“Gentrie, never settle for less. Be you, it’s okay to not go along with the crowd.” 

My mom always told me this growing up, especially in high school and throughout life in general. Usually when she would tell me this, I would let it go in one ear and out the other. I didn’t see the point. However, per usual, I was wrong! 

High school can be difficult. This is a time where we start making connections with others, learning the balance of a social life with work and academics. We start making plans for the future and become independent while gaining responsibility. Personally, my priorities were always academics, work and, at the top, FFA. I loved high school. I had a small group of friends, but it wasn’t always the “cool” crowd. There were times I wished I was “like them”. Looking back now, I am grateful for the experience I had. 

We have all heard the terms unique, different, “going against the grain.”, etc. These are more than words, but a testament to the strength it takes for us to stay true to ourselves. In a world where we try to fit in with the crowd through social media or social groups, we become lost and forget our self value. Embracing our values and setting expectations for ourselves is an act of courage and confidence. In FFA, we are taught the importance of setting goals and striving for excellence — not just in our agricultural life, but in living a life where we never lower our standards. We all have something to bring to the table: a positive attitude, words of encouragement, peace, experience, wisdom, the list can go on!

When trying to think of a phrase to encapsulate this, I came back to a conversation I had with my parents in January. We were talking about what our hashtags were going to be walking into 2025. At the time, I didn’t know. But over the month as I interacted with others, my personal expectations started to fall. Fortunately, I was reminded “never settle for less, be you, don’t go with the crowd.” Then it came, #OldSchool.

Remember it’s okay to stand out and be different. Embrace it, never settle for less. Trust in your journey because every step you take with integrity and determination will lead you to where you are meant to be. Exceed expectations and inspire those around you to do the same in creating an atmosphere of success that will leave an impact. Think of it as being old school!

“Time to get up, Gentrie!” These five words send a ring to my ears every morning. If you are like me, you know the value of sleep, especially when it comes to five more minutes…

With fall rolling in and the temperatures dropping, the battle between cozy blankets and the cold, hard floor begins. If there’s one thing I dread, it’s getting out of bed and stepping onto that chilly surface. Simply hitting the floor is the first step into my day. On the other side, the cool floor sure sends a chilling sensation that wakes me up!

Over the course of my time in FFA, I have been relatively active with my Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). But has it always been easy? Absolutely not. Have I always felt motivated to take action? No way. However, the mentors and opportunities I’ve encountered along the way have made the struggle worth it. As a freshman, my parents helped me develop a plan for my baking and milling business.This wasn’t just a casual hobby; it was a detailed business plan. We outlined the products I would sell, the equipment I would need, and estimated my input and output costs. I was stressed just thinking about creating a plan, but the real anxiety came when I had to put the plan into action. Simply taking that first step.

So often we get in a rut of not knowing where to start or feeling overwhelmed. I still remember my dad telling me about the tasks I needed to be doing to get my SAE functioning. He told me “action accomplishes goals.” His words stuck with me. My dad nudged me into action, and once I took that first step, things started falling into place. I applied for a National FFA grant, which helped fund the equipment and ingredients I needed for my business. Over time, I expanded my product line and grew the business from the ground up. What felt like risk turned into a reward.

So often, taking that first step can feel like a brick wall. We can all plan, take preventative measures and budget, but we have to put this planning into practice. Often when creating goals, we get stuck in the rut of not knowing where to go. I have been there, and the best thing you can do is find someone to hold you accountable. That is your first step. Find someone to push your limits, help you find those opportunities, support your endeavors and seek the inevitable. Just like stepping out of bed onto that cold floor, taking the first step toward your goals can feel uncomfortable. But once you do it, you’re awake, you’re moving and you’re on your way to success. Ask yourself what your first step will be today. Afterall, taking action leads to accomplishment.