FFA State Convention

We made our annual trek to Bend to watch and be present at the FFA state convention. This year we were purely support for our soon to be more famous daughter Addie. Reed was content to pal around with chapter members. He wasn't particularly keen to be seen or visit with his parents. His friend Bannock was a nice match. Greg was happy to see we now have a cattle flag to encourage cows to go where they are suppose to. Reed earned that by lifting the most at the army challenge booth. 

When we were helping Addie prepare her officer nomination speech I found this book on an end table. It looked familiar and I was happy to find the owner was my son. He's been expanding his reading preferences from strictly Louis Lamour to war biographies and a touch of farm theory. I heard rumor he was even debating grass grazing management techniques with kids on the bus? 

A tradition for the past few years at the convention our chapter has departing members sign something. This year it was the combine used in their Ag Issue presentation. I was proud of these young men interacting with so many peers. 

This year I really noticed more large group conversations and more visiting by members with each other. I think the swing back from all online is starting to happen. People need and enjoy real experiences and interactions. 

This was a first we stayed to help clean up convention. This was a fast organized process. There were hundreds of miles of cords that were also being collected. Everything came down the lights above included. Greg helped with chairs of course. 

Addie said goodbye to her dear friends who offered peace and normalcy in the midst of a stressful weekend. This lady Izzy has been Addies friend and classmate for 12 years. She is kind, gentle, and encouraging. There are not enough words in my control at this time to express the gratitude and gift such friends are as we seek to do hard things. Relationships like this are going to be missed, but also found again and again. High school is a time of making and moving on. This step has just been accelerated for Addie. 

Teagan a fellow 4-H er and FFA member, the vice president to Addie's president year. A dear family friend who is choosing to step away from FFA and focus on other experiences. Life is about decisions too. 

Sean who found a place to belong and make friends and is also moving in other directions. 

Cousin Michael with his state wrestling hair dye. We love seeing Michael at events throughout the year. 

And the lovely Mrs. Huss who took the picture. She is a supporter and inside voice on so many of these FFA things these days. I spent a lot of time encouraging and listening to advisors. They have a very demanding job. We appreciate the time they spend working with and for students. 

A once in a lifetime experience. We were thankful to have time together and with friends this year. We appreciate the many many steps that have been taken to make these moments happen. My primary take away was how life builds to big moments. There were losses, opportunities, key adults willing to teach, really hard situations that were weathered, endurance, and maybe even a touch of luck that leads to big awards or successes. And a lot of doing the work to develop skills to be ready to serve more. 

Life is good and we are very blessed.