2025-2026

Jul 22 2025

Stop and Smell the Roses

2025-2026, Ryatt Haggerman

Ryatt Haggerman, 2025-26 Secretary

If you have ever met me, you know I love to take in each and every moment, no matter how small it might be. I was not always this way, though, and it has taken me a long time to realize we all need to slow down every once and awhile and live in the moment. I started to understand how important this was toward the end of my junior year of high school when I saw my time in high school was coming to a close. I realized the next year was going to be filled with a lot of lasts. My last fall speech, my last spring contest season, and even my last year serving as a chapter officer. But I also realized I never really stopped to enjoy those different moments for the past three years I had been part of them.

Over the past three years, I had been looking at what the next step was. Always asking the question, what was the next big thing I could be a part of? It never occurred to me that I was living in the moments that were worth slowing down for. We all know life can get pretty busy; sometimes it feels like we have a million different things needing our attention. It is when all we start focusing all of our energy on is all of these different problems and responsibilities that we forget to live in the moment.

I am not asking us to always be perfect when it comes to living in the moment. All of us have times of uncertainty where we can’t help but worry about the future. All I am asking is that we try to stop and smell the roses a little more often.

Jul 20 2025

Be Okay with Being Uncomfortable

2025-2026, Ivy Elwell

Ivy Elwell, 2025-26 President

“Be okay with being uncomfortable.” I have thought about this advice a lot during my time in FFA. However, it has taken me a while to fully understand what it means. This summer, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks at FFA Camp. Before heading to Camp, I was dreading my two weeks there. I had never been to camp before, so it was a little bit like I was being thrown into the deep end. I did not even get to just be a camper and knew I would be pushed to be a leader. Camp was filled with many new opportunities and interactions with new people that took me out of my comfort zone. As my time at Camp Rising Sun ended, I was wishing I could sign up for more time. Sometimes, it is okay and even important to be uncomfortable in order to grow.

For most of my time in FFA, I stayed stuck in doing the things I enjoy and have not always been the best at trying new things. I did speech contest after speech contest, but pretty much never signed up to be on a CDE team. Speech contests were like a crutch for me, as I had done so many that I knew what to expect, and I have to admit, contest teams were a little bit intimidating. Still, when my advisor asked me to fill in on the poultry team for the Central District Contest, I said, “yes.” It ended up being one of the best experiences of my FFA career. So, take the time to try something new in FFA and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Sometimes a little discomfort brings the most growth and makes for the best memories.

Jul 15 2025

Not Throwing Away Your Shot

2025-2026, Annie Neely

Annie Neely, 2025-26 VP

Ever since I was seven years old, I have been a superfan of the Broadway musical, Hamilton. This show combined my love for American history and music, as I have seen the film on Disney+ many times, watched it in person and blasted the soundtrack for years. One particular song has always stayed with me: “My Shot.” This third track, sung by a young Alexander Hamilton, captures the hunger and drive of the future Founding Father. The song’s most popular lyric, “I’m not throwin’ away my shot,” showed that Hamilton refused to let opportunity pass him by and was determined to make the most of it.

FFA helped me understand the importance of taking every opportunity. As a freshman, I set a goal of making it into the National FFA Band. I was nervous about applying, because very few underclassmen got into the band each year. Despite being anxious, I decided to submit my application. A few months later, I got the email congratulating me on making the National FFA Band. While I had doubted myself, the band directors saw something and took a chance on me. Had I not put myself out there, I would have missed out on one of my favorite FFA memories.

Missouri FFA members, I encourage you to take every opportunity. While you have time left, whether you are an incoming freshman or entering your last year of high school, do not throw away your shot in FFA. Apply for that chapter officer position, bring your animal to show at the county fair or write a speech to present in a fall speaking contest. There will come a day when you will have to take off your blue jacket for the final time, but until then, I hope that you–like Alexander Hamilton–will not throw away your shot.

Jun 26 2025

Choose Joy Daily

2025-2026, Noah Groose

Noah Grosse, 2025-26 VP

“Choose joy daily, and throw kindness around like confetti.” I first read this quote in an issue of Brio Magazine a few years ago. I had a subscription to these magazines that focus on growing your faith through short devotionals and analyzing scripture. As I collected a pile of Brio magazines, I decided to cut out the pages with colorful graphic designs of Bible verses and inspirational quotes to decorate my closet door. A few months later, I realized I had been neglecting the valuable words I had taped onto my door and made the goal of memorizing them. While I reread the quotes, one stood out to me. This quote by Grace Valentine was short, to the point and the easiest to memorize because I loved the meaning behind it.

Being joyful truly is a daily decision. Sometimes it is easier to grumble about how tired you are, complain about hard assignments or gossip about people you do not get along with. Being positive takes effort and may even be the most difficult thing you do in a day. However, choosing joy is the most rewarding thing you can do. You can create a good day out of a mediocre one or find the positive in hard situations. Choosing joy also benefits others. A friend may wish to ask you for advice or help them choose joy.

Throwing something around may seem careless and irresponsible, but why should you hold back your kindness from the world? Your kindness may become the joy another person needs in their day. It is also free to you, so do not put a price on your kindness by making others “earn” it from you.

Confetti is commonly associated with parties or celebrations, and I believe that joy and kindness are to be shared, too. You can share the joy you find in your hobbies and interests with others who may be beginners or wish to learn more about something you have experience with.

This quote I read years ago has become an important piece of my life. I have since re-read it many times on good and bad days, submitted it for my senior quote in my school’s yearbook, and recently brought it with me to the Missouri FFA State Officer selections. I wrote it down on a large notepad with colorful markers, reminding me how this simple quote has brought so much color into my life, and stuck it to the wall to bring others encouragement.

I hope that you choose joy today and decide to throw kindness into other people’s lives!

