Minnesota FFA Secretary 2008-2009

Sauk Centre

2009-05-12T16:19:00.001-07:00

Last night I attended the Sauk Centre FFA Banquet. It was pretty cool to reunite with some FFA members that I had met throughout the year. Your chapter put on an excellent banquet, and you should be proud of everything you accomplished through FFA!

Blooming Prairie

2009-05-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

I love coming home to visit neighboring FFA chapters! Tonight I had the pleasure of speaking at the Blooming Prairie FFA Chapter. My chapter traveled to FFA events and worked with Blooming Prairie at the FFA Barnyard at our county fair. It was so great to see members that were in FFA when I was in high school at the banquet. There was no shortage of humor in the banquet as the seniors gave their outgoing speeches. I definitely miss being a high school FFA member. Those were some of the best times EVER from fruit sales to test plots and appreciation breakfasts to the county fair. Thank you Blooming Prairie for a wonderful banquet!

Albert Lea

2009-05-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

The accomplishments and successes of FFA members make our organization what it is. It felt great to celebrate with Albert Lea FFA on Sunday, May 3rd, as they highlighted their accomplishments throughout the year. I was happy to share my comments as their guest speaker and congratulate the award winners and incoming officer team. Keep up the excellent work, Albert Lea!

80th Minnesota FFA Convention

2009-05-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

It's almost been two weeks since I unzipped my FFA jacket for the last time. State Convention flew by in a flash, but it was a blast! About 3,210 FFA members from 170 chapters gathered at the University of Minnesota to celebrate the history of FFA in our state and "Experience the Legacy". The members definitely made our FFA Association proud.

Home!

2009-04-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

With only 11 days remaining in my state officer year, I was able to go home to Owatonna, MN today for the Owatonna FFA Banquet. Before going to the banquet, however, I stopped at Central Valley Co-op with Justin to give a presentation about our ILSSO trip and thank them for their continuous support of FFA. Even though the weather was spectacular for fieldwork, eight employees were there to ask questions and discuss the global agriculture industry with us. Thank you!

This evening I was the guest speaker at my own FFA chapter. I always enjoy going home because it makes me proud to see members carrying on the traditions that started my FFA career. The very first committee I was on in FFA was the banquet committee :) The chapter and officer team did a great job. It was evident that they had the banquet well-planned and had practiced their script. Of course our banquet is never complete without the annual live auction. This year the proceeds went to Camp Courage. Keep up the good work Owatonna FFA!

Stationed by the ear of corn for just a little while longer,

Caitlin

Region II Banquet

2009-04-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Today brought me to yet another FFA Banquet. The Region II Banquet was held at the Pierz Ballroom in Pierz, MN. I had the opportunity to judge the Region Talent Contest and would like to congratulate everyone who participated. I can't wait to see the Talent Show at State Convention in just 20 days...it should be a good one. And, congratulations to the new Region II FFA officers!

Pierz FFA

2009-04-05T20:12:00.001-07:00

Tonight I traveled to "northern" Minnesota for the Pierz FFA Banquet. I was impressed with the talent of their FFA members. Good luck to the teams that will be going on to State Convention at the end of the month! Now I am hanging out with some Pierz FFA members/Region II FFA officers as we are working on banquet scripts, retiring addresses and homework. I look forward to attending the Region II FFA Banquet tomorrow afternoon to be a spectator!

CHS officer training

2009-04-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

One of the most valuable experiences of my state officer year occurred on Friday, April 3. We had the opportunity to visit CHS again as Jessica Lamker facilitated a training session about Feedback and Motivation. It was the perfect experience to have with less than a month left in my state officer year. I learned about giving specific feedback, which can be applied to both my state officer year and will be helpful in my internship this summer. I am really going to miss visiting agricultural businesses and organizations after I hang up my jacket. CHS is a tremendous supporter of Minnesota FFA. Thank you!

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle

2009-04-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

On Monday, April 30, 2009 I had the privilege of speaking at the LPGE FFA Banquet in Long Prairie. They had a great meal and program as they celebrated their chapter's accomplishments over the past year. This was just the first FFA banquet out of many that I will be attending over the next month. Others include: Pierz, Region II, Owatonna and Albert Lea. I am also working diligently on preparing for State Convention which is in just 21 days! A very popular question I get asked is, "So, are you ready for State Convention?" I have a lot of writing and memorizing to do before then...

Stationed by the ear of corn for another 21 days,

Caitlin

FILL Conference

2009-04-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

Fun. Inspiration. Learning. Leadership. Another great FFA conference was held in Annandale, MN at Camp Friendship on March 27-29, 2009. Derek and I stayed overnight at the conference on Friday and organized evening activities and the reflections. About 100 chapter leaders were at the conference that was facilitated by Mark Jewell and Angela Fredericks. FILL is only in its second year, so I encourage FFA members that cannot make it to summer conferences to sign up for this one next year!

Parkers Prairie FFA

2009-03-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Parkers Prairie FFA Banquet last night was an impressive event. In a town with a population of 991, there were well over 150 people in attendance at their 50th anniversary banquet. (That's about 15% of their town!) Past chapter presidents, American Degree recipients, State Degree recipients, chapter advisors and state officers from the Parkers Prairie FFA were in attendance. Additionally, the Eastern Region National FFA Vice President, Hannah Crossen, gave the keynote address that focused on a two-step process for recovering from falling down. 1. Get up and 2. Grow from it. Hannah, Katie, Mr. Larsen and I enjoyed learning about the history of their chapter. I was in awe at the number of scrapbooks, plaques and various awards on display at the banquet. Parkers Prairie definitely has a passion for FFA and agriculture. I wish you all the best of luck in the future!

