Nematodes

Listen to the podcast here:

Monsanto developing nematode fighting chemistry

What are nematodes?  Why are they a concern in agriculture?  What are nematode caused symptoms sometimes confused for?  What is the name of the new technology to fight nematodes being developed by Monsanto.  What is it, how does it work?  What is hydrophobic?  Why is that important in controlling nematodes?  What crops are nematodes specifically problematic in?  When should we expect this product on the market?

What other method(s) are there for battling nematodes?

Your post is due Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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If you won a million dollars…

We live in a society where everyone is looking for a quick payout.  We want instant gratification, instant results on tests, instant answers to texts, instant fame, instant wealth etc.

If you won a million dollars, how would your life be different?  What things would you change in your life?  What would you do with your money – blow it or invest it?  If the only way you could get the million bucks was to give a quarter of it ($250,000) away – what would you do?  Who or what organizations would you give money to?  Break it down for me:  How much money to who.  Tell me why you’d give that amount to that person or organization.

Your post is due Monday, May 15, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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To Practice……

For some of us, this sentence is pretty memorable.  But, what does it mean?How do you “practice brotherhood”?  What does it mean to practice brotherhood?

How do you “honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities”?  What opportunities have you taken advantage of?  What responsibilities do you have that you honor?  What opportunities have you passed up that you wish you had taken advantage of?

What qualities of “leadership should we all possess”?  Why are those specific qualities important?

Your post is due on Tuesday, May 9th, 2017 (Banquet Day) at 8:15 a.m.

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Tough Decisions

What’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever made?  What made this a tough decision?  What outside influencers impacted your decision?  What choices did you have to make, were there things you had to give up for your choice to work?  Would you still make the same decision today?

Your post is due Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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Flaws

If you are interested in watching along with State Convention, you should be able to view a live feed here:

Session 3 – April 25th, 8:30 am: 

The announcement and election of officers should occur by about 11:30 a.m.

We all have flaws and weaknesses.  A lot of what we do in life depends on how we deal with our flaws.  If asked in a job interview what is your biggest flaw or weakness, what would you say?  How can you use that weakness to develop strength?  Does your idea of your greatest flaw line up with what a family member or close friend might think is your greatest weakness?

Your post is due Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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The Child Inside

I’ll have the State Convention Schedule out to you later today!

We’re working on materials for the Lock-In – be watching your email for that.  The FFA Banquet is coming up on May 9th – email will be forthcoming about that as well!

Some of you have seen photos from my Easter Vacation.  For those of you that haven’t – just imagine me dressed in the styles of the 1940’s.  My husband and I attended an event where the crowd looks as if they’ve stepped back in time.  What girl doesn’t love to play dress up?  What do you miss from childhood?  Did you set up your entire “farm” on the living room floor?  Were there special toy trucks, tractors, combines etc that made your farm complete?  Are there special treats you received when you traveled to a grandparent’s home?  What things do you miss from childhood?  Is it the simplicity of that time in your life that you long for?  No homework, no chores, no real responsibilities or life-changing decisions to make?

Your post is due Friday, April 21, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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You’re Famous – sort of

What’s the closest you’ve come to having your 15 minutes of fame?  If you were famous, would you live your life differently because more people would be watching you?  How do you model appropriate behavior to small children who may be looking up to you as a role model?  Is there a little person that adores you?  Maybe at Church, school activities etc.?  Conversely, are their peers that you look up to?  What is it about them that you admire?

Your post is due Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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Fond Memories

14022350_1430634713619373_4062193667966259996_nWhat are the things that stick out in your life over the past three or four years?  Some of mine include having three teams on stage last year at State Convention, Liz winning Star in AgriScience, re-capturing our Ag Issues and Ag Comm crowns this year, spending time with my mom, and holding my grandson the day he was born. Which memories make you smile?  Which ones bring you to tears?  Many of you will be experiencing “lasts” this spring.  Your last Prom, last track meet, last State Convention, last concert, last baseball game.  For some of you it won’t hit you until graduation is over.  That will be the last time you sit with your classmates.  You’ll never all be together again after about 4:00 p.m. on May 20, 2017.  What memories do you want to capture and hold on to?  What things are you looking forward to and perhaps dreading at the same time?

Your post is due Friday, April 7, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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When you meet someone for the first time…..

I’ve known some of you most of your lives!  I’ve had quite a few of your parents in class.  What impressions do you suppose I had of you when we first met?

It’s been said that “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” – Will Rogers.

 

We’ve also heard the one about not judging a book by its cover.

It’s pretty easy to put a book back on the shelf if the cover doesn’t entice us or make us curious about what lies in the pages within.

It’s that way with people as well!14955795_1510259608990216_7102178451841549263_nWhen you meet someone for the first time, what do you want them to think about you?  How can you help to achieve that goal?  What first impressions might you have left with your teachers when you began high school or first walked into their classroom.  Likewise – what first impressions did you have of us?  What did you think of Mr. Mueller, Mr. Tirrel, Mrs. Renner, Mrs. Jensen, Mr. Sittig, or me, etc. the first time you met them/us?  Did your impression turn out to be correct?  Did that impression sway your feelings about that person?  Tell me about a time when your first impression of someone turned out to be way off!  I’ve known people that really disliked each other when they first met and had to work with each other – the people I’m thinking of are now happily married with 4 children!  What first impression do you THINK you make on people?  Is that impression the same as the one you WANT to make?  I’m usually surprised to hear that when I have served on the State FFA Officer  Nominating Committee that candidates were intimidated by me.  That’s not the impression I wanted to give those FFA leaders – but it’s what happened!

Your post is due Monday, April 3, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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Benefits of Ag Research

National centre for genetic engineering and biotechnology (BIOTEC).

Read this article

Who maintains statistics with regard to ag trade?  What has happened to the value of agricultural exports in the last several decades?  What are the benefits of expanded ag trade?  What risks?  How can those risks be minimized?  Why might you be asked if you’ve visited a farm recently when boarding an international flight?  What has happened to the number of people flying on commercial airlines?  What is a controlled entry point – what does it do, provide a couple of examples.  Does weather impact the spread of plant or animal diseases?  How?  Where was Ug99 Wheat Stem Rust first identified, how far has it spread?  What risk is associated with Ug99?  What is being done to minimize the risk associated with Ug99?  With regard to animal diseases, how can a treatment that was once effective become ineffective against the same disease?  What is H5N2 – what species does it affect?  What effect has it had?  How can plant and animal diseases affect our economy?

Your post is due Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 8:15 a.m.

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