OFI 2014: Snow And More Snow And Carving A Wood Spirit
Today is a regular farm update for you. On the agenda is:
- March snows
- Building a heated room in my shop
- Taking up wood carving
- HenGear Nest Boxes
OFI 1369: From Illinois To Arizona On Horseback (kind of) | FFA SAE Edition | Gracie Wagner | Paxton-Buckley-Loda FFA
enApril 27, 2022
What was the main topic of the podcast episode?
Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?
Were there any notable quotes or insights from the speakers?
Which popular books were mentioned in this episode?
Were there any points particularly controversial or thought-provoking discussed in the episode?
Were any current events or trending topics addressed in the episode?
About this Episode
For the first time ever, completely by accident, I am releasing an interview on the guests actual birthday! Happy 18th Birthday to Gracie Wagner!
Now that we have got that out of the way, let's talk horses, agriculture and FFA. Gracie has grown up in what could accurately be called a "horse family" in the Central Illinois area. She has been around and on horses for her whole life, and that has led her in many, positive directions.
When Gracie was starting high school, this led her right into the FFA. Her older sister had been part of the FFA, and Gracie knew she could find her people in the FFA as well. However, it was not something that she was sure would work out at first, it was just something that she was "trying out". She existed in her chapter for her entire 9th grade year, using a borrowed blue jacket. However, she got involved in some leadership development activities, namely Conduct Of Chapter Meetings, and the intensity and team atmosphere hooked her. By the time she hit her 10th Grad year she was fired up.
Gracie has served on her chapter's officer team for all four years, but it was her 11th grade year when she became her chapter's reporter in which that really clicked. She loved taking the photos, writing the media releases and communicating on behalf of her chapter so much, that when she ran for an officer position for her 12th grade year, the only one that she applied for was reporter. Gracie found herself being named one of the top 10 FFA chapter reporters in the State Of Illinois in 2021, and she is hoping to repeat that this year!
Gracie knows where she is headed after graduation. She is off to Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Arizona where she will be competing in college rodeo. She hopes to compete for all four years and then, who knows!
SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Equine Entrepreneurship
HIGH SCHOOL: Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School; Paxton, Illinois
MASCOT: Panthers
FFA ADVISOR: Mike White
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR GRACIE WAGNER:
Click on the picture below to be taken to the Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School website:
Gracie's FFA Advisor's Email Address: mwhite@pblpanthers.org
Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School Telephone Number: 217-379-4331
FFA LINKS:
Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE's)
Donate to FFA - One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000. In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants. With your donations, more students can get this head start - pay it forward.
REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:
- Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world. FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
- Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation. The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
- Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:
“The future of American agriculture depends on the involvement and investment in America’s youth, In order to prepare for the population of tomorrow, we need to encourage America’s youth today, and show that careers in agriculture are profitable, rewarding, and vital.”.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue
More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
Recent Episodes from Off-Farm Income
OFI 2013: Developing A Love For Things That Grow | FFA SAE Edition | Ashlynn Lamp | Milbank High School FFA
Ashlynn Lamp is her FFA Chapter's Reporter, she raises chickens and goats at her home and she is passionate about horticulture. So much so, that her FFA Advisor knew she would be a great guest on the show.
In today's episode featuring Ashlynn we will talk about her journey into food production, and therefore into the FFA. We will also talk sports, horticulture, becoming an FFA officer and where she plans to take this great experience in the future.
OFI 2012: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M | Miami, Oklahoma | Agricultural College Episode
For Information Like Degrees Offered, Annual Costs, Etc., Please Click The Banner Below:
The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S. This episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.
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Tyeson Gravenhof - Student Ambassador[/caption]
Northeast Oklahoma A&M is a community college very near the Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri borders with Oklahoma. Students from throughout the U.S. come here to be on the livestock judging team, and many careers in agriculture are launched here with transfers to four year institutions in Oklahoma and surrounding states.
More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald:
OFI 2011: Is Livestock Theft On The Rise, Worldwide?
Tip Of The Week
Don’t give up on stolen horses
Rural Crime In The U.S.
https://theprowersjournal.com/2024/03/livestock-theft-meeting-to-be-held-march-14-in-springfield/
Across The Pond, Down Under And Up Above
https://www.miragenews.com/nsw-police-hunt-for-leads-in-mid-north-coast-1188449/
Africa
https://www.withinnigeria.com/news/2024/03/07/deadly-attack-claims-lives-of-herder-and-livestock-in-plateau-state/
https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=51799
Chalk One Up For The Good Guys
https://www.ksbw.com/article/chp-recovers-two-tractors-stolen-in-santa-cruz-california/60115164
https://fox40jackson.com/local-news/mississippi-authorities-recover-stolen-racehorse-in-kentucky/
OFI 2010: Home, Family, Farming & Service | FFA SAE Edition | Avery Shoffner | Anna High School FFA
Avery Shoffner has her own flock of sheep, is a senior in high school, lives on her family's Century Farm and makes a great income over the summer showing the sheep that she raises.
