| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Jan 23 2008 : 06:47:49 AM
Was anyone else here in FFA while in high school or have kids that are in FFA?
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 10:34:58 AM
Catherine,
That is very interesting on the county fairs down there, especially about the lottery. The shows up here are finally growing again. Back home, it was always the same 3 families doing the beef, goat, and sheep shows. They finally gave up on the goat show because it was the same family competing against each other and they were from the next county over. Probably the scariest memory with the beef show is that they allowed this one beef cow to be shown even though you could tell the kid had not worked with it. Well right in the middle of the show, the cow broke loose from the kid and starts bucking. It jumped halfway over the gate and landed on the awards table. Whew talk about running away fast. They finally got it pinned and put it back on the truck. That kid was not allowed to show again because he didn't even work with this cow and put everyone in danger.
The kids here have a cake decorating contest too here. Some of them can decorate a cake better than I can that's for sure! Photography is becoming bigger now thanks to everyone having a digital camera. Later this month I'm teaching a class on photography to the kiddos.
I think the neatest thing on the George Ranch was that huge tree house. That was really neat. We went there and did a tour around Houston as well. First time I had ever seen a palm tree upclose. I did get a shirt at Hard Rock, even though we ate at that wonderful Italian restaurant just a couple of places down from it. Wonderful food!
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| cajungal |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 05:24:57 AM
One thing I didn't mention about the BBQ.....I had to pluck the feathers off the chickens....YUCK!
I made my brownies from scratch and my own recipe. I remember thinking that my brownies didn't look as dark as others. I probably didn't have enough cocoa. My girls are allowed to use thier own recipes,too, not a standard mix. The recipe cards have to be turned in well over a month before the fair and nothing can be changed when the goodies are baked. If they make sale/auction then a whole new batch has to be made for the auction. The auction is 2 days after the judging so fresh goodies need to be ready for the buyers.
Last year, a girl in our 4H group had her cookies go to auction and she got a whopping $2,500 !! The businesses around here are very supportive and generous. We've been giving out free goodies to area businesses in hopes of drumming up support if we make auction.
The two fairs.....There are two different boards that reside over each fair. Yes, my girls can enter both fairs. In fact, we try to "work" it to our advantage. The Montgomery County Fair is coming up in a few weeks. The girls will be doing only non-livestock. There is so much competition in the livestock divisions that there's not much chance of placing. There are less kids doing non-livestock so our chances of going to district are higher. For this fair, your livestock has to come from a selection of breeders that the board chooses and then you get to choose your animal based on a lottery number. The thinking is that the animals are similar, it levels the playing field and lottery numbers make it as random as possible.
The East Montgomery County Fair is held in the fall. Because of the timing, new members that come in the group at the beginning of the school year have missed all the deadlines and animal age requirements. So, the members from before the summer get their animals before or during summer and continue to have meetings in the summer. For this fair, a kid can get the animal from anywhere as long as it meets the age criteria. Some families drive way across Texas and spend $1000 or more on a goat while other kids breed their own or purchase less expensive ones. It's interesting how having the more expensive animal doesn't always guarantee placing. The kids still have to work that animal and beef it up. My girls will do livestock for this fair.
Technically, kids could go to district with the same food recipes from both fairs but go to district with two different sets of livestock.
You did a lot while in Houston! Back then the ballpark was called Enron Field. After all the Enron stuff was over the name was changed. It's now called Minute Maid Park. Everyone thought that was strange....Houston is not known for oranges. It seems the home office is here.
George Ranch is cool. They do a lot of programs for kids throughout the year. Those kinds of living/working ranches are scattered all around within a two hour drive.
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Jan 31 2008 : 6:42:10 PM
Catherine I'm cracking up on the BBQ. Now that is pretty funny. Did you have to make the brownie's from a standard mix? I know the cookies here have the WORST recipe and even when they "revamped" it, it was still very nasty.
