State Forestry was an exciting competition that tested our individual knowledge and our ability to work and commit as part of a team. Two days were comprised of identifying leaves, pacing with compasses, measuring logs, reading maps, and working together to overcome a series of different tasks. After three grueling hours of work, we sat down to our last meal before the placement of the top three chapters was announced. We didn't come in first place, although we were really close, following just  behind in second. It was a slight downer for me, but there's always room for improvement and we're sure to kill it next year. 

The part I enjoyed most about the trip was, surprisingly, the rides there and back. I spent my time laughing and further getting to know my fellow FFA members. Honestly, I didn't expect to have such a good time. 

This was my very first time visiting Indianapolis and it was life changing.  When you just talk about
it, it is a lot different than actually experiencing it in reality.  I got to know people on a whole other
level, and made a ton of new friends.  We talked to other chapters and got to know their opinions on
the FFA and told them ours!  I also learned that you cannot just learn something but you have actually
got to apply it to your life so that all that knowledge doesn’t just go to waste!! The End <3

On my first trip to Indy, I paid attention but I feel as if I didn’t get as much out of it as I would have liked because
I was super nervous. This trip, I grew so much as a person and I’ve noticed a change in myself with even just half
a day back at school. I feel more a part of the P.O.S.S.E Positive, Open, Sincere, Spirited, and non-Exclusive. Before
this trip, I was like as far from the P.O.S.S.E as possible. I am able to make more places feel like home and I am ten
times more comfortable around new people as I ever was. On this trip, I have gotten the chance to know everyone
participating on a more personal level and I feel a part of a family even more than before. I have come to know
everyone and love everyone. I realize now how important it is to be a P.O.S.S.E member to be a leader.

This was my second trip to Indy and I can proudly say that it just keeps getting better and better.
I wasn’t exactly as ‘out and about’ as I was last year, mostly due to the fact that I was a delegate
and I had my national competition, the Agriscience Fair. I placed fifth, and obtained a gold medal.
However, I feel as if I have won because all the people I have befriended on the way. With the National
FFA Convention & Expo, over 55,000 FFA members crowded that city of Indianapolis, Indiana, and I felt
as if I had been their best friends since birth. All FFA members have this connection, and it’s important
to GROW upon that aspect.

This year I traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to attend the National FFA Convention and participate
in the National Nursery and Landscape Contest. Due to my teams national competition I was not able
to participate in that many convention activities. I was able to go to the career show and the first
session. During the first session we listened to Olympian Scott Hamilton talk about how he overcame
obstacles in his life to become a gold medal figure skater. The most important part of convention to
me was watching the first time attendee’s reactions. I loved the last evening listening to each one of
them talk about what they learned and how they grew as a person. I probably learned the most from
preparing for my national contest, through all the team activity practice and working on my verbal
assistance skills. I got to put all the preparation of the past seven months to work at National Convention.