Agri-Science Fair

2009-03-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, March 19th, I met over 70 FFA students that are very proficient in their respective areas of science including botany, environment, engineering, biochemistry/food science and zoology. If I ever need help in one of my science classes, I know who to go to. Congratulations to those that qualified to go to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis next October!

MAC Youth Conference

2009-03-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Association of Cooperatives Youth Conference is one event that I looked forward to attending in high school. On Monday, March 16th, Derek and I traveled a short distance from the U of M to Roseville, MN to join the conference attendees for their banquet and evening activities. It was great to see so many FFA members and youth in agriculture in attendance at the conference. I especially enjoyed the hypnotist after the banquet. While hypnotized students sang Taylor Swift songs and did other strange things that were forgotten as soon as they woke up from the experience. I hadn't laughed as much as I did that night in a long time, thanks to all the brave people that provided the entertainment. Thank you to the MAC Youth Board for inviting the state officers to your conference. Cooperatives are an important piece of agriculture.

AFSA OLC

2009-03-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of visiting the Academy for Sciences of Agriculture in the evening on Friday, March 13th. Their very first Overnight Leadership Conference was held with leadership activities such as a service project, sessions, a talent show and a dance. What a great idea! I even saw some familiar faces as Pete and I had visited their freshman class in the fall. I would like to point out that my table won the decorating contest at the beginning of the conference...yay! Katie, Derek and I presented a workshop about the importance of YOU in agriculture. AFSA has some really bright students that will definitely help advance agriculture in the future. Thanks for inviting us to your OLC, AFSA!

Alliance Pipeline

2009-03-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Throughout the year the state officers get the unique opportunity to participate in State Officer Professional Development Days. These visits allow us to learn more about some of our major State FFA sponsors and thank them for their generous support. Alliance Pipeline in Eden Prairie, MN was the host to our last SOPD on Friday, March 13th. It was really neat to learn about the pipeline, how it was constructed and why they are so passionate about supporting the FFA Organization. In addition to their partnership with FFA, they are big supporters of the communities surrounding the pipeline. I strongly encourage FFA members that are planning to attend SGLC and SLCCL to ask your advisor if Alliance Pipeline scholarships are available in your community. Thank you Alliance Pipeline!

Minnesota FFA Alumni Annual Meeting

2009-02-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

Today I not only caught up on my blogging, I had the opportunity to attend the Minnesota FFA Alumni Annual Meeting and see many familiar faces. Katie and I presented a workshop about generating community support and member excitement. It was a good chance to present to a different audience. As state officers we don't get the chance to present to adults and alumni, rather we work quite a bit with FFA members. The National FFA Alumni President elect, Diane, also presented a workshop at the meeting. I attended that workshop and we were able to cut out out "modes of transportation" from spam. This allowed us to identify keys for affiliate chapter improvement.

I truly appreciate the continuous support that FFA alumni gives to FFA members as coaches, mentors, fundraisers and friends. I look forward to joining the alumni once my year of office is over. Thank you Minnesota FFA Alumni!

Caitlin

FFA Day at the Capitol

2009-02-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

Despite the winter weather, over 80 FFA members from across Minnesota gathered at the Captiol in St. Paul to share their pride for agriculture and FFA with their local representatives on Thursday, February 26. A topic that came up often while meeting with representatives and senators was the concern over recent budget cuts in local schools. If you are an FFA member with this concern, I encourage you to do your research, talk to your representatives and to your school board. I learned that these people will listen to you and value your opinions.

After a long day of visiting with representatives and being introduced on the House floor during session, the state officer team ventured out into the blizzard to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. We met with Commissioner of Agriculture Gene Hugoson for an hour and a half and discussed agriculture issues on the local level and internationally. It was also a nice surprise to see Robin Kinney, my mentor and Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture at the MDA as well.

It was nice to see FFA members on Thursday. You represented Minnesota FFA and agricultural education in a very positive fashion. Thank you for coming!

Caitlin Kasper

FFA Day at the Timberwolves

2009-02-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

What a way to kick off FFA week! On Sunday, February 22 our state officer team traveled to the Target Center to meet with FFA members from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. This event put on by the Minnesota FFA Foundation occurs every year and is a great way to meet FFA members from across the midwest and enjoy a good game of basketball. After eating some great food at Champp's and meeting Randy Breuer and the voice of the Timberwolves, Rod Johnson, we were ready for a great game.

This was the first Timberwolves game I had ever been to and the Timberwolves put up a good fight against the Lakers. In the end the Lakers won by just three points. I encourage FFA members and chapters to join in FFA Day at the T-Wolves in the future. We could use some more Minnesotans at the game!

Caitlin

SOPD at CHS

2009-02-28T08:24:00.000-08:00

It was refreshing to take a Friday off school and go to CHS for a State Officer Professional Development Day. CHS is a very generous cooperative that provides a lot of support to the FFA organization. During the day on Friday, February 13, our state officer team met with various CHS employees to learn about grains, stewardship, energy, member cooperatives and careers in agriculture. This gave me a lot of insight into what I can do to better prepare myself for internships and jobs in the future. It also gave me a better understanding of CHS and what their company does.

