people representing post-secondary education, veterinary medicine, animal health, crop and plant sciences as well as mechanical and technical skills. Here, students from HLWW High School got a chance to visit with these leaders to answer their questions about careers, education and possible job opportunities within their business.

This was our "booth"

After spending some time answering the questions that others had for me about FFA, here is what I learned about where other FFA members would like to go after high school...

Austin is interested in Fisheries and Wildlife, and would like to pursue a degree at the University of Minnesota ! Eventually, he wants to work with wildlife management, possibly with tagging and tracking animals.

Mag is not entirely sure what she would like to do... Just kidding! As a sophomore, she already knows that she would like to go to school at the University of Michigan for Child Psychology.

Austin would like to work with crop production and agronomy in the future. He hopes to receive a degree at the University of Minnesota in Applied Plant Sciences.

Sabrina loves FFA, agriculture and education. So, she would like to pursue a degree and receive her teaching license at the University of Wisconsin in River Falls for Agricultural Education!

Will has developed a love and passion for hard work in the dairy industry. He would like to study Animal Science at the University of Minnesota and eventually be either a large animal veterinarian or dairy nutritionist.

Doreen would love to be a golden gopher as well! She has shared with me her interest in working with students and inspiring them through Agricultural Education.

As things were beginning to wrap up, and I was about to leave I had the chance to talk to one more student:
Brandon just transferred to Howard Lake this past year. Being a new student, in a new school and new people, we talked about how it can be tough, especially in high school. I shared some of my own experiences, and realized that when I think about my high school experience, it wasn't my favorite. When looking for places to fit in, I found (for me) that FFA was one of the best decisions I made in high school because of the people I have met, the way my life has shifted positively and because of the clarity I have within my own life about leadership, purpose and passion. Brandon wasn't too sure about joining FFA so I answered his questions about how it can help him out in the future. He would like to either be a diesel mechanic or work in the dairy industry. Little did Brandon realize the opportunities for him just with in ONE part of FFA, the CDEs : Ag Mechanics and Dairy Cattle Evaluation. He wasn't too sure about where to go to school so I directed him to the friends I met earlier representing Ridgewater College in Willmar- Dave and Zach.

Ok so I wasn't quite leaving because I am terrible at goodbyes. I wanted to leave at 10:45, and ended up actually leaving at 11:10 !

But, as I was ACTUALLY leaving Brandon caught up with me and said,

"Hey thanks! I know what I want to do now. I want to go to the U of M for Dairy Science. Oh, and one more thing... I'm signing up to be an FFA member tomorrow."

Here is my question:

Do you have an idea as to what you would like to do in the future?

I think that getting a degree or certificate or diploma ect. is important, and will help you get a job.

But ...

I think that your passion, drive and desire to serve will get you further than any signature on a piece of paper, calculated number for GPA or plaque on the wall.