Gosh, I just realized that about 2 years ago today I was in Houston for a convention. First time I flown in a commercial plane. What an adventure that was! We got to see the Houston Astros ballpark and saw the George Ranch outside of Houston. I remember the Enron trial was going on and you could see the TV trucks down the street from our hotel.
Wow, that is interesting on the two fairs. Is it the same organizers/fair board for each fair? Can kids enter in both fairs or just one?
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Jan 31 2008 : 3:26:26 PM
Jessica,
No he didn't ever go when it was in Louisville, only to Indiannapolis. He loved the trip. They had a great time.
"Nature always has the last laugh." Mrs. Greenthumbs
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| cajungal |
Posted - Jan 31 2008 : 06:26:57 AM
I love all y'alls stories.
My sister and I were in 4H in south Louisiana back in the 70's. My sister would show her chickens on Saturday and then the chickens that didn't make sale would be used in her BBQ competition the next day. She usually won.....extra fresh!!
I have good memories, too. But, I'm still mad that I didn't win anything for my brownies. I worked really hard, used the best ingredients, displayed it nicely, ........sounds like I might need counseling for this HA HA HA
My daughters are in 4H. We have a great group with around 80 kids. That's actually a small group. There are tons of 4H and FFA groups in this Houston area.
The kids support and encourage each other. There's no back stabbing or gossip....everyone genuinely wants to see others succeed. Our county fair is coming up in a couple of weeks and my girls have 10 entries in the non-livestock divisions.....cookies, cake, bread, crochet, photography, drawing, etc....
Because our county is large, we actually hav 2 fairs. The one coming up is the main annual fair. Then the East part of the county has one in September. My girls will do livestock for the one in Sept.
I love it!
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Jan 30 2008 : 11:49:44 PM
That's awesome to hear about your son and nephews! How did your son like the national convention in Indianapolis? Did he ever go when it was in Louisville?
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Jan 25 2008 : 1:12:29 PM
I wasn't in FFA but my youngest son was. He was on the Washington State Agricultural Mechanics team for 2007 and competed at Nationals in Indianappolis. He also spent 7 years combined in 4-H and FFA raising pigs, showing and selling them. It's a great organization and also the reason he is now majoring in Mechanical Engineering in college. Our county has a very large and active FFA and FFA alumni but this is farming country. Two of my nephews were state officers and one of them was a national speaker.
"Nature always has the last laugh." Mrs. Greenthumbs
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| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Jan 24 2008 : 8:05:31 PM
haha - Kathy my momma said the same thing about the girls outdo the boys. I remember my first ag class there was just me and another girl. Eventually things grew over the years and at one point we had 4 females on the officer team. Did they ever go to FFA Camp up in Hardinsburg? I think the funniest memory was when two of us tipped a canoe while getting out of it. It was so hot that day and that water felt so good. We had some good memories going to camp.
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| windypines |
Posted - Jan 24 2008 : 7:25:08 PM
Nice to hear about other former and present FFA members. Keep up the good work
Michele oh yes I am also an alumni member. :) |
| knewslady |
Posted - Jan 24 2008 : 5:09:53 PM
Brooke has been out of high school for three years and she was on the welding team her senior year. FFA is a really great organization and is really active here in Logan County. All three of my kids were in it but Brooke was by far the most active. That figures, a girl can outdo two brothers at any time.
Will always be a farmgirl at heart
Visit my online shop at http://KentuckyBackwoods.etsy.com
or shop my Ebay items by doing a search for winniewiggins
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| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Jan 24 2008 : 07:59:27 AM
I agree with you Michele that FFA teaches you a lot and allows you to go to many places. You learn about leadership, community, and working with others. I still have all of my FFA jackets. My mom took my regional officer jacket and framed it. My brother was regional President a few years before me and she has his jacket framed.