We also met with some employees in preparation for FFA Day at the Capitol. They got us thinking about key messages that we can share with our representatives during FFA week. Thank you, CHS!

Caitlin Kasper

Metro Area FFA Alumni Banquet

2009-02-28T08:17:00.000-08:00

I attended the Metro Area FFA Alumni Banquet on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at Axel's Bonfire on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. I had a great time catching up with FFA Alumni that I haven't seen in a couple months. I enjoyed a meal with alumni and cannot thank them enough for all they do for FFA. It is great to see a group of people so dedicated to making a difference in the lives of FFA members. Thank you!

Caitlin Kasper

ILSSO: Friday, January 16, 2009

2009-02-28T08:10:00.000-08:00

Getting everything packed back into one suitcase and one carry on was a miracle! I never thought I would fit my souvenirs in my luggage. I even had to sit on my suitcase to get it closed. We are leaving for the airport before noon and taking the Maglev train part way there. This train travels at speeds over 350 mph. When we leave from the airport, we will arrive in San Francisco on the same day before we even left for the United States since we cross the International Date Line.

We have a couple hours' layover in SF and then have about a four hour flight to Minneapolis. (Oh, and Katie does get to come home with us! She picked up her new passport this morning.) I will get home at about 6:00 on this Friday even though it's technically 38 or so hours from now. I hope you all enjoyed following my trip to China. I appreciate your encouragement, support and donations. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip from which I learned a lot about culture and international agriculture. Thank you!

Caitlin

ILSSO: Thursday, January 15, 2009

2009-02-28T07:47:00.001-08:00

After breakfast we loaded the bus for the Yu Garden. We went shopping near the Yu Garden and then Justin, Katie and I decided to eat lunch at the McDonald's nearby. While at McDonald's Katie's purse was stolen, which contained her passport, additional ID's, money and cell phone. Our Chinese tour guide contacted the police and Katie spent over five hours at the police station and the American Consulate to get paper work done for a new passport. Everyone in the group was worried about her not being able to go home with us tomorrow.

Our group also spent some time shopping at Nanjing Road. Apparently this is the busiest shopping area in the world. Many street vendors were flashing brochures of name brand purses, watches, shoes and sunglasses and trying to convince us to follow them to their shops which are located in alleys away from the main street. I actually did visit a few of these shops with 20 or so others from my group. I would not have felt safe going into the alleys with fewer than that many people. I didn't buy anything there, but others from the group were bargaining with the shop owners in English for a better deal. These items were sold in back alley shops since it is illegal to sell stolen, copied or pirated items in Shanghai. The shops were almost like something you would see in a movie. We entered one shop that seemed really small but there were shelves of shoes that moved like a trap door into a bigger area of the shop.

After our shopping excursion we had one last Chinese dinner and then went to an acrobat show. Tomorrow we go to the airport in the afternoon and get ready for a very long trip home.

Caitlin

ILSSO: Wednesday, January 14, 2009

2009-02-28T07:14:00.000-08:00

Ni hao!

This morning we took a boat cruise on the Suzhou canal. Suzhou's nickname is "Venice of the East" since their canals look a lot like Venice. The canals used to be used for trading and markets, but today they are just a major tourist attraction.

After our beautiful morning cruise, we went to the Suzhou Silk Institute to learn how they spin silk and make products from it. This tour was similar to many other tours of factories in China. Our tour guide showed us around the factory and then took us to the gift shops to buy some real silk. This was one of my favorite stops so far and I did bring home quite a few souvenirs.

We then visited the milk processing plant where the dairy farm that we visited yesterday ships their milk. It was interesting to find out that China does not have a demand for cheese because the Chinese just don't eat it. They also only processed whole milk at this plant. You would never find skim, 1% or 2% milk in China. They make a product called "student milk" as well. This milk contains even more nutrients than whole milk. After the tour of the plant I had the opportunity to try their yogurt, which is packaged in a cup and is drank through a straw. This was the first time I have eaten dairy products on this whole trip. Their milk is packaged in single serving bags and is drank warm in the winter and cold in the summer.

The last stop of the day was at the Suzhou Vegetable Research Institute. After visiting about five greenhouses in China, I am realizing that plant research is a specialty of theirs.

We had a long bus ride back to Shanghai tonight. Thanks for reading!

Caitlin

ILSSO: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

2009-02-20T16:06:00.000-08:00

After breakfast we boarded a plane to fly to Shanghai. Once we landed we were off to visit another greenhouse. Shanghai Sun Qiao Modern Agriculture was a plant research facility near Shanghai.

We didn't actually stay in Shanghai tonight, but we took a long bus ride to Suzhou. Before heading to our hotel we visited a dairy farm. I grew up on a dairy farm so this was one of the most interesting visits so far. There were about 200 dairy cows on the farm, but they were still milking in stanchion barns. The herd was comprised of all Holsteins, but they were half the size of those in the United States. Their dairy farm was much different from one you would see in the United States. In fact, they were expanding their herd but instead of building a milking parlor they were constructing another stanchion barn.

