It's National FFA Convention week. Reading all of the facebook statuses about people headed to convention took me back to my high school days and our multiple trips to Louisville.
It makes me think back....
To holding (or letting go of) 16 pound nasty live chickens on a farm in Indiana. To food poisoning and alka seltzer. From Red Roof Inns to irrigation boots covered in crap from every dairy between Logan and the airport. To games of spades and dead chickens hanging from the rod in the shower. From studying for tests to almost getting arrested for taking an egg candler through airport security a month after 9/11. From haunted house boats to smuggling home stolen milemarkers to watching warm ups at Churchill Downs. To trinkets stolen by Dr. Wagley and tears from Mr. Franklin at awards breakfasts and when dropping me off at the airport. There were linear scores and slaughter cattle grading and breakeven scenarios and chicken thighs.
Fourteen years, four gold medals and countless memories later, I'd give just about anything to live those days again. Monster scary chickens and all.
7 comments:
I‘ll be the mug: chickens were a big part of FFA activities? I‘d kind of assumed it was very much sheep, cattle and pigs.
Those sound like interesting times!
What a cool, heartfelt look back at something that has had such a profound impact on so many of us. Wyatt watched his first session on RFDTV last night - hope he will find as much love for the organization when his time comes.
The chicken stories are still some of my favorites! I laugh every time I see the picture of you four students and Mr. Franklin (all looking rather traumatized I might add!) ha Connie J
My husband is missing the convention this year, which is the first year he's missed in in awhile :( Is it crazy to think that both you and my husband were probably at convention during the same years at the same time??? Small world moment right there!
Ohhhh, the haunted house boat. That was a good time.
-College Roomie
The one National Convention I was able to attend as a media intern was one of the coolest experience of this Canadian's life. FFA has got to be the most beneficial program available to American youth.
Post a Comment