Jun 22 2025

Rock Your Crocs

2025-2026, Sophia Geppert

Sophia Geppart, 2025-26 VP

As a child, I did not have a favorite shirt, blanket or tiara. I had a favorite pair of shoes. Ever since I can remember, I have always had a pair of Crocs on my feet. These are my signature shoes. When I was a toddler, I wore pink Crocs that looked like alligators, elementary school brought Mickey Mouse Crocs and now I wear teal Crocs. These shoes made me who I am; they are a significant aspect of my identity. I always felt confident if I was wearing these shoes. In middle school, this attitude changed. When I wore my favorite Crocs to school during 6th grade, I started to get funny questions. “Why are you wearing Crocs?” “Aren’t those just house slippers?” “Those are lame shoes.” People did not think Crocs were the best shoe like I did. I slowly stopped wearing my favorite Crocs out in public, saving them for the comfort of my home.

Once I reached high school, I started to become more confident. Even though people still made jokes about my shoe of choice, I learned that their words did not affect me. They may not like my shoes, but my Crocs make me happy, and that is all that matters. I found friends that accepted me for who I was. Even though my friends may not think Crocs are as cool as I do, they still respect that these shoes make me happy.

Don’t change something about you just because others don’t like it. I let what others thought about me prevent me from wearing my favorite shoes. There are people out there who will love this real, authentic version of you. Changing to fit in with the crowd puts a cage around the real you. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Missouri FFA, don’t be afraid to rock your Crocs.

Jun 14 2025

I Can and I Will

2025-2026, Lindsey McDonald

Lindsey McDonald, 2025-26 VP

Yes, I can.

I’ve always told myself to expect the worst possible outcome. Any time I would deliver a speech, submit an application or turn in a test, I always immediately told myself that I failed. Why did I do this, you might ask? Because I was scared of the disappointment that came with failure. If I set my expectations on the floor, there was no way for me to be disappointed. It didn’t matter if I knew the test material inside and out, or I gave the best speech of my life, I automatically failed in my head.

This made my wins seem a lot sweeter in my head. I had already decided that I couldn’t, so I had proved myself wrong on that front. I mean, sure, my losses didn’t sting as much…right? But it left me with a question sitting in the back of my head: “What if I had believed that I could?” If I had confidence in myself and went in with a positive mindset instead of constantly putting myself down, what more could I have accomplished?

Failure is a necessary part of life that helps us grow and learn. When we learn to embrace failure, we unlock all of the valuable knowledge that comes with it. Once we gain that knowledge, we can no longer count it a failure, because we’ve gained the experience and are better because of it. But let’s not forget, embracing failure does not equal expecting failure. Don’t tell yourself, “No, I can’t,” but “Yes, I can, and I will!”

Jun 14 2025

Against The Current

2025-2026, Kolton Stolba

Kolton Stolba, 2025-26 VP

Have you ever felt like you’re swimming against the current? I did, especially when I decided a shark hat was the perfect touch to my outfit at Area Officer Institute. What started as a quirky fashion statement turned into a powerful lesson about embracing my unique path, both in and out of FFA. It was something small, but it instantly made me recognizable the whole 24 hours I wore it. The rest of the weekend, I was “the guy in the shark hat,” and this opened so many new doors and created friendships. I wasn’t worried about standing out; I was just being myself, and I was okay with being different.

Whenever I think of sharks, I think of an American staple: the Bass Pro Shops Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium. The second you enter the aquarium, you’re greeted by a school of fish. You look up and see all of these fish swimming in one direction together. But what stands out to me are the fish that are different in a way. They are swimming in the opposite direction. This opened my eyes to see you don’t always have to follow the current. You can take a different path and embrace being different.

As I progress in life, I’ve noticed my path will be different. Unlike most of my teammates, I am not attending college. I’ve always done things differently, and I’m sure you have too. It may feel like swimming against the current, but I’ve learned not to let that discourage me.

As FFA members, we all have something that makes us different. Embrace your different path. Don’t be afraid to swim against the current. It doesn’t make you less. In fact, it makes you authentically you. Being true to that difference doesn’t close doors; it actually opens entirely new ones to unique opportunities. Dare to be different and don’t be afraid to go against the current.

Jun 11 2025

No Plan, No Problem: The Power of Embracing the Unknown

2025-2026, Cierra Britton

Cierra Britton, 2025-26 VP

We live in a world obsessed with planning. From five-year goals to daily schedules, we’re taught that success lies in preparation, control and predictability. But what if the real magic happens when we let go?

Enter the Unknown

It’s uncomfortable. It’s messy. It defies logic. But it’s also where growth lives. Some of the most defining moments in life — unexpected opportunities, new relationships, bold career moves — often arise not because of a plan, but in spite of one. For me, entering the unknown was applying to be a state officer. I decided that I would apply in late February, so I was a little behind in preparation. When I walked into the room, I had no idea how to feel. I was nervous, anxious and excited. Little did I know that I would walk out not only with a state officer position, but many new friends as well.

When we cling too tightly to certainty, we can miss the subtle signals life sends. That job you didn’t get might be redirecting you to something far more aligned. That trip you didn’t plan might lead you to people who change your life. Embracing the unknown is not about being reckless; it’s about being open.

Letting Go of the Plan Does Not Mean Giving Up Direction

Letting go means learning to trust your instincts, adapt quickly and stay present. It means swapping control for curiosity. The truth is, no plan can account for everything. Life has a way of throwing curveballs and, sometimes, those curveballs are gifts in disguise.

So the next time you feel uncertain or lost, remember: that’s not a sign you’re failing. It might be a sign you’re exactly where you need to be. You don’t have to have it all figured out. In fact, some of the most incredible journeys begin with the simple decision to step forward, even without a map.

No plan? No problem.