Getting to Know your State Reporter

It is time to meet the funny man on the team, Ben Valdez. He comes from the Wenatchee FFA Chapter. Ben loves to snowboard so much he told us he has been dreaming about it. Some other things he does are: listen to music, go to the movies, and he hang’s out with his friends. His Favorite food of all time is pizza with a tall glass of Mountain Dew and he dislikes the color pink, spinach, pork, seafood, lying, and people that don’t know how to have fun.

Featured Member: Victoria Marsh

If there’s any skepticism that big things can’t be done in small places, there is at least one FFA member that would silence that idea without any question. In Carbonado, Washington, a small town with only 400 people located at the southern base of Mt. Rainier, Victoria Marsh has illuminated all the opportunities that FFA members can form in their community, no matter the size. She has committed over 400 hours from the month of January to September of 2008, to the disabled children of Buckley. Victoria would take her lunch and her early release from school and drive the 5 miles everyday to the school of Elk Ridge Elementary. Awaiting her at the school was a myriad of activities. She would work with 11 kids with all types of disabilities. Homework, memorization, feeding, walking, and reading are just a few of the activities they engaged in over the course of the 2 hours she is there. These kids aren’t your normal kids. They, as she put it, “Are a constant reminder of the simple love you can find in anyone, they love no matter who you are and because of that I’ve become a loving and more accepting person”.

Meet Our New Executive Secretary!

“It’s a privileged and an honor to have this kind of position and to be involved in this youth organization”, states Jodi Monroe, “the energy and enthusiasm is truly something to behold”. Jodi recently traveled with our officer team to the National FFA Convention where she had the opportunity to experience all that FFA has to offer. Jodie is a mother of three and lives in Mount Vernon, Washington. She has had plenty of experience when it comes to the agriculture industry as she grew up on a dairy and crop farm in Mount Vernon. She worked there as well as on several other farms for many years, and her tasks included anything from milking the cows to plowing the fields. As Jodie best says it, “You name it, I did it”. Not only that, but she also was an excellent dairy showman. Eventually, she served as the Skagit County Dairy Ambassador and loved every minute of it. 

The Past 2 Months

Well we have kicked off the year and we are going full force!

Two months have passed and I can’t tell you how awesome they have been!  We as a state officer team have traveled all over this great state and have met some excellent FFA members.  With Blue and Gold Tours (BGLT) in districts I, V, VI, VII, and IX and chapter visits in those districts it is clear to see that Washington truly exemplifies leadership.  Through district I we met tons and tons of energetic students.  Through district VI we traveled from Pullman to Walla Walla meeting excellent students.  In district V we traveled all over Spokane and as far north as Colville noticing how the North Eastern part of the state has high quality leadership skills.  Then we drove to district VII in the central part of the state and met some hilarious yet ambitious advocates for agriculture.  In district IX home of our State Vice President Milyssa, we were blown away by the integrity that these students had.  We knew that Washington had some excellent FFA members but all you guys truly blew us away.  We are totally stoked to continue BGLT and travel to your schools so we can be even more amazed by all of your outstanding leadership skills and your commitment to the FFA. 

The gift that keeps on giving

“Give until it hurts” was a part of our past national Central Region Vice President Morgan Parker’s retiring address titled “Love Alive.” To give until you need to adjust your monthly budget, giving until it hurts is to give until you have nothing left. During the holiday season, Washington Association chapters do just this and in turn exemplify selflessness. A few things I have seen aren’t new to us as events but when done with enthusiasm truly make a difference. 

Upcoming Events

So far, we have had an amazing year filled with lots of events, and we are excited for the rest to come. As an officer team, one of the things we love to do is hang out with you, the members. That is why we want to make sure you know about all upcoming opportunities. The District 4 Blue and Gold Tour will be held in Zillah on Monday, November 10 followed by the chapter visits for that area. If your chapter would like to have chapter visits, they need to be scheduled through the State Office. The District 2 chapter visits will be scheduled during the first two weeks of December. Remember that rosters and POA’s need to be into the state office as soon as possible. If you have any questions, remember that we are more than willing to find the answers you need. Simply contact us through the web site: washingtonffa.org. The web site also contains a calendar of even more up and coming State events.