On the ride back to the hotel I got some sleep. I am starting to miss American food very much.

Caitlin

ILSSO: Monday, January 12, 2009

2009-02-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

Today we visited Northwest A&F University, a huge agricultural university. We toured part of their campus and talked and ate lunch with some of their students. Many of the Chinese students were in awe at how little Americans study throughout their schooling. It is common for them to study 12 hours per day, while we may study 3 hours outside of class.

We then visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and finished the day with dinner and a show. We were served an 18-course dumpling meal, and each dumpling had a different stuffing. The pork dumpling was in the shape of a small pig and the chicken dumpling look like a chicken. I even tried shark fin dumpling. At the restaurant we enjoyed the Tang Dynasty Show after our meal.

Caitlin

ILSSO: Sunday, January 11, 2009

2009-02-20T14:49:00.000-08:00

We had time to freshen up at the hotel and eat breakfast upon arrival in Xian. Then we took a bus to the City Wall. This is the last remaining one in China and the perimeter is 9 miles. I rode a double bike with Katie and got to see a lot of people setting up decorations for their Spring Festival. One thing that I noticed this morning is that there is a lot of air pollution here. Visibility is about 1/4 mile.

This was a shorter day than yesterday. When we were done biking at the City Wall, we went to a Terra Cotta factory where they make replicas of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Then we toured the actual museum where the warriors were found. The pit of clay soldiers is huge!

Caitlin

ILSSO: Saturday, January 10, 2009

2009-02-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

We began our day by touring a Cloissone Factory near Beijing. This is where pots and figurines are handmade from copper and painted with minerals to make nice, authentic and decorative Chinese art. All of the work here was done by hand. After getting a tour from our guide, Babbit, we were able to visit the gift store. I bought some beautiful figurines including a rooster for my grandma.

Our next stop was the Great Wall of China. I actually didn't realize how many stairs there were! We had a little over an hour to explore near the Great Wall. I didn't go all the way to the top, but did get some great pictures of the surrounding mountains. I even bought a metal certificate that has my name and the date engraved on it and confirms that I climbed the Great Wall.

On our way to the pearl and jade factory, our bus stopped near the Olympic stadiums, the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. We didn't get very close to them, but it was neat to be in the same area where the Olympics were held not too long ago.

Next, we went through a museum at the jade and pearl factory that showed us the different qualities and colors of jade. After eating lunch at the factory we had some time to wander around the very large pearl and jade gift shops. One thing I have realized is that at every tourist attraction there are places to eat and buy things. I did end up purchasing some pearl earrings and a pearl ring. They were a lot cheaper in comparison to pearls in the United States and our tour guides informed us that this was the best place to buy them because they are guaranteed to be real.

Even though our day was very full already, we had a couple more stops to go. We went to the Temple of Heaven. Surrounding the Temple was a large park area where local Chinese people were singing, dancing, playing cards, playing hackey sack, knitting and selling items to tourists. It was like an outdoor community center. I was able to barter with a lady to buy a small knitted purse.

The rest of the group's final hours in Beijing were spent shopping while the Minnesota group met with American Soybean Association Director Phil Laney. We learned about soybean marketing and the relationship between the United States and China. Before we went to the Beijing Railway station, we had just enough time to stop and eat at McDonald's. There are actually quite a few McDonald's, Pizza Huts and KFC's in China. The most popular is KFC followed by McDonald's. I ordered chicken nuggets and fries which tasted exactly the same as if I had ordered them in the U.S.

Today I also learned to appreciate American toilets. Chinese toilets are simply a hole in the ground and are not the most pleasant facility to use. We also take for granted free refills at restaurants. Refills at Chinese restaurants need to be purchased.

Getting on the sleeper train was quite the experience. Our group got split up once we got off the bus to find our train. The tour guide that was with us had a dead cell phone and didn't know which train number we were supposed to be on. Needless to say, after our group boarded the train it left right away. We left Beijing at 9:00 pm and arrived in Xian at 9:00 am on Sunday.

Caitlin

ILSSO: Friday, January 9, 2009

2009-02-18T19:31:00.001-08:00

We started theday off by going to the Beijing Market, which is one of the largest in China. Meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts and spices could all be found for sale here. A lot of restaurant owners and individuals come to the market to buy their food. I was surprised at how little regulations there were in the meat market sector. We entered a large shed through some canvas curtains to see five rows full of wooden booths where hog carcasses were sitting out and being cut up by hand. There was no refrigeration in this building, so I can't imagine what that would be like in the summer time. People come into the meat market and can touch the meat they want which is packaged in a plastic grocery bag.

Next, we visited the fruit and nut sections of the market. The fruit section had very nice packaging and was much cleaner than the meat market. The nut market was in another location. Some people from our group tried buying nuts there, but nobody spoke English and we know very few phrases in Chinese.

This was another busy day as we rode

on our buses to have lunch and visit the Largest Ecological Farm in China. Yet another authentic Chinese meal was served t

o us. This time we had egg drop soup, some chicken, boiled cabbage and a whole fish. Dessert was watermelon. They eat very healthy in China and do not have nearly as many sweets as

we do. So far, dessert has always been watermelon, apples or mandarin oranges. After our lunch we toured their organic greenhouses and saw their biogas plant that heats the small villages' water supply.

