Nuts About FFA - And One Proud Momma

Just a few days before America celebrated Independence Day, I was down in Fort Worth Texas celebrating my daughter, Dotty, as she received her Lonestar FFA Degree at the Texas FFA State Convention.  I may not have been wearing red, white and blue, but my heart was bursting like a Rushing's Pyrotechnics fireworks finale! I was one very proud momma!

While I grew up in an ag family and now work in the industry at the Pecan Shed, I didn't experience FFA firsthand.  So Dotty's FFA journey has been a whole new world for me.  And what a ride it's been!

Her freshman year, she enrolled in her first ag class and jumped into LDEs (Leadership Development Events).  I called her Official Dress a costume (oops) and got lovingly corrected...it's OD, thank you very much!  That spring she told me her bunnies were now officially part of her SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience).  Later, she started preparing for a CDE (Career Development Event) in entomology - yes bugs!  Her Papa kept asking if the pecan weevil was on any of the tests...sadly it was not. She wrapped up the year by writing a speech on the pecan industry for her SDE (Speaking Development Event) and she even ran for chapter office.  

I had a front row seat to a year that was exciting, confusing, rewarding, hard, hilarious, and absolutely packed with acronyms I still get mixed up.  But I wouldn't trade it for anything.  The miles, the early mornings, the late nights...they were all worth it for the banners, buckles, and memories...and especially the community we found in blue and gold.  

From there, she went all in.  Dotty added goats to her SAE and launched a fundraiser she calls "Nuts About FFA" selling our family's pecans to local chapters to use as a fall fundraiser for their school FFA program.  She has been a State Qualifier in LDE, SDE, and CDE events...placing in the top 10 in Texas twice.  She's served as her chapter's Vice President and now enters her second year as Chapter President.  She's also a former District Officer and currently serves as the First Vice President for Area Officers.  

Now a senior, Dotty shows no signs of slowing down.  Her love for FFA and the people who make it so special has inspired her to pursue a degree in Ag Communications.  Her dream is to spend her life "Agvocating for Agriculture" and the values it represents. 

And what a blessing it's been to watch the village surround her.  Incredible ag teachers, mentors, and folks from our community have poured into Dotty with wisdom, encouragement, and and their most precious asset...time.  I don't know exactly what her future holds, but I know Who holds it and I know FFA has shaped her heart, her character, and her calling.

Dotty has often said that FFA is her happy place...and I believe her.  Watching her grow in leadership and purpose has changed me too.  I believe in the future of agriculture and I believe in our future...period.  It's in good hands. 

At the Pecan Shed we believe in strong roots and we've seen firsthand how FFA helps grow the next generation of agricultural leaders.  We couldn't be more proud to support the young men and women who are living out the FFA motto every day:

Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.