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| windypines |
Posted - Jan 24 2008 : 04:48:55 AM
I was in FFA also. Got up to my State Farmer degree. Vice president was my hightest office. I was the second or third girl to join our school chapter. My son is the current President this year. FFA has taught him alot, and taken him many places too. Our chapter is very active, and the leadership that is taught is fantastic.
Michele |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Jan 23 2008 : 7:57:59 PM
Oh goody! Glad to hear of others that were in it or had family members in it! I was in it during high school and really loved it. Unfortunately our ag teacher/FFA advisor passed away from cancer when I was in 8th grade, right before I was to enter high school. He was a huge influence on my life and still is. I got my American Farmer Degree in 1999, but I wasn't able to go to National Convention when it was held in Kansas City. When it moved to Louisville, I was one of the judges to judge the kids speaking contests. Every year I did "Impromptu Crop Speaking" contest and won in the region. Finally that 4th year I got 3rd place in the state. I won 2nd place in the state with my Diversified Crop Production (tobacco and hay) proficiency. When I was a sophomore, I ran for regional officer. We had an ag teacher that I did not care for (he didn't last long either). Well he had enough guts to tell me that I wouldn't even make it as officer and if I did, it would be the lowest one. Buddy I fooled him because I became Vice President of our region. I remember doing parliamentary procedure and the creed speaking as well. I still remember the creed because I recited it over and over again.
Trish - Oh I remember FHA too (before they changed the name). I was president of the parliamentary procedure team and we went to state. We had so much fun and I still stay in touch with the team. Oh you mentioned the pigs..one of the other schools made the freshmen sit through a hog killing video.
I was in 4-H and the KY Junior Historical Society and FBLA while in high school. It kept me busy being in all those clubs and working, but I loved it. I'm still active in volunteering with our 4-H kids. I did photography, tractor repair, tobacco, and woodworking as my project books. I learned about public speaking in 4-H and it really helped me come out of my shell as I was really shy. I did one speech so many times that my entire family pretty much knew it. It was always a good laugh. I also loved entering in our county and state fair with my photography and woodwork. That was a lot of fun and collecting the ribbons. I was going to sew all of my ribbons into a wallhanging or small quilt if I ever get the chance.
Kathy - what year was your daughter in FFA? That is just too neat! We didn't have welding team but we had the tractor driving contest. It was required when you were a freshman that you had to learn to drive a tractor.
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| lilyblossom |
Posted - Jan 23 2008 : 7:39:26 PM
Way back when I was in high school I wanted to take Ag classes and participate in the FFA, but the Ag teacher said no way was he going to have girls in his classes'. Having grown up on a farm and doing most of the Ag related 4-H farm projects I majored in Ag Econ in college.
Donna....transplanted southerner, farmgirl #86 |
| knewslady |
Posted - Jan 23 2008 : 5:31:16 PM
My daughter was in FFA and was the first girl from Logan County High School to make the welding team.
Will always be a farmgirl at heart
Visit my online shop at http://KentuckyBackwoods.etsy.com
or shop my Ebay items by doing a search for winniewiggins
|
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jan 23 2008 : 08:24:25 AM
In my public school, there was a small contingent--Boone County was still rural then, but just on the verge of the big economic and growth boom that hit in the late 80's, no more farms, just housing developments.
Unfortunately, they didn't offer it at Interlochen, either--it was a performing arts school and I guess we didn't need any of that "practical knowledge"...
I love the displays at the Kentucky State Fair of all the achievments of these kids, though. MAN are they progressive thinkers and doers!!!!
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 23 2008 : 07:50:31 AM
My older sister was. She learned how to castrate a pig and drive a tractor. I didn't do much good because she never leaves the city limits of Lowell, MA. Ten years later, in my time, they didn't have it in our school. A club called FHA, Future Homemakers of America, was offered. I went to a meeting, and it wasn't my thing, but I did go to one of their competion in the baking category. I wish I had been in 4H. It's a good way for country kids to make $.
Trish
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