Next, we went to Fu Hua beef farm where they raise about 10,000 head of cattle per year. I was very surprised at how much manual labor was used on this farm that had so many animals. One of the pictures shows a man hauling a cart of manure behind him. The workers shoveled all of the manure by hand, and there was only one small tractor on the farm.

After touring the beef farm, we had supper at their on-farm restaurant. This was the fanciest meal we had, beef hot pot. During the meal there was American music that I had never heard of playing on the karaoke tv's. Our Chinese tour guide encouraged us to sing and dance because that is the image they have of Americans from watching movies. When we were finished with our meal we actually did have a short disco party in the same room. Even some of the Chinese waitresses were learning how to line dance from us. This was a very interesting experience and I am sure some of their stereotypes of Americans were confirmed and some were refuted.

After our dance we had an hour drive back to the hotel. Tomorrow we pack our bags before getting on the bus as we are traveling to Xian on a sleeper train in the evening.

Caitlin

ILSSO: Thursday, January 8, 2009

2009-02-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

Thursday was packed full of cultural experiences. In the morning we went to Tiananmen Square. This is a big wide open square in Beijing, and it was really cold out this morning because it was very windy. I am sure glad I packed plenty of warm winter clothing. Something that surprised me, though is that there is no snow on the ground. In fact, even though it is nearly as cold as Minnesota now, they only get snow twice a year. We also visited the Forbidden City and had our first experience with street vendors. Our tour guides taught us how to say "no thanks" in Chinese (boo yao). We also practiced our numbers and some key phrases in Chinese such as "pretty girl" (mei nu) and "handsome boy" (shuai ge).

After Tiananmen Square, we went to eat lunch at another authentic Chinese restaurant. This time we didn't have the option of eating with forks and got a hands-on lesson in using chopsticks. Then we headed over to the American Embassy. There was intense security at the Embassy and we had to leave cell phones and our cameras on the bus. Once inside, our group was led into a meeting room and we were able to speak with the representatives that deal with Chinese and American agriculture relations on a daily basis.

Before going to a Peking Duck Banquet, we had time to learn about Chinese Tea Culture. I was able to try five different Chinese teas including Jasmine tea, green teas, white teas and black teas. After trying some tea, I bought souvenirs at their gift shop including different types of tea and teacups. This was a really neat and fun experience.

We then ate a Peking Duck Banquet which is a really famous dish in China. I had never eaten duck before so it was a great chance to try it. So far I am eating a lot of rice and vegetables. Their Chinese food is very different from the Chinese we have in the United States. I am not use to the different tastes yet. In Beijing, they don't have noodles, but they do have a lot of sticky rice. There is also no sesame, spicy or orange chicken.

Finally the day ended with a Chinese Kung Fu Show. It was an interesting mix of commentary about the history of Kung Fu combined with theatrical performances. I am looking forward to visiting farms and the Beijing Market tomorrow.

Caitlin

ILSSO: Wednesday, January 7, 2009

2009-02-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

After arriving in Beijing at 3:00 in the afternoon, we loaded the bus to drive to a restaurant for supper. The first thing I realized is that I was definitely not in the United States anymore. The older buildings and apartments in Beijing are very tall and they all look the same due to government regulations.

We ate supper at an authentic Chinese restaurant. The tables we round with a lazy susan at each. The waiters put dishes of food on the lazy susan and everyone at the table used their chopsticks to dish up their plates. It was also interesting to see that their plates and cups are less than half the size of those that you would see in American restaurants.

Today I realized that I have to be open to understanding the Chinese culture and to giving things a try. Their food, customs, language and way of life is different from anything I have ever experienced. I am really looking forward to the rest of the trip.

Caitlin

ILSSO: Monday, January 5, 2009

2009-01-05T20:57:00.000-08:00

Hello from California!

Before heading to China, our group gathered in San Francisco for a day and a half. We arrived yesterday at about 11:30 am. We then had the day to ourselves to explore the city. It was really neat! Three of my teammates and I took the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to Union Square and then walked to Fisherman's Wharf, which took us nearly an hour! We had a great time shopping at little stores and taking in the awesome views. We then went to see the sea lions on Pier 39 and ate supper at an outside restaurant. (You can't do that in Minnesota at this time of year!) After spending five hours downtown we rode the trolley back to Union Square.

We spent today in an orientation session for our trip to China. Altogether there are 25 boys, 25 girls and 5 chaperones on the trip. We learned about customs, culture, history, food and laid out our expectations for the trip. I think I am most excited to visit a dairy farm while we are over there. We leave San Francisco at 11:00 tomorrow morning and arrive in China around 3:00 in the afternoon the next day. (the 7th)

Hopefully I will have the opportunity to write nearly every day to update you on my adventures.

Caitlin

ILSSO

2009-01-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

On January 4-16, 2009, I will be traveling with four other Minnesota FFA State Officers to China for the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers. Justin Krell, Pete Thome, Cindy Young, Katie Zenk and I will be among 50 State FFA Officers from around the United States on the tour. We will be visiting Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Suzhou. The trip's main focus is agriculture and will include tours of the China Agricultural University, cattle farms, greenhouses, dairy farms, the Suzhou Silk Institute and much more. We will also be touring the Great Wall of China, the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium and the American Embassy among many other historical and cultural visits.

