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Your Turn!

Posted on September 6, 2016 by mspetes

I’d like to hear from you today! What are your expectations for this class? What three or four goals do you have for yourself in this class? What is it you want to get out of our time together? What suggestions can you offer to make this class better/more meaningful? How can I challenge you further or push you harder in class and in your FFA career? What can I (Mrs. Petersen) do to help you reach those goals? What do you need to do to achieve these goals?

Keep working on your records, Leadership CDEs, log in to the BIG Idea and get started. You all have LOTS to do!

Your post is due Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Goals, Maturity, Thought | Leave a comment

2016-17 Expectations i.e.: stuff you have to do!

Posted on August 31, 2016 by mspetes

1st Semester

Maintain your blog and respond to prompts as assigned and by the due date.

SAE records up to date using AET. We’ll be working together to get our records punched in and up to date. Your Records will be a portion of your quarter grade. Please work along with the rest of the class instead of waiting until the end of the quarter/semester! We’ll get started as a class soon, but, you can get logged back in and get your summer recorded anytime you have your data together. Don’t forget – if you are a “green industry” person – get your photos NOW and upload them.

Proficiency Applications: We”ll be working through the application together, a little at a time. Proficiency awards come with CASH prizes for first through third placings on the state level. Our members could be very competitive in Proficiency awards, last year we brought home a couple thousand dollars thanks to proficiency awards. This is one of the Officer Team’s goals for the year. Proficiency apps will be completed online within AET. The more thorough you are in recording things for your SAE, the easier the process will be.

Seniors (with three years or more of membership – counting this year) will complete the State FFA Degree Application – due January 13, 2017. Some of you should consider completing the Star battery for either star in placement, agribusiness, agriscience or farmer. The star battery requires quite a bit of writing and 6 photos and captions (very similar questions to the proficiency apps), start early! Our work on records in AET will help to streamline this process as the information will simply “fly” into the application which we will be completing online.

Complete the BIG Idea. Your entry is due October 13, 2016

We’ll be working on an Agricultural Advocacy initiative throughout the year. Our efforts will be to educate ourselves and others and dispel some of the common agricultural myths floating around out there. **The Soybean Video Contest may or may not be happening this year. The last I heard they had not decided yet. If they do host the contest, it will fit well into our Ag Advocacy Initiative.

Prepare for Leadership CDEs – whether competing or not, everyone will complete at least the following prior to November 1, 2016: We will discuss how these items will be handed in.

Choose two or more from this list: **If you are preparing to compete at nationals – i.e. Job Interview or Horse team – you must complete ONE or more items from this list. I’d like you to invest your time in preparing to do your best in Indianapolis in October!

Rules for all Leadership CDEs are posted here. Check the rules for the CDE you are working on.

Ag Sales Products, pricing and discounts info as-2016-ag-sales-product-information

Job Interview job descriptions job-interview-descriptions-2016

Ag Communications Media Plan Scenario 2016-agricultural-communications-scenario

Complete the letter of application and resume for the Job Interview CDE.
Prepare for the Ag Broadcasting CDE. Have three 30 second commercials for fictitious agricultural products written and memorized. Develop an outline for a 4 minute broadcast complete with times for each section (markets, weather, news etc).
Using the 2015 National Extemp Speaking Topic list, available HERE, collect and compile reference materials for each topic in preparation for the Extemp Speaking CDE. (Print articles on the various topics and compile in a folder or notebook.)
Prepare a written manuscript for the prepared public speaking CDE – 6-8 minutes in length on an agricultural topic. In your own words with a works cited/bibliography page. No plagiarism! Check the rules for proper formatting (MLA vs APA)
Form a team and complete all necessary product and presentation for the:
Ag Communications CDE (team of 4) Prompt for this year’s Media Plan will be linked above when available.
Prepare for the Ag Sales CDE – research the specified products, develop a portfolio of product information for your category. Develop sales pitches for each of the products in your category. Search for and study Written tests
Market Plan CDE (team of 3)
Ag Issues (team of 7)

There are a lot of samples available on the national ffa website at ffa.org. You’ll need to log in (I can help you with that) and surf to Participate>CDEs> on the right hand sidebar there is a link to “Free CDE Q & A 2008-2015” From there you can select any year in that range and it opens up materials for all 24 CDEs! If you’re thinking about Market Plan, Ag Issues, Job Interview, Prepared Speaking etc – go read the samples – which happen to be the top four in the country.

