State Convention was one of highs and lows. So many emotions depending on the hour. First off was the Ag Issues presentation. Addie worked hard preparing this contest and gave a good try for the others. Unfortunately, the parts were not memorized and one team member did not answer a question so they got docked. I'm sad for them but we learn and do better next year. John had a great time being the environmentalist comfy in his Crocs. The official dress looks sharp but is not the most comfortable foot-wise.
We learned prior to the contest the kids would have to use a microphone so we prepared quickly getting ready to adjust hand movements for one hand being occupied. Mark looked so good I am so pleased with his effort this year.
Speaking at the contest he did excellent. It was a tight contest with no clear winner. I knew the judges would have a hard time sorting out who did best.
However, I was unprepared for the results. The winner is on the far left. Mark is obviously very angry. Great this is a picture from the State slideshow. His manuscript hurt him lack of zeroed in topic was the problem. Again we live we learn we work to improve.
John took the farm business test in between a lot of socializing at the ag career show.
And when the rest of the chapter namely the advisor heard there was milk available Greg offered to go get more. And somehow also came back with cookies. He was thrilled.
He and his friend Sierra also got their state degrees. These two are real workers. They tie for hours each year when applying for chapter degrees. We really enjoyed getting to know her father at this convention. He served as a chaperone.
Mark's advisor got them chocolate milk. A nice end to a hard evening.
The next morning after seeing the judges score cards for the contest we were there to watch Addie on stage. This is highly unusual to have siblings both appear on stage in the same year.
She placed 4th. The judges said they wished she had more content. Being the 4th version of her speech and only two weeks old We were impressed. She also needs to learn to stop learning and give her brain space to process because it causes information overload in her head and she says uhm as she's working to formulate her answers.
But you can't argue with a banner. We were very thankful that after her enormous effort in preparing the team and her speech that she got an award.
Greg also enjoyed the show. He was delighted to see the dairy princesses were sharing cookies and cold milk. He visited for quite a while with the ladies of the dairy council. Everywhere we go Greg visits and visits learning about people and making them feel cared for.
Mark looked so good and confident on the big stage. All sadness aside to be doon the stage is a huge accomplishment. He did not place this year. Next year he will be doing extemporaneous. He is not excited about that but it fits him with his vast knowledge base and quick thinking and now his confident stage presence he will do well if he continues learning and preparing.
And to finish the convention these two with support of their advisor took a small test drive. The novelty of the experience was a memory in the books. The entire convention experience shapes the attendees. It builds confidence and memories. I'm thankful FFA continues to offer premier leadership training to youth across the nation. I'm thankful my kids are able to be successful and to learn to handle disappointment. I'm thankful they are together in the journey. I'm thankful for the many parents who chaperone and encourage them year after year. I'm thankful to share the time and space with them. We will become better not bitter, no matter what. We are blessed.
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