International travel is an awesome opportunity for anyone to pursue, especially if you are involved in agriculture! Chinese agriculture is growing rapidly, which is why this trip will be such a great experience.

If you are interested in following my group's adventures while we are in China, feel free to check out the State Officers' blogs. Just go to the State FFA website, www.ffa.umn.edu, and click on the "State Officers" tab. You can also go to the National FFA website, www.ffa.org, and look for the "ILSSO 09" blog.

Thank you for your support and encouragement as I travel overseas!

Stationed by the ear of corn,

Caitlin Kasper

Fall was busy with FFA events!

2009-01-03T16:09:00.000-08:00

I have not had much time to blog, but I have decided to update it before I go on the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers to China.

In November, Pete and I visited the AFSA, NE Metro, School of Environmental Studies FFA Chapters. We shared FFA opportunities with FFA members, agriculture students and officer teams. We also went to Rush City and North Branch FFA Chapters at the beginning of December. It was great to visit with members and advisors to find out what materials and information they needed to be successful. We wish all the best to chapters as they plan their spring FFA events.

I also had the opportunity to attend the CHS New Leaders Conference. I went to Minneapolis on Tuesday, December 2 to help with registration and attend the opening banquet. It was interesting to meet young farmers from other states and learn about the important issues that their industries are facing. I was also glad to help out CHS as they are a major sponsor of FFA. Thank you!

Caitlin

Chisago Lakes and Forest Lake FFA Chapter Visits

2008-11-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

As of October 31, 2008, chapter visits have been under way. Pete and I have visited two chapters so far and were warmly welcomed by both. These visits to Region IV schools are unique for me because I grew up in a production agriculture area in Southern Minnesota. Most of the chapters that Pete and I will be visiting do not daily contact with production agriculture, but are closer to agriculture business since their chapters are located so close to the cities area.

On Halloween, Chisago Lakes hosted us at their high school. Ms. Schwartz had a wonderful class of Animal Science students. We had fun helping them discover the opportunities that FFA and agriculture offers to students. Thank you Chisago Lakes!

Next, we visited Forest Lake on Veteran's Day, Tuesday, November 11. We were able to sit in on their chapter officer meeting that morning and then visited with two 9th grade agriculture classes. Their chapter also hosted a school-wide assembly in honor of Veteran's Day in their high school gym. I was truly amazed by this experience because the celebration was so moving and I was glad I had the opportunity to attend. Thank you Forest Lake FFA!

Keep up the great work! I am looking forward to visiting AFSA NE Metro and the School for Environmental Studies at the end of this week.

Caitlin

81st National FFA Convention

2008-11-18T18:41:00.000-08:00

Flying on a plane, riding in a limo to the hotel, watching a laser show, getting a free preview of a new movie. These are just a few of the perks of being a National FFA Delegate. But, what do we really do? Over 400 delegates participate in the National FFA Delegate process. This year, Minnesota had nine delegates, which is one more than last year! (Thanks to our membership increase.) We traveled to Indianapolis a couple days before the convention actually started to participate in the delegate meetings. The delegate process has been around forever and is the reason that women were allowed to join FFA. This year I served on the Goat Proficiency committee. We decided that the National FFA Board of Directors should seriously look at creating a separate proficiency area for goats. Other important issues I was able to vote on include the American Degree requirement changes and dues increases.

In addition to serving as a National delegate, I received my American Degree at the convention. Receiving the highest award in FFA is truly an honor. I really appreciate the support that my family, friends, FFA advisors, fellow officers and chapter have given me throughout my FFA career. Thank you!

Caitlin

Region V Chapter Leaders Conference

2008-11-18T18:37:00.000-08:00

I had the unique opportunity to do a full day of workshops with chapter leaders from Region V on Thursday, September 18 2008. Brad Lanoue and I had a great time learning about Region V FFA Chapters as we shared what we know about being chapter officers with them. Hopefully those chapter leaders have used the skills and knowledge they learned that day to strengthen their chapters and encourage others to get involved in this great organization. Thanks for a great time Region V!

Your State Secretary,

Caitlin

U of M Invite

2008-11-18T18:20:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, October 7 2008, I briefly helped out with the 2008 U of M Fall Invite. Each year Career Development Events are hosted at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for FFA members to practice their CDE areas. I always looked forward to going to these while I was in high school since they were real practice and we were competing with teams that we would see again at State Convention. It gave me a feel for the areas of my contest that I needed to improve upon and let my team know what our strengths were compared to other teams. Even though it was pouring cats and dogs on the day of the Invite, I think FFA members had a blast! The next Invite will be on Thursday, December 11 2008. See you there!

Caitlin

Region II Fall Rally

2008-11-18T18:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't written in a while, so fall semester has proven to be extremely busy.

On Tuesday, September 23 2008 I was invited to attend the Region II Fall Rally in northern Minnesota. It was really neat to attend a Region II event since I come from Region VII and my chapter visits are focused in Region IV this year. I gave a welcome to their Region members and noted that they are the most diverse Region in the state in terms of agricultural production. I then had the opportunity to talk to Greenhands about the importance of service in their communities. Hopefully those members I talked to are pursuing some community service activities. What's really neat is that Region II FFA is hosting a Region Winter Fun Day and Service Day in Foley on Saturday, December 13 2008. Unfortunately I will not be able to make it there, but I wish them the best of luck with their service project and I hope everyone has a great time!