Our District includes 9 chapters. To advance to the State Leadership CDEs you must place in the top three individuals or top two teams. District Leadership CDEs will be held either Monday, November 14th after school here at West Central. Each Chapter may enter two individuals and one team in each CDE at the District Level. We will attend preliminary CDEs at the Jackrabbit Invite November 1st. We may also compete at the Harrisburg Leadership CDEs on November 7th – we also have Parent Teacher Conferences that night so, I’ve got some things to figure out there before we commit to attending.

These requirements and expectations are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor!

Finally – for today:

What did you want to be when you grew up? Remember when you were very little – what is it you dreamed of becoming? A fireman, a doctor, a teacher, a nurse, a vet? How has that dream changed over time? What precipitated that change? What have you learned in your life that has lead you to a different dream? What was it about that childhood dream that spoke to you – why did you want to be that thing when you were little? Are you still trying to decide what your future career path will look like? Don’t feel bad if you are – I think that’s very normal! What kinds of things can you do to help you to make a sound decision about your future career and educational plans?

Your post is due Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Advocacy, Ag Experience Tracker, BIG Idea, CDE, Expectations, FFA, Leadership, SAE | 3 Comments

Sharing “The Why”

Posted on August 29, 2016 by mspetes

We’re going to get started right away this year with the discussion of ag advocacy and your role in speaking in a positive manner for our industry. We’ll be taking a look at how advocacy can occur across different platforms and media. Today, specifically, we’ll be taking a closer look at John Deere.

View this video:

For All Generations – John Deere

Download and fill in this worksheet while you watch the video – It’s a pdf form with fillable blanks.

john deere info worksheet

Read this article

When you have completed your John Deere worksheet, save it as your name and upload it to your blog along with answering the following.

What is advocacy? Why is it critical for the agriculture industry that we advocate for ourselves? Give a couple of examples of places or topics in agriculture that you feel need extra positive PR (public Relations) work currently. How can you be a positive voice for the agriculture industry in our area? What is necessary for you to do so? Is ag advocacy only something that farmers need to be concerned about? What do you believe are some of the most prominent myths associated with American Agriculture that should be dispelled? How have you personally been an ag advocate in the past? If you don’t believe you have been yet, how do you think you should start? What’s your first step toward advocating for agriculture?

Your post is due Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Advocacy, Agriculture | Leave a comment

Free Time

Posted on August 25, 2016 by mspetes

Refer to this post if you need a refresher course on how to create and publish a post.

Before we dig right in, let’s take a look at what I’m expecting you to be completing when it comes to blog posts.

Let’s compare three blog posts from the same prompt:

This was the prompt: What’s one opportunity you have now that you have not taken? Is it the ability to try something new, take an online or college class, go out for a team/club/activity? Or is it something less concrete? Tell me all about it. What’s been holding you back from stepping through the door that opportunity is presenting you?

First post

“i wish i had gone out for foot ball”

Second post

“one oppertunity i had that i didn’t take was National Honors Society. i shoulda done it my junior year, this year it woulda been pointless tho cuz i wouldn’t have been able to use it on any scholarships. last year I was 2 lazy to fill out the paperwork is why I din’t do it. at least I didn’t have to be in the NHS SRB though.”

