One thing I’ve always enjoyed has been listening to speeches and quotes of encouragement. I find that words of encouragement can turn a bad day into a good one faster than any hype song I listen to. During my year of service, I stumbled upon some of the most inspiring words yet. They come from Theodore Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech. My favorite line is, “It is not the critic who counts; the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.” Although I highly recommend listening to the whole speech, these words always remind me that glory and honor belong to those who show up. 

In FFA, we have the opportunity to compete and try new things – sometimes we win and other times we lose. It is our job to keep trying, no matter the outcome. After contest season, it is easy to lose focus and contemplate our losses rather than see the experience we gain through trying. Similarly, when our application for a scholarship, academy or another event gets rejected, we begin to feel like it isn’t worth sending in another application. It feels good to win awards and attend prestigious events, but true value is held within the experience of trying; trying something new or having the courage to try again. 

Missouri FFA, never forget that glory and honor belong to those who are willing to set foot in the arena. The opinion of others does not matter if you are willing to keep trying in the game of life. Your future is before you. Through hard work and wise decisions, you can attain the glory and honor that all worthy FFA members seek.