Caitlin

Ag Nite at the Republican National Convention

2008-09-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Attending the Ag Nite at the Republican National Convention was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! About 3,000-4,000 significant players in the agriculture industry were invited to this social event. Live music and scrumptious appetizers were served to all the guests. I was able to share the message of FFA with key agricultural companies and meet the Commissioner of Agriculture, Gene Hugoson. This gathering was perfect way to unite all facets of agriculture.

FFA Softball Tournament

2008-09-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Owatonna FFA hosted a Softball Tournament on Saturday, September 6th. They had two teams and Waseca FFA and Blooming Prairie FFA each had one team. It was a very fun and competitive event for all the FFA chapters involved. I helped sell food at the tournament. The money went toward the Owatonna FFA Farm Business Management team that placed 1st in the state and will be competing at the National FFA Convention. Hopefully the tournament will grow in its third year. It is a great way for FFA members to get together for a fun event to kick off the school year.

CHS Miracle of Birth Center

2008-09-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

I worked at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center and the FFA Chapter House and Leadership Center during the Minnesota State Fair on August 25-28th. I primarily visited with fairgoers in the Leadership Center and helped them participate in hands-on activities where they learned about the FFA Organization. It was really neat to meet past FFA members and current supporters. Informing others that were not previously connected with FFA proved to be a beneficial experience as well. It felt good to help others understand what exactly FFA is all about.

Farm Fest 2008

2008-08-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

Even though camps are over and the end of summer is near, I am staying pretty busy. Yesterday I traveled to Redwood Falls, MN for Farm Fest 2008. I had never been there before, but I will definitely attend Farm Fest in the future. Mrs. Aarsvold was the state officers' official tour guide for the day. In the morning I was able to visit with sponsors and potential sponsors of FFA. I then worked the the U of M booth in the afternoon as kids and adults answered questions about agriculture to win prizes. Overall, it was a day filled with fun and new experiences.

Caitlin

Miracle of Birth Center Training

2008-08-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

One thing I have learned from FFA is that there is always something new to learn. The beginning of the state officer year brought BLAST Off and NLCSO. However, the most recent training I attended, the Miracle of Birth Center Training, was a little different. This time I learned about key messages in the agriculture industry as a whole. From growing up on a dairy farm, I know quite a bit about the dairy industry and its messages. This training taught me about important issues in the hog, poultry, beef and horse industries as well.

During the state fair, I will have the opportunity to work in the CHS Miracle of Birth Center and Chapter Leadership House. The state officers will spend their time in the Leadership House. Even though we will not be working directly with the animals, the training was extremely important because we are able to do media interviews throughout the fair. I am proud to represent Minnesota Agriculture as an ambassador at the state fair!

See you there :)

Caitlin

Metro Area FFA Alumni Picnic

2008-08-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Among the many activities that I have had the opportunity to participate in, it was nice to be able to do something with an alumni group. A big thanks goes out to the Metro Area FFA Alumni for putting on a fantastic picnic on Tuesday, July 29th. I met many supporters of FFA and past members at the gathering. FFA Alumni Chapters are yet another piece of the FFA puzzle. They provide an immense amount of support and help to local FFA chapters, which allows this youth organization to be so strong. Thank you, Alumni Chapters!

Caitlin Kasper

Minnesota FFA Secretary

Faribault County Fair FFA Show

2008-07-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of traveling to Blue Earth, MN this past Saturday for the Faribault County Fair FFA Show. It was the 148th year for their fair and the first time they held an FFA show. Local chapters were invited to participate in the hog, beef and sheep shows. I saw many familiar faces from earlier this summer as I handed out the ribbons to class winners. It was so cool to see an FFA show start up. I would encourage FFA members to continue participating in FFA shows this summer. See you at the state fair!

Caitlin

MN FFA Foundation Golf Tournament

2008-07-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

The fifth annual Minnesota FFA Foundation Golf Tournament was held at the Summit Golf Course in Cannon Falls on July 24th. It was an excellent day for golfing with some shade and a light breeze. About 34 golf teams of 4 individuals each participated this year. Each team played 18 holes and a dinner was held afterward at Grandpa's Garage. I really appreciate all the sponsors that helped to make the tournament possible. Numerous opportunities for FFA members were created with the dollars that were raised last week. Thank you!

Caitlin

State Leadership Conference for Chapter Leaders

2008-07-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

SLCCL was held last week, July 14-18, at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve in Hackensack, MN. Over 140 FFA members arrived on Monday for an experience of a lifetime. Throughout the week, members were challenged to enhance their leadership abilities and acquire knowledge to bring back to their chapters. On Thursday of camp, members did over 400 hours of service at Deep Portage which counts toward the state's 20,000 service hours goal. I was a part of the invasive species group where we picked thistles and ragweed around the buildings. Other service projects included making tie blankets to donate, restoring a wildflower garden, cutting wood, fixing the volleyball court and blocking trails from ATVs. We also had an excellent banquet, talent show and dance on Thursday night. We said goodbye to campers on Friday morning. The theme "Mission Possible" was perfect for this week of camp. Everyone left camp with new friends and new talents and abilities. Now, it's time for them to prove that their mission is possible as chapter leaders over the next year.