Third post

“I am incredibly fortunate to have really supportive parents. They have let me do anything and everything that I have wanted to try (with the exception of Girl Scouts) in my entire life. From ballet and gymnastics to FFA and soccer they have always been on the sidelines cheering as loud as they could. The fact that they are always there is amazing considering the fact that they both wish that my main focus would involve the 4 legged creature living in the barn. The opportunities that I have to excel in rodeo and 4-H are endless. My parents would be 100% willing to pay hundreds of dollars for clinics and new equipment. However, I haven’t really taken advantage of the opportunity. I absolutely love riding, and competing but I have always known that I wouldn’t compete in college or anything like that. If there was an way that I could spend as much time with my horse as I do for soccer I would love it, but it’s simply not possible. Nevertheless I hope to be involved in the equine world forever, I couldn’t imagine my life without it.”

In comparing these posts you’ll notice one is too short and didn’t really answer most of the questions. The second is also very brief and has several spelling or grammatical errors. The other is a bit more thoughtful and explains what the writer is talking about in greater detail. The second writer also makes fewer grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Let this serve as a reminder that I’m not asking you to do brain surgery here, but I am expecting you to put forth some effort! I realize that on some posts you simply won’t have as much to say as on others. That’s OK.

What do you spend the majority of your free time doing? We’ve just started back from having the summer off. I’m guessing you, like I, have more free time during the summer than you do during the school year. Does the way your spend your free time change during the school year in comparison to the summer? How do you prioritize the things you do during your free time? Are there things or activities that you just don’t have time for during the school year? In looking back at how you spent your free time over the summer; did you waste some of your time? If so, what did you do to waste it? If you could have that time back again, what would you spend it doing?

Your post is due Monday, August 29, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Blogging, Directions, Thought | Leave a comment

Blogging 101

Posted on August 25, 2016 by mspetes

Here are a few rules that we’ll need to follow:

1. For student blogs we will be using WordPress. WordPress is very user friendly and as you get more comfortable you can change and edit things so the design and style fits your preferences.

WordPress has a great, easy to follow tutorial for setting up your blog.

Styling your blog in WordPress becomes a game of learning to read code; some themes are more user friendly than others! I recommend starting with the default theme Twenty Ten. You will be able to add your own graphics and changes colors. Also, you can change the theme as you become more comfortable with it

2. Your blog may not contain your entire first and last name. Only first names or an appropriate nickname. Your blog url and title will be something like this:myblog.wordpress.com

3. All graphics must be school and FFA appropriate. No scantilly clad young men or women. If in doubt, ask!

4. Any music associated with your blog must also be school and FFA appropriate.

5. When posting to your blog, keep in mind that your blog is a reflection of you, your family, your school, our FFA Chapter and your FFA Advisor. Once it’s out on the web, it’s really hard to take it back! Keep all language appropriate, use spell and grammar check! If you are talking about a specific person (or classmate), don’t use that person’s real name.

Let’s begin by going to http://wordpress.com

2. Your blog may not contain your entire first and last name. Only first names or an appropriate nickname. Many students in the past have used their school email login, for example – lp3456.Your blog url and title will be something like this: myblog.wordpress.com If you enter a name or slug that is already in use you will get a screen something like this:

When you find a combination that works – WooHoo, you’ll get a screen like this:

Choose a username and password and enter them in the appropriate blanks. The default username will be the slug you came up with . You can change your user name later if you need or want to.

Enter your school e mail address:

Be sure to select English in the pull down menu and click “Create Blog” Choose the Free option!

An e mail will be sent to the e mail address you entered.

Click on the link within the e mail you received.

We’ll get back to blog set up in a minute. Be sure to book mark the dashboard page! You will be using it again!

Before I totally turn you loose. Make note of these things:

Your blog url and the login url, something like this: myblog.wordpress.com/wp-login.php

Write down your user name and password!

When you need help, please ask.

Send me an email with a link to your blog (myblog.wordpress.com)

Happy Blogging!

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Blogging, Setup, Step-by-Step | Leave a comment

Paper Work

Posted on May 18, 2016 by mspetes

I know many of you have tests to study for, papers to finish, books to read, etc. So we’ll make today as painless as possible!

Please – log into AET

Go to Profile>Manage/Edit personal profile and password.

