HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Wow! It’s so hard to believe that it is already 2010, and that I am nearly half way through my term as your State Treasurer. It has been a great six months serving you, and I look forward to seeing each of you at the upcoming conferences! I’m sure that you were wondering what my New Year’s resolution is. Well..it is to keep up with this until the end of my term!
January It has been a great six months serving you, and I look forward to seeing
each of you at the upcoming conferences!
January actually started out pretty slow for me. I was able to attend my family’s new year’s party, and even bring in the new year by shooting the guns! It was really fun to be able to watch PSU in the Rose Bowl, Watch Molly in the Parade, and spend time with my family during the week before Farm Show.
On the 7th I was honored to meet up with team to be a part of the unveiling of the Butter sculpture. It was quite a sight to be one of the first people to see it! It was beautiful. The next few days I spent with my goat. I took a goat to be shown, and I placed fourth in m meet up with team to be a part of the unveiling of the Butter sculpture. It was quite a sight to be one of the first people to see it! It was beautiful. The next few days I spent with my goat. I took a goat to be shown, and I placed fourth in my class, just enough to be able to sell! Congratulations to everyone that exhibited animals throughout the week! Even if you DIDN’T make the sale, don’t feel bad. It took years for me to make the sale!
On Monday, I found myself greeting the Star Candidates! I couldn’t believe that Mid-Winter convention was already here. After a very busy day running around with last minute preparations, It was time for the show! We were very excited to see that the large arena was FULL! Amazing! We hope that everyone enjoyed the show, and congratulate the recipients of all of the awards! After the show, we were able to go to dinner with our families! What fun that was! Throughout the rest of the week, I spent time at luncheons, working in the food booth, and most of all, visiting with members! It was great to see everyone!
Immediately after the farm show, we were given some time off to relax and recuperate from our time in Harrisburg. I was back in action with Billy Saylor at Milton Hershey on the 28th! I had so much fun with the members, and look forward to working with them when the national officer visits! On the 29th, I once again saw the entire team bright and early as we met to job shadow with Ag Choice Farm Credit! We learned all about the industry and about all of the opportunities that they have for you! Trust me when I say that there are a lot!
I can’t wait to see everyone at ACES and SLLC! As one final note, Please add the Pennsylvania FFA fan page on Facebook! Our goal is to reach 1,000 members!!!!
Stay Warm and safe till next month,
Heather Miller
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September/October 2009
It’s hard to believe that September and October are both here and gone. September started out with a week of relaxation time that I took advantage of. I spent time with friends and family that I had been neglecting. Then on the 11th, I found myself at the Dept of Ag for a team meeting to discuss our plans for the upcoming month. On the 16th, I found myself meeting up with the rest of my team for our first chapter visit!! We headed off to Bermudian Springs, where we practiced our workshops and learned skills that we’ll use throughout the year to help us perform at our best! Then on the 17th, we left for the Big E! After nearly 11 hours in a 15 passenger van filled with 12 people and luggage, I welcomed the chance to enter our hotel! (Travel tip. Plan fun activities for road trips that require no space..AKA taking pictures of sleeping teammates =P ) We spent four days in Massachusetts helping at CDE’s and I even had the chance to compete! Congratulations to State College and Alexandria Spease on their wins in their respective CDE’s!
On Monday the 21st, I found myself once again with the team as we drove to the Farm Show complex for the all American dairy show. The show lasted four days in which we had the chance to show cows, hand out ribbons, and even help at the information desk. On the 24th, the team packed up, left the farmshow, and headed towards the Gettysburg High school for the Franklin/York leadership conference. We put on sessions based on the office that the officers held, and then held a different session for teamwork! Once both sessions were over, the entire group of participants came back together for an activity led by the national officer candidate, Britney Marsh. I had a blast getting to know more members at the conference and I hope everyone had fun! On the 30th, I found myself and Caleb driving to the Newport high school for a chapter visit! We spent the day in a classroom with two dogs and many members! I had a great time watching students try to put together peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with some “help!” That night, I also had the opportunity to go to the Perry county fun night. We played volleyball and enjoyed pizza. I loved having the chance to meet all of the members and have fun with them. Some of the members were also members that I had seen the week before at the Perry County Ag Olympics, where I was part of a team that competed in various interesting competitions!! I had an absolute blast and can’t wait to spend more time with you, the members in weeks to come!
October started with a BANG! I celebrated my birthday on the second, then we headed off to the Blue and gold ball in Harrisburg, which was a ton of fun! The team danced the night away with many business and industry reps, as well as past state officers, and even Secretary Redding! What a blast! Soon, we were back in full swing with chapter visits! We had a visit at Penn National Race Track on the 15th, which was so much fun! We got the opportunity to see race horses, and get an inside look at the race track! I had another chapter visit at Marion center on the 16th, then on the 17th we left for the National Convention in Indianapolis. While there we had the chance to hang out with state officers from all over the country, listen to great speakers such as mike Rowe and Josh Sundquist, See the career show, and even get really close seats to Toby Keith! Congratulations to those who competed, and I hope that everyone who attended had as much fun as we did! On the 29th, we went to Philadelphia for their chapter visit! We had SOOOO Much fun, and I want to thank those students who showed me and the team around, as well as welcomed us with open arms! You guys are Great!!
Until Next time,
Heather Miller
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July/August 2009
Wow! I’ve been so busy that I don’t even know where to start! I was so busy in July that I didn’t even get a chance to write my journal, so I guess I’ll make it part of this month! I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable summer, and that you are ready to head back to school to continue your education. Well, since July, I’ve put on many miles on my truck, spent lots of hours running around promoting the FFA, and most importantly, meeting many members. Here is a summary of everything that has happened.