Caitlin

AgriBank Dairy Day

2008-07-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

Today I traveled to St. Paul for AgriBank's Dairy Day. I met with many employees of AgriBank including Bill York, CEO. Their company holds various days dedicated to certain commodities in order to educate their employees about agriculture. After eating lunch with a few employees of AgriBank, I helped at a dairy quiz booth. I asked questions to over 100 employees about important dairy industry facts. I had a lot of fun, and it was great to learn more about AgriBank, a dedicated sponsor of FFA.

Caitlin

FFA Day at the Dome

2008-07-01T09:03:00.001-07:00

Sunday, June 29th brought me to the Twin Cities for FFA Day at the Dome. Before the start of the Twins vs. Brewers game, I had the opportunity to meet sponsors and FFA members at a pre-game picnic. Sponsored by the Minnesota FFA Foundation, the Day at the Dome was a great success with numerous members, sponsors and FFA families in attendance. A sweet ending to this event was marked with a win by the Twins!!

I hope to see many more sponsors and FFA members at the Minnesota FFA Foundation Golf Tournament in Cannon Falls on July 24th.

-Caitlin Kasper

State Greenhand Leadership Conference

2008-07-01T08:54:00.001-07:00

Over 130 Greenhand FFA members gathered at Deep Portage in Hackensack, MN on June 23rd on the quest to "Go for the Gold". Everyone's excitement for learning and growing made this SGLC a huge success. From sharing Me-in-boxes at cabin chats to participating in the volleyball tournament and serving as session officers, Greenhands from around the state had experiences of a lifetime. Our Olympic theme continued to challenge us throughout the week to become all-stars in FFA.

This is one of the most enjoyable conferences I have ever had the opportunity to lead. The success of SGLC was measured greatly by campers' positive comments and smiling faces throughout the week in addition to the many times that I heard, "I am going to miss SGLC," as the state officers said their goodbyes to campers.

For those that attended this conference, just remember that you will have so many more opportunities in your future FFA career. State Greenhand Leadership Conference opened numerous doors for you to make friends and discover just exactly what your passions are in this organization. Continue to be involved in FFA and carry the same curiosity for learning with you every step of the way.

Stationed by the ear of corn,

Caitlin Kasper

National Leadership Conference for State Officers

2008-06-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hello FFA members!

On June 16-20th, your Minnesota FFA state officers were in Aurora, Nebraska for the National Leadership Conference for State Officers. This conference was put on by National Officers Kari Boettcher and Brady Revels. At the conference, we worked on our teamwork skills and learned how to hold each other accountable and be committed to certain tasks. In addition, we got to know state officers from South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska. While at the conference, we worked hard to finish up the final preparations for SGLC. We are extremely excited to kick off an amazing week of camp coming up on Monday.

See you later this summer!

Caitlin Kasper

2008-2009 Minnesota FFA Secretary

80th Kansas FFA Convention

2008-06-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday,

I recently took an excursion of about 1,000 miles round trip to Manhattan, KS for their State FFA Convention. Pete, Derek, Sydney and I started our road trip in Albert Lea, MN on Monday, May 26. We arrived in Kansas with much excitement and curiosity. We traveled to not only help with the "behind the scenes" work, but also to gather some new ideas for our very own State Convention. I know, the MN FFA Convention will not be until next April, but if you know me, you know that it is never too early to start planning.

Their convention actually started on Wednesday, so we had plenty of time to take a tour of Manhattan, KS with one of MN FFA's good friends, Sharita. Sharita along with Shawn took us to Manhattan Hill, Top of the World and even Pillsbury Crossing. I was surprised to hear that many people who went to Kansas State University and lived in Manhattan had never even been to these places! Thank you Sharita!

On Wednesday it was time to be serious. I helped video tape the Prepared Public Speaking CDE in the morning. During the afternoon I helped with the delegate workshops. In Kansas, their delegates vote on the state officer candidates. These workshops are available for delegates to attend in order to get to know the candidates better. Their state officer candidate process is very different from ours, so it was nice to see.

Another aspect of the KS Convention that was different was their CDE's. Here in Minnesota, we hold all state CDE contests at our convention, but KS holds most of their state CDE's one month before convention. This way, the first place team and first place individuals already know who they are and they are recognized on stage.

Thursday gave me the opportunity to attend three of their general sessions. I was able to listen to keynote addresses from national officers Becky Sullivan and Morgan Parker. Shawn Harper was an excellent speaker that spoke at the session that night. After the last session on Thursday night, we headed back to Minnesota.

Traveling to the Kansas FFA Convention and K-State was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I met some amazing FFA members and K-Staters. Kansas is a very welcoming state and it was great to see their convention in action. Thank you Kansas!

Stationed by the ear of corn,

Caitlin Kasper

BLAST Off

2008-05-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am Caitlin Kasper, the 2008-2009 Minnesota FFA Secretary. Over the past four days I have had the opportunity to brush up on my communication skills, get to know my 13 teammates, and learn some great activities that I will use throughout the year. BLAST Off training was a great kickoff to my year as your State Secretary. I am very excited to serve MN FFA members this year and I hope to see many of you at SGLC and SLCCL. If your chapter needs a banquet speaker or help with an FFA activity, feel free to contact me. Enjoy your last few weeks of school. See you this summer!

Stationed by the ear of corn,

Caitlin