I-CAL: Sugar and Swine

Good evening, All!

We once again had a great day in Brazil!  What an awesome experience we have been having!  Warm and mild weather, shining sun, great people, and even greater food have been treating us well this far!!  We are staying in Ponte Nova and have been able to enjoy this city to the fullest.

This morning we visited and toured a sugar mill, of which the smell was very close to corn silage (welcome home!).  This mill, Jatiboca, was founded in 1920 and is made up of two units.  The first unit was the location we were at and the second being in Sao Paulo.  The mill was family owned and operated until 1997 when they hired out the administration for the company.  A brief introduction to each location is as follows:

Location 1 (The one we visited)- 800,000 million ton crushing capacity, 84% of sugar cane is from their own production land with 16% coming from independent farmers, 1.1million bags of sugar per year (50 kilo bags), 32 million liters of ethanol produced annually which is added to fuel and then sold (not directly to customers) and is 100% manually harvested.

Location 2- 300,000 million ton crushing capacity, 99% of sugar cane is from their own production land with the remainder from independent growers, 100% goes into ethanol resulting in 30 million liters of ethanol annually.  35% mechanical and 65% manual harvesting.

General mill information- Bags of sugar are marketed in 30, 5, 2, and 1 kilo bags and each mill is self- sustaining, meaning bi-products are reused as fertilizer as well as energy for the plant.  Jatiboca employs 2,000 people.  The company is devoted to environmental sustainability and has set aside a large piece of land which has been exclusively devoted to remaining in natural habitat forever.  In order for workers to get minimum wage, they must harvest 3 tons of sugar cane per day with 5.5 tons being the average.

I-CAL: Eucalytus, Dairy and Pork

Our early morning bus naps lasted only until hills planted in orderly rows of eucalyptus began flashing by. Alfredo explained that this nonnative tree can be harvested five or six times for various products from timber to essential oils. Depending on the density of the stand, crops, such as soybeans or coffee can be grown between the rows. This method is another example of agroforestry, which we discussed yesterday in the context of research in the dairy industry.

Got Milk? Brazil does! The first visit of the day was conducted at the Embrapa dairy research farm. While on the 1,030 hectare farm, we took a firsthand look at the dairy industry in Brazil. About 45% of the farm is forest land with the balance of acreage under till and pasture. Dairies in Brazil use a pasture based system with harvested forages as a supplement. Several tropical grasses that originate from Africa are used throughout Brazil as forage that is stored and grazed upon by cattle. Research is done on forage at this location in addition to the dairy cattle.

The Embrapa research facilities try to simulate normal industry conditions in order to provide research that will benefit farmers who have dairy operations. The facility we saw was one of five milking stations on the premises. It had a double four swing herringbone parlor to milk cows in. Corn silage was stored in a pair of silos and was fed in a fence line bunk to the dairy cows. The cows were Holstein crossed with Gir cattle. These cattle are bred specifically for high production in a tropical climate.

You’ll know.

At the New York State Convention I was standing there on the track surrounded by the State Officer team and hundreds of fellow FFA Members, parents and guests as we peered into the black sky.  BOOM! The first of many explosions went up into the sky and burst into thousands of tiny particles that lit up the night sky. We were witnessing one amazing fireworks show!

While we were watching, a fellow observer said, “Is this the finale, because it kind of stinks.” I laughed and replied, “When I was little I always used to ask my mom the same question-‘ Is this the finale?’ And every time I’d ask, she’d retort ‘Trust me, you’ll know’.  And she was right, so like my mom use to tell me- trust me, you’ll know.”  We continued watching until finally, BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!  The individual then looked at me and said “You’re right, I know!”

Trust me, you’ll know. As I thought more about the concept, it really is applicable to a lot of things in life. We are faced with decisions, choices and/or when something is the right time. And although we have those feelings of oh this could be it much like various times watching a fireworks show, a moment will come when BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!  It will all make sense, and you’ll just KNOW.

If you are deciding what class to take, what major to have, what school to attend, or what it is you want to do with the rest of your life, take a deep breath.  Be patient, because trust me, you’ll know.

- Lindsey Anderson, National FFA Western Region Vice President

I-CAL: The journey begins

And we are off…

The day we all had been waiting for had finally arrived. After several months of planning and preparing, it was time to cross the Caribbean Sea to our anticipated destination- Brazil.

Group leader, Lindsey Calhoun, said it best that morning when she said, “I can’t believe the day is finally here.”

The group spent the afternoon in Midtown Miami purchasing last minute items and exploring the city’s shops. For lunch, we ate at Five Guys Burgers and Yogoberry. A first time taste for some I-CAL members.

Anticipation and nerves rose as we boarded the shuttle from the Holiday Inn to the Miami International Airport. With passports and boarding passes in hand, we handed over our luggage and prepared to pass through security. While standing in line, Florida Senator, Marco Rubio, passed our group, and Clint got Rubio’s signature on the back of his boarding pass.

We boarded the American Airlines plane and snuggled in for our five hour plane ride to Manaus, Brazil. The group watched the red colored sunset through side windows as we dined on either a turkey sandwich or taco salad. The rest of the flight was filled with movie watching and much needed rest for the adventures that lied ahead.

We hit the landing strip in Manaus at 10:30 p.m. and after a short wait in the customs line we all added a stamp to our passports. Brazil, we finally made it! Next stop: Rio de Janiero.

What would the world look like without Moms?

Answer: A disaster!

Kids would show up to school with crust on their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! And no one would have clean underwear. It would be complete chaos. A lot of babies would be aching for a bedtime story. FFA members might not make it to CDE practice on time. There wouldn’t be enough hugs. We’d have only half as many wonderful people in the world. Moms are best friends and role models.

She inspires. She instills the importance of education. She always wanted my life to be better than hers. She empowers me. She worked hard every day and still found it in herself to come home and smile at us. There’s never been a time in our lives when we haven’t felt supported by her. We learn so much from her. We value her, and appreciate her, and look up to her so much. We couldn’t imagine life without her.

We love our moms for reasons too numerous to count. We love them because they show us what unconditional love is. They are the most beautiful women we know. They’ve been there for us every day, every step of the way.

Moms, you mean the world to us.

Happy Mother’s  Day from all of us at National FFA!

A special message to all moms from our National FFA Officers:

“Deep in the Heart” now available on DVD

Did you miss Deep in the Heart when it was playing in theaters?

No worries. You can now pick up a copy on DVD at your local Walmart!

Deep in the Heart is the true Texas story of Richard Wallrath, whose personal demons caused him to hit rock bottom.

After losing everything – job, family, and hope – Richard Wallrath found the strength through faith that made him realize a strong family and the love of his children were the measure of a man’s success. With his sons, he went on to build a successful business and used his success to become the highest all-time individual donor to Texas 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) providing educational scholarships. This is a story of finding lost faith, love of family, and ultimately redemption.

Watch it with your FFA chapter, and let us know what you thought about it!

 

 

 

Make the most of your summer break

In this month’s video update, CEO Dwight Armstrong encourages FFA members to take advantage of learning opportunities during summer break.

Concerts and Connecting: Where does common ground come into play?

A few weeks ago, I headed down south to the land of the pines for the 85th Georgia FFA State Convention. As a music lover, one of my favorite parts is always the convention concert on Friday night. I knew the band was undoubtedly talented, but there was a question I was waiting to be answered: Will they connect with the crowd?

The Farm answered that question quickly with a hand-clappin’, beach ball-bouncin’, beautifully harmonious yes! They played covers. No, not building a fort in the living room with all the sheets in the house, but they played familiar songs. The Farm could have played their entire new album to get exposure for songs few would know; they didn’t. Sure, they threw in a few of their original pieces, but they were amidst popular tunes like “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Ring of Fire.” They hit every style from Alabama to Michael Jackson. The night became less of a performance and more of a campfire sing along where everyone could be a part of the fun. The Farm knew that creating an enjoyable experience for their audience was more important than promoting their name, so they focused on the common ground.

Who will you connect with this summer? Find the common ground. It builds trust to explore and learn from the uncommon ground.