Scroll down, on the right hand side, under Contact Information, click edit. Make sure you have entered a non K12 email address for yourself and your cell phone number. Click Save

Make sure your records are all up to date through May of 2016. Any hours worked – paid or unpaid, community service, FFA and school activities/awards/honors. Any products produced or sold or used at home. If you need help – please ask.

Finally – click on Reports, Click on Complete Record Book Report, leave the ending date blank and click generate pdf. Send me the pdf via email.

Ellie – we need to finish up your proficiency app today and Friday!

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Ag Experience Tracker | Leave a comment

If This Happened to You?

Posted on May 16, 2016 by mspetes

Sometimes, when I’m feeling particularly sorry for myself for one weird reason or another, I wonder how much more I can really take. Then, I hear a story about someone like Austin Hatch, and decide that I need to pull up my bootstraps and get through whatever obstacles I’m dealing with at the time.

This video courtesy of ESPN

Who is the video about? Why is his life remarkable? The Michigan head basketball coach mentions that Austin told him he’d only had two bad days in his life – what were they? Did Austin wait to accept his scholarship to play basketball at Michigan? How serious were Austin’s injuries from the second crash? What was his prognosis for recovery (what did they predict about his recovery)? What was Austin’s dad’s goal for his son? Why did Austin move to live with his uncle? What benefit did the move provide for Austin?

In what ways was Austin lucky?

How would you handle losing a parent and all of your siblings?

What factors helped Austin to move on and realize his father’s goal for him?

Your post is due Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 8:15 a.m. If you are a senior – your post is due before I can sign your check out sheet.

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Maturity, Opportunity, Thought | Leave a comment

Antibiotics – should we use them or not?

Posted on May 12, 2016 by mspetes

We take antibiotics when we get sick. We often use them on our livestock for the same purpose.

Watch this video for a brief introduction to the use of antibiotics in livestock production.

Now it’s time for a bit of research:

Why do we use antibiotics in livestock production? What type of infections are antibiotics an effective treatment? In what levels and for what purposes do we use them? What arguments are there against the use of antibiotics in livestock production? Are there regulations about the use of antibiotics in livestock production? If so – who mandates them, what or how do they regulate use. Are there organizations who argue that antibiotics are not necessary in livestock production? Who are they and what is their primary message. Finally – what is YOUR opinion? Do you think antibiotics are safe to use in livestock production; why or why not?

If you are a Senior: If you want to maintain your FFA membership next year to remain eligible for scholarships, proficiency awards, American Degree and various FFA travel and programs, please – log into AET, go to Profile> Manage, Edit your personal profile and password. On the left side, scroll down and edit your email address – make sure it is not a K12 email address. I will contact you via email regarding FFA opportunities that apply to you including notification of dues that will need to be paid.

Your post is due Monday, May 16, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Agriculture | Leave a comment

Mistakes

Posted on May 10, 2016 by mspetes

We all make mistakes! Some are larger and wider reaching than others. What is the biggest mistake you’ve made? What have you done to make up for that error? Have you recovered your reputation or the hurt you caused? On a larger level, what do you believe is the biggest mistake made throughout human history? Why do you think that this is so? What damage, if any, did the mistake you are stating cause? Do some research and give me some facts! Do you believe that this mistake could have been prevented? If so, how?

***Also – update AET – some of you have new offices and/or awards that need to be entered. Have you worked any hours – paid or unpaid? Did you buy any livestock, supplies, etc? Have you entered any paychecks? Have you started a new job, taken any photos that apply to your SAE that need to be uploaded? ETC!!!!!

Your post is due Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

Posted in Prompts | Tagged Maturity, Opinion, Thought | Leave a comment

Things That Annoy You

Posted on May 6, 2016 by mspetes

What annoys you the most about your job or school? Are there things that annoy you about dealing with people? Do different generations in your life cause you different annoyances? For example – are the things your teachers, parents, friends do that annoy you different?

Your post is due Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

Joe and Jordan – Please – work on your proficiency app!

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