Qualities that make you CRAZY!

Posted on September 26, 2014 by

Reminder – Chapter Picnic is Monday at 7:30 in the commons.  Sophomores are bringing Salads, Juniors – Main Dish, Seniors – Dessert.  Casual dress NO OD!

What qualities in people make you crazy?  Is it dishonesty, lethargy, selfishness, indecisiveness?  Do people who are always happy and bubbly make you want to smack them? What about those who appear to always be trying out for the role of “Mr. Crabby Pants”?  How do you deal with these people or their personality qualities?

 

1363Your post is due Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

 

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Mad Parents

Posted on September 22, 2014 by

The jobs for this year’s Job Interview CDE have been posted.  You can find them here.

Keep working on your Soybean Video, BIG Idea, Leadership CDEs, SAE records, etc.

Here’s a screen shot of who has gotten started:

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Reminder – South Dakota Angus Tour – tonight at Jeff Kapperman’s.  Wear an FFA T shirt if possible.  We will start at 4:30 and be done about 8 or so.  The address is 25831 454th Ave, Humboldt.  Call me if you get lost.

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For today:Tell me about a time when your parents, or another adult in your life, were very disappointed in you.  What happened?  How did you respond? Has the issue arisen again?  Just a note about posts like this one – please don’t incriminate yourself or your friends.  Give me just enough details to let me know what happened.

Your post is due Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

 

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My Hero

Posted on September 18, 2014 by

Some of you may have heard me talk about my Dad on occaision.  Born and raised in Ohio, his father was a Judge, his mother was a housewife, and according to my Dad, the worst cook in the world!  My father had Rheumatic Fever as a child.  The disease causes the heart to function inefficiently.  As a result, he was a pretty sickly child.  He was homeschooled and did not attend public school until the 7th grade.  By that time he was healthy enough to make it through a full day of school but not strong enough to pursue his dreams of playing football and basketball.  While in high school he excelled in band – he played the Clarinet, was involved in drama, and student government.  He double majored in English and Biology and you’ll find his name on records of scores on the MCAT (test you take to get into medical school).  He spent 27 years in school (beginning from 7th grade!) He helped to develop the Oral Polio vaccine during a residency with Salk and Sabin (the guys that got the credit).  When he and my mother decided to get married he told her because of the lasting results of his bout with Rheumatic Fever that he probably wouldn’t live past 50.

He turned 50 in April of 1979, had open heart surgery in June of that year.  He turned 60 in 1989, had another open heart surgery in October of that year.  He spent his 70th birthday riding a donkey to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with my mother and some family friends.  Two weeks later, I got the call that he had not woken up and was hospitalized in San Francisco.  He passed away at the next day and 70 years and 2 weeks of age.

The things that make my father my hero are his love for education, his will to live that gave him and my  mother as well as my brother and I 20 bonus years to enjoy him.  His sense of humor was the best.  He was a great teacher, with more patience than anyone I’ve ever known.  He loved my mother!  He set a great example for how a marriage should look and how a man should treat a woman.  Family was the most important thing in the world to him. His academic accomplishments are something I’ve always been proud of, but his role as a father and friend in my life are what I’m most grateful for.

Your turn:

 

 

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Your blog post is due Monday, September 22, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

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Be prepared…..

Posted on September 16, 2014 by

Continue working on your SAE records, BIG Idea, Soybean Video, Leadership CDEs, etc.

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Be prepared to back up your opinion with stats and resources.  Let’s start with some definitions of Organic, conventional agriculture and GMO. How do you feel about Organic vs Conventional Agriculture? Are GMOs safe? Which form of production is better for the environment – organic or GMO/conventional?  How do each benefit or harm the environment?  What percent of crops grown in the U.S. are GMO crops?  What will happen to food demand by the year 2050?  How will we produce the necessary food and fiber? Is there any legislation – proposed or passed – that addresses labeling of foods as GMO or Organic?  What is the difference between “Organic” and “Natural”?  Are “Organic” products always GMO free?

On your blog – Provide definitions of Organic, Conventional agriculture, and GMO.  Answer all of the questions above.  State your opinion, back it up with facts and or statistics that you found.  Include a link to the resource that you are basing your opinion on.  I’ll be surprised if everyone is in favor of GMOs.  I’ll be even more surprised if everyone has the same opinion on everything!  Opinions are great, everyone has one.  The question is, can you back your opinion up with facts?  Here’s to hoping that you’re all mature enough to form an educated opinion of your own.  That’s what being an advocate is all about!

Your post is due Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

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Quotes and Life Lessons

Posted on September 10, 2014 by

Happy Homecoming Week!  Before we get to today’s post, a few reminders: I have FFA paperwork from most of you, but need FFA dues from a lot of you  yet! Keep – or start, working o the BIG Idea, your Soybean Video, SAE records, and Leadership CDE stuff.  Just a note – beans are really starting to dry down and turn yellow.  If you want green, growing Soybeans in your video – better get some footage or still photos of beans now before this freeze that they’re talking about for Friday night!

The required fact for your Soybean videos is:

“Over 25 years of independent research shows there is no evidence of harm to human health or deaths from consumption of GM foods.”

