NO LIMITS.

Since I just spent a week up at an FFA camp, I thought I would change things up a little for this blog and give an FFA shout out/ challenge!

See that guy in that picture? The one on the left... kind of smiling... kind of confused...kind of awkward.

YEP... ME.

This is for sure, my first documented photograph wearing Official FFA Dress and to be completely honest, I never imagined my life being changed so much by a single organization. I'm pretty sure that this awkward sophomore would have never gained the confidence, passion or drive to live my life for others and serve the agricultural industry.

Quite often, I hear the words, "I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm done with FFA!"

I've got a simple response:

Live your life.

When that day comes to finally unzip, take off  and hang up your FFA jacket for the last time (and trust me its kind of weird...) I sure hope that you don't hang up your future as well!

 Everything you have learned, given, worked for and become would be IN VAIN, if you limited it to just being an FFA member. It is not just FFA... I'm talking everything you are involved with. Your special, individual life is so valuable and SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE is just waiting for you to be yourself, and be a part of their life. It may be a co-worker, college roommate, family member, future spouse or someone in another country...or in your classroom.

Bottom line- your life is made for more, and you have the power to change someones life by being you... and all they need is you.

Never limit the passions, things that make your heart race and the person you are to a JACKET. Never limit your life to 4 years in a jacket. 

What did you learn this week?

"To be a leader...That I can make a difference..."

So what? Don't keep it in the FFA, don't leave it in high school, and don't keep it to yourself... live it. Not just for the next year or until you reach that one goal you've always wanted- make it your life.
Tell me: What is stopping you?

Different jacket, but I'm the same person with...

NO LIMITS.  

** On that note: There are some limits you should obey like the...

• Speed limit
• Weight limit on an elevator
• Fishing limit
• Amount of 5-Hour Energy's you drink in 1 hour
• Number of helium balloons you inhale... seriously you will GO BLIND!

It came from WHERE?!

Q: Where does your milk come from?

A: The grocery store.

Too often, I have found myself or friends quickly victimizing or undermining the individual who would answer a question like this. We are so quick to say...

NO. It came from a farm!

...and make the person who we asked this trapping-question, feel like an idiot.

As agriculturalists, we definitely have passion:

1. Passion for what we do.
2. Passion for our lifestyle.
3. Passion for every aspect of the products/services we provide.

When people do not exactly understand or know it, it can be frustrating or disrupt a normal conversation. Nonetheless, we need to make sure that we are honest with ourselves in the questions we ask and the motivation behind it.

If we are asking questions like this to:

• Share a laugh with our friends, or create a mockery about it at a conference (You know exactly what I'm talking about).
• Prove individuals wrong.
• Create a scene or make a visible statement.

Think about what you are doing...

Is this the "PASSION" and attitude you wanted to be labeled with?

Friends,
In everything we do, it is great to have passion -with out a doubt.

However it is important to show COMPASSION when we share it, voice it or talk about it.  

Having a passion for something is so unique to each of us as individuals, so its incredibly unfair for us to assume that everyone else will understand it like you do.

Passion is great, but you can't share it unless you are compassionate towards those you share it with.

Now back to the beginning question about milk and the grocery store. Let's be honest with ourselves... 

Honestly, how many of you get it right from the farm?

I bet few.

**Prove me wrong, and take a picture of you getting your milk for a bowl of cereal from a bulk tank...everyday.

Its great to be having conversations like this with consumers of all differing levels of background, education and age. But please, do not be that person who will write off someone as "ignorant" or an "idiot" for not knowing what are you passionate about.

Put yourself in the situation of talking with some one that is incredibly passionate about a topic that you are neither passionate nor knowledgeable about.

Don't create traps or ask questions- it makes you look like a complete...let's just say not compassionate. 

What will you say?