On July 7th, I traveled with my team to the department of Ag, to meet with Secretary Wolf, Deputy Secretary Redding, and many others associated with the dept. of Ag.
On the 9th, I left with my team to go to Lake Conneaut, near Erie. While there, my team and I had the privilege to help conduct WPLC, the western leadership conference. We led a workshop on the beach with Members and what would a conference be without a dance party? We were able to party on the beach with a DJ, volleyball, and corn hole. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. The students left and teachers began arriving for the PAAE conference. We got to tour factories, sit through hands-on workshops (I learned how to weld and pour concrete), and get to know the teachers better! I had a BLAST! The teachers are really awesome, and I’m looking forward to working with them this year. One of the most exciting things of our trip was that I got to stay in the HAUNTED hotel! It was so much fun!
On the 17th, the team and I went to the department of Ag again for a picnic. We had pork BBQ and corn, as well as other snacks. It was delicious, and thanks to the dept of Ag for inviting us!
On July 20th, the team once again met up. This time, we were able to have a tour of Lancaster farming and eat breakfast with them. The tour was amazing, and if you ever have to opportunity to see the machines, be sure you take it! After our tour was complete, we were able to go to Wenger’s of Meyerstown to see how tractors and other machinery are taken apart, and then resold. At the end of our day, and after our tours were all completed, we headed to Fox Chase country club to set up for the golf tournament in the East. The next day we headed back to the club, and helped with the tournament, serving hot dogs, running around delivering snacks and drinks to golfers, and helping with the auction.
On July 26th, I found myself sitting at the department of Ag waiting on Mr. B to pick me up. We were getting ready to go to Philadelphia for a conference called PANTS. It was a nursery trade show, where we had the honor of helping out one of our partners. We got to see a warehouse transform into a beautiful display of flowers, trees, water exhibits, and stones! It was miraculous. I learned so much about the “green” industry, and I know that I had so much fun. I truly enjoyed my time with all of the PANTS people.
On august 6th, I headed to state college for my first board meeting. We learned a lot about who and what we will be doing things with for the next year. The board members were really kind, and I really am looking forward to working with them for the next year. After the board meeting, Britt and I went to one of my fairs, the Mifflin County Fair, where we participated in barnyard Olympics with some of the members. Basically, by the time I went home, I looked like a ball of mud, and I had a blast!
On August 8th, Britt and I took my animals to the Huntingdon County fair, long enough to check them in, then Caleb, Molly, Britt, Alli, and I all left for Gettysburg. NLCSO was being held in Pennsylvania this year, so we had the honor of hosing 5 other states of state officers, and even get a tour of the battlefield. We spent three days learning how to better serve our members, and how to work as a team. I had a lot of fun, and I made a ton of new friends. I know that I’ll remain friends with many of them long after my year is over. After my week at NLCSO, I went back to my fair, where I got to show my livestock and hang out with lots of FFA members. Kelsey Dysard a standing stone FFA member, was named the 2009 Huntingdon Count Fair Queen. Congratulations to her and all of her court!
On the 17th, I found myself on my way to Ag Progress days in state college. I spent the week with my teammates, working in the FFA Foundation food booth, and working at the display for kids! It was a lot of fun!
And on the 26th, the team and I spent the day at the Department of Ag, job shadowing. I was able to shadow
Mr. Pat Kerwin, who is head of the Farm Show complex. It was amazing to see how much work is actually
put into the Farm show, and how many events happen there each year!
For my last event of the month, Caleb, Bill B, and I went to pay off some old debts =) We were bought by
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, the owner’s of Hoss’s. We were privileged and were able to go to their house and
help Mrs. Campbell do some everyday work. Thank you Again to Mr and Mrs. Campbell!
Well, school and chapter visits will be starting soon, and I can’t wait! I am excited to meet all of you, and I hope you are excited to meet me!!
See you soon,
Heather Miller
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JUNE 2009!!!
WOW!! Is June really over already? After an entire two days of interviews, spending time in the “holding cell” with fellow officer candidates, and driving the state officers completely insane…..It felt great to know that at the end of that third day…we would know our fate. Would we be serving as a state officer? But before we found out if we were officers, I learned that my Parliamentary procedure team was the 2nd place team and that we would be competing at the Big E!! My nerves were stretched to their limits by the time the crazy, evil music began. When my name was called, along with ten other members, the roar that I heard from the crowd was amazing!! Thank you so much for all of the support!!
After election, I was able to go home for a few days, celebrate my recent graduation, and pack for my upcoming week at the Wenger’s cabin. On the Monday following our election, Caleb, Allison, and Billy B. picked me up at my house, and we headed to Bethel for our first outing as a team. We spent the entire week at Blast-off training, bonding as a team, and making meals for each other (some of which….were rather…INTERESTING…).
Before we all went our separate ways after training, we all were taken to my backyard, Huntingdon, for the Hoss’s Fore Golf Tournament. We got to help make omelets for the golfers!!! I learned how to flip them in the pan. It was so cool! We were able to drive the golf carts and take hot dogs and such to the golfers on the course. At the end of the night, we held an auction, and we were auctioned off!!! I was bought by Bill and Nancy Campbell. Thank you to all of the chapters who donated items for your support!!
Thank you to everyone that came to state convention and congratulations to all of the competitors! I am excited to meet each and every one of you!!!
Enjoy your summer, and See you soon!!
Heather Miller