Having a Owa-TON-na of fun!

Facebook is truly a great tool! Just the other week I was chatting with my friend Travis from Owatonna and he invited me to their chapter meeting, last night. After some traffic, getting lost, taking the wrong exit, asking random people at a Holiday gas station for directions and walking through a large school with 3rd graders being herded like cattle down the hallway- I finally made it!
I had a great time sharing my own experiences, as well as learning more about the Owatonna FFA Chapter.Unfortunately, the current membership numbers within the FFA program are lower than past years. We discussed some ways that we could recruit more students to consider joining FFA, including having some Ag-Olympics, lunch games and activities at chapter meetings. Anyone up for some 4-square ?


After some good time getting to learn more about the chapter, we all headed over to Godfather's Pizza! Steph let me follow her because I'm terrible at directions. I was definitely not hungry, but when Godfather's dessert pizza is on the menu, I've got room. As I was making the late trip back to St.Paul, of course I got my directions messed up, and instead of traveling NORTH on 35 W, I went SOUTH... But I caught myself. I think I need to resort to bread crumbs...


Joe ... has just began his journey within FFA this year. He is hoping to be involved with either Horse Evaluation or Fish and Wildlife.


Kelsey... helped me celebrate, NATIONAL CREEPER DAY! It was good to see her again, because her humor is incredibly contagious. Kelsey shared with me her passion to want to be an ag teacher.


D.J. ...is currently serving as the Owatonna FFA chapter president. Ontop of his leadership accomplishment on the chapter level, he has also set an example for Minnesota FFA members as he was a contributing member of the 2008 , 4th place National Farm Business Management team!


Steph ...is my new found compass. She loves her Jersey dairy cattle, serving as a Region VII officer as has aspirations to serve the membership of Minnesota FFA on new levels. Keep it up!


Matt... is Matt. He is quite the thinker/planner/conceptualizer when it comes to chapter events and activities. After high school, Matt would like to serve our country in the United States Army.

- Thank you Ms. Tinaglia and Mr. Spindler for sharing with your students the value of agricultural education!

I hope this won't be my only post about this chapter because I want to visit again.