At camp…So what if she’s from the southern part of the state and you’re from the north? Maybe he grew up on a farm and you grew up in town. Focus on the experiences you can share over the next week. Does he play basketball? Start a game of 3-on-3 before supper. Is she already going to that leadership workshop? Tag along!

On the job…You didn’t choose them, but you’re punching the clock with them for at least a few months. Find a way to make it more fun for everyone. Is he competitive? Make a menial task a game. Does she love ice cream? Go celebrate with a scoop or two at the end of each week!

With the sibs…Even if you’re still finding his legos in your backpack or wake up to her rendition of the newest One Direction hit, you’re family. This is a special time we can pour into our brothers and sisters. Read a book together and talk about what you’re learning. Does he like to run? Hit the trail with him. Is she learning to play an instrument? Sit and listen to her latest piece.

As part of the team…The great part of teams is that we all bring something to the table. We all have different ideas of what our FFA chapters should do for the next year, but what do we have in common? Is everyone passionate about the agricultural awareness day you put together for elementary school students? Spend extra time take it to the next level. Looking for ways to increase attendance at FFA meetings? Focus on what FFA members enjoy. Consider adding fun recreation after business – maybe it’s a game of capture the flag or water games. Ask them!

In his book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect,  John C. Maxwell says, “Connecting is the ability to identify with people and relate to them in a way that increases your influence with them.” The FFA Creed challenges us to “exert an influence in our home and community.” Let’s do it! Connect. Influence.

~Kalie Hall, National FFA

Eighteen FFA members win NFIB awards

The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation (YEF) recently awarded five $5,000 educational scholarships, and 95 $1,000 scholarship to extraordinary high school seniors for their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Eighteen of the $1,000 winners are FFA members. They are…

Sabrina Pineda;  Chowchiila, CA
Elizabeth Manfredi; Hoehne, CO
Tyler Haus; Gunnison, CO
Clay Patton; Limon, CO
Thomas Ross; Dahlonega, GA
Marissa Kleve; Dundee, IA
Jordan Gillenwater; Crawfordsville, IN
Katie Young;  Troy, MO
Taylor Joyner; Nashville, NC
Jordan Paine; Oxford, NE
Leanna Bachman; Carroll, OH
Jessica Zurcher;  Amherst, OH
Jacy Gillenwaters; Mooreland, OK
Andrew Miles; Silver Lake, OR
Courtney Budge; Sherwood, OR
Nicholus  Bussell; Carthage, TN
Kaylyn Lund;    Brooklyn, WI

The awards are part of the NFIB YEF scholarship program that is designed to recognize, reward and encourage young men and women to pursue their dreams of owning and operating a small business.

“The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America’s young people, and we at the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation could not be more confident in our next generation of business owners,” said Molly Young, Senior Manager of the Young Entrepreneur Foundation. “As always, we are not only delighted by the number of applications, but extremely impressed with the quality of young men and women who are reaching for their entrepreneurial dreams, and striving to make them happen. Our scholarship winners are driven to succeed; our nation’s future is all the brighter because of their determination and innovative ideas.”

NFIB’s Young Entrepreneur Foundation established its scholarship program to raise awareness among the nation’s youth about the critical role of private enterprise and entrepreneurship in growing America’s economy. The foundation selected today’s recipients from a nationwide applicant pool of more than 500 students. Award recipients will use the scholarships to attend the university, college, community college or career institute of their choice.

To qualify for an NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award, students must seniors in high school who own and/or operate their own small business. They were required to write an essay describing their entrepreneurial endeavors and future goals. NFIB members around the country interviewed the applicants for the Young Entrepreneur Awards. An independent, outside committee selects a group of qualified semi-finalists.

Now available online: The Official FFA Manual

Learn everything you need to know about FFA—its history, bylaws, constitution and more—with the revised Official FFA Manual.

It is now available online; and–here’s the real kicker– IT’S FREE.

You can still order print editions of the manual anytime at Shop FFA. But, you can also access it anywhere, anytime on your computer or mobile device.

Pretty cool, huh?

Check it out here.

We also have it available in Español.