It’s been, WOW, a LONG time (1980) since I graduated from high school!  I still remember the quote that our class chose as our motto.  “Far away there in the stars are my highest aspirations.  I may not reach them, but I can look up, see their beauty, believe in them, and try”.  I reflect on those words pretty frequently.

For today:

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Do you recall where or how you first learned the lesson or read or heard the quote? How has this lesson or quote changed your thinking?  Has it been something that you have shared with anyone else that has a common goal?  Tell me all about it!

Your post is due Friday, September 12, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

 

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SAE Records

Posted on September 4, 2014 by

Today we’ll be working on records.  Most of you have a lot to catch up on.  We’ll spend some time today working through AET together.  This means you’ll have to follow along.

The first step is to go to the AET website.

Click the “Student” button on the left sidebar

Chapter Number is SD0068

Your user name is your first initial (capitalized) and your last name with the first letter capitalized.  Example LPetersen

Your password is the same as your user name. (unless you changed it last year)

We’ll be working TOGETHER to set up what AET calls “AET Experiences”.

We can only do so much of this together, so you’ll have to put some class time in on your own on records.

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Standing between me and ………

Posted on September 2, 2014 by

Thursday we’ll start working on SAE records.  So, collect your pay stubs etc. so that you can use your time efficiently.  In the mean time, feel free to get started on your Soybean Video.  The BIG Idea is also open, check out the rules and get started on that as well. Start with reading the rules.  NOTE -Completing a BIG Idea entry is a requirement for this class as well as submitting a Soybean Video.

Those going to National Convention: Your September 1 balance is due.  Also, your $50 airplane ticket deposit is due today.

FFA Dues!  ‘Nuff said.

For today:

 

 

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On your blog react to the above.  What’s the one thing, (maybe more than one) that’s standing in your way of achieving your goal or goals?  Tell me all about it.  What plan do you have for removing your roadblock?  Have you tried to overcome the obstacle in the past? Has whatever’s been standing in your way changed over time?  Your blog post is due Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

 

 

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CAFOs

Posted on August 27, 2014 by

Today you’ll be doing some research on CAFOs.  On your blog provide links to information that you find.

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First off, what is a CAFO? Are there regulations in South Dakota or Minnehaha County that regulate them? See if you can you find a news story of local importance about CAFOs?  How would you feel if a CAFO was proposed to be built in your area/neighborhood? What rights do producers have to construct a CAFO on their land?  Is there legislation impacting CAFOs, farmers, or non-farm landowners? What types of CAFOs are most predominant in South Dakota?  Can you find any statistics about numbers?  Which government organizations have jurisdiction over CAFOs (if any)?

Your post is due Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

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Semester Expectations

Posted on August 27, 2014 by

2014-15 Ag Leadership Expectations

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!

Seniors will  complete the State FFA Degree Application – due January 14, 2015.  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, 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.

We will also be completing Proficiency applications online via AET.

Complete the BIG Idea.  Your entry is due October 20, 2014.

Create a video for the SD Soybean Video Contest.  More information is available here.  This year’s theme is GMO safety. Videos will be due in December.  For our purposes the due date will be prior to the posted date so that we can be sure to get everyone’s video uploaded in time.  Please, do this early!  There will be no growing Soybeans to use as part of your footage if you wait until December! The following fact must be included in your video – Over 25 years of independent research shows there is no evidence of harm to human health or deaths from consumption of GM foods.  We had two videos disqualified last year because they did not include the fact in their video.

Prepare for Leadership CDEs – whether competing or not, everyone will complete at least the following prior to November 4, 2015:  We will discuss how these items will be handed in.

Choose two or more from this list:

Rules for all Leadership CDEs will be posted here.  Check the rules for the CDE you are working on.  Some things (Ag Sales Products, Job descriptions, Ag Comm prompt etc.) won’t be available until mid September.

  • Complete the letter of application and resume for the Job Interview CDE.  Jobs are posted here
  • 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 2013 National Extemp Speaking Topic list, available here, collect and compile reference materials for each topic in preparation for the Extemp Speaking CDE.
  • 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 3) Prompt for this year’s Media Plan will be available in Mid  September.
  • 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)

Our District has changed!  The districts were realigned this summer.  Harrisburg has been added to our district so that changes the competition level and some of the dynamics within the district!

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

 

 

 

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Procrastination

Posted on August 25, 2014 by

 

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We all have chores, jobs, or tasks that we’d rather do just about anything rather than having to do that job.  What job is it for you that you absolutely hate?  For me, it’s mowing the lawn.  It just takes FOREVER!  You have to wait until the grass is dry, which this summer, seemed to take forever as well.  Then you have to mow around all those trees, try not to run over treasures in the yard that will damage the lawnmower. And all the jostling!  UGH!  Our lawn is not smooth by any means so it’s like riding on a bumpy gravel road or 6 hours straight.

OK, I think you get the idea, I’d rather do just about anything but mow the lawn.  Tell me about the chore that you hate as well as the one thing you don’t procrastinate on when it needs doing.  What is it that helps you to not procrastinate?

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