Avery has been involved in raising and showing sheep, largely influenced by her grandfather, since she was very young. Today, she manages her own flock, exchanges labor on her grandfather's farm for feed and pasture and is at a show every weekend of the summer. She has become hyper-focused on this supervised agricultural experience, stepping away from school sports and the FFA officer team for dual reasons. First, is her devotion to this project and showmanship, which takes priority over everything else. Second is the wisdom and integrity of knowing that she wasn't giving what she believed to be necessary attention to those other things when there was somebody waiting in the wings who would.
Avery loves her family, her farm and her sheep. She also has a heart for service. So, after graduation she is starting her collegiate career at a nearby community college. This will allow her continue living at home, save money and work on the farm. She will be pursuing a career as an elementary school teacher. She knows she wants to help people and to make a difference, and that is where she believes she can do it best!
OFI 2009: How To Become A State President | FFA SAE Edition | Renee Stillwell | Allentown High School FFA | Re-Cap Episode
On tomorrow's episode I am interviewing a young lady who raises sheep. Also, this is the time of year that students are going to be pursuing the chance of a lifetime to be State FFA Officers. So, I thought for today's re-cap this interview with Renee Stillwell from back in 2016 was perfect. Not only was she raising sheep, but I titled this episode "How To Become A State Officer".
OFI 2008: A Fascination With Fish | FFA SAE Edition | Greyson Applebee | Maroa-Forsyth High School FFA
Greyson Applebee is his chapter and section's secretary in just his junior year of high school, and this follows a history of not wanting to join the FFA. Greyson has twin, older brothers, and they were both in the FFA and both officers. And, his father believes that it is important to have a background in farming and agriculture. So, when it was time to start high school the only person that didn't want Greyson to join the FFA was Greyson. However, his father registered him for the introduction to agriculture class, and things took off from there. Greyson said that once his FFA Advisor had the opportunity to start exposing him to activities he got hooked.
Greyson's ascension into fish farming was just as quick. He was able to go to the National FFA Convention his 9th Grade year, and on that trip the chapter did a number of tours. One of those was a facility where fish were being raised. Greyson was fascinated, and by the spring of his 9th grade year, he and a friend, had rounded up the necessary equipment and were raising fish.
Greyson is continuing to grow his supervised agricultural experience and has identified a career area that he is interested in for the future. Sales for John Deere is the dream job that he named when I asked him. Based on the track record he already has, I suspect that he is going to accomplish this goal also!
OFI 2007: My 2024 New Year's Resolutions - In March?
A while back I spoke with you about setting your New Year's Resolutions later in the year, rather than on January 1st. There was a good rationale for that, and I am find that to be proven true. On today's show I'll share with you what my two resolutions for 2024 are.
OFI 2006: The Accidental FFA Member Entrepreneur | FFA SAE Edition | Lilly Cappitte | Big Walnut High School FFA
Lilly Cappitte is her chapter's president, a business owner and a gregarious agriculturist, but it wasn't always this way. Growing up in her blended household, Lilly did not have anyone expressing any agricultural influence on her. Nobody in the family worked in agriculture or was trying to move back to a farm or anything like that.
When Lilly was in her second semester of her sophomore year of high school she took a veterinary science course because she was interested in animals. This was taught by one of the FFA advisors, and it automatically enrolled her in the chapter. One day, her teacher approached her and asked her if she would be willing to be on a plant science team to help out. They were one person short, and without a full team they could not compete. Lilly said yes, went to the competition and ended up doing very well on the individual level.
Since that competition, Lilly has caught fire in the FFA and has served as an officer twice. She has also started her own flower business, selling flowers at the farmer's market as well as to friends and classmates for dances. She also took a job on a farm helping to teach children about agriculture. She is planning on getting a degree in agriculture, and she is totally in on agriculture!
OFI 2005: Pennsylvania College Of Technology | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Agricultural College Episode
For Information Like Degrees Offered, Annual Costs, Etc., Please Click The Banner Below:
The Agricultural College Episode is designed to profile agricultural trade schools, junior colleges, colleges and universities around the U.S. This episode is an effort to replicate the conversation that prospective students, parents and ag teachers might have with agricultural schools at trade show like the National FFA Convention.
The Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a niched agricultural college with specialties in forestry, horticulture and diesel technology. Offering associates, bachelors and master's degrees, upwards of 90% of the forestry students study for an associates degree and then get to work. The hands on learning is impressive with 3 hours of lab work, in the forest, for every one hour of classroom instruction.
More Places You Can Listen to Off-Farm Income And Matt Brechwald: