What would you do with 1 Billion Dollars?

Posted on October 19, 2018 by

Keep working on Leadership Development Events so that you are ready to do your best at Jackrabbit Invite.

If you have not submitted your BIG Idea – today is the day!


If money fell from Heaven, and you had an EXTRA $1000 each month, what would change in your life?  What would you do with the money?  Invest it? Save for college or tech school? Are there special people that you’d share your new windfall with?  Are there organizations or charities that you would make a donation to?

According to ABC and Fox News – the Mega Million jackpot is estimated to be at 1 billion dollars!  The Powerball prize is over 470 million dollars!

Let’s think a little bigger now.  What if you won the Power Ball or Mega Millions or some other obscenely large lottery prize of untold millions of dollars.  If you had all this extra money, and could donate some to a group or organization, what strings would you tie to it?  For instance, I’ve always said that if I won the lottery a portion of my winnings would go to West Central to guarantee that there would always be an Ag Ed and FFA Program here.  The funds would help students travel to Washington Leadership Conference, National Convention, CDEs, Chapter Exchanges, etc.  I would also donate towards an indoor sports complex for our students.  What would you do if you won the lottery? Would you quit your job? Move somewhere different?  Travel more?  I’m torn on if I’d quit my job or not.  I love what I do, so, I think I might miss you all a bit.  I for sure would not miss worrying about how we’re going to pay for things and struggling to come up with fundraisers all the time!  How do you think people might treat you differently?   In what ways do you think your life would change?

Your post is due Monday, October 22, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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Feeding the 9 Billion by 2050

Posted on October 9, 2018 by

It is projected that by 2050 there will be over 9 billion people on Earth.

This creates a challenge for the agricultural industry to feed all these mouths. Remember that articles are biased and often have an opinion behind the research. Please read the the following articles and create your own blog post responding to the following questions:

  1. What do you think is the most effective way to feed the 9 billion people in 2050?
  2. What are two things you agreed with that you read in the articles?
  3. What is at least one thing you disagreed with that was written in the articles?

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3 

Your post is due Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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Do you have the attention span of a goldfish?

Posted on October 4, 2018 by

Time is running rapidly out on your work on the BIG Idea. Your submission is due October 19th.  It’s also time to really hit it hard on any Leadership CDE printed materials.  They are due to me by  October 15th so that we’ve got things ready to submit for Jackrabbit Invite

All students will complete preparation for two Leadership CDEs – whether you are competing or not.  Your materials are due for a grade on or before November 4th.  For information specific to these requirements, see this post.  Additional information about LDEs can be found by reading this post.

If you’ve asked me to proof read your material – I’ll try to do that this afternoon.  Make sure you have either shared a google doc with me or emailed me what you’d like me to read through and or help with edits.

Just a friendly reminder – Take you time on your posts.  Do a good job.  Answer all the questions.  Tell me YOUR story about the prompt. Spell things correctly.  Use proper punctuation. Remember the simple rules for punctuation.  Some of you are simply throwing points away because you are in a hurry to do whatever else it is you are doing!

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For today, I’ve seen lots of stories lately about Cell Phone Addiction.  I witness it every period in my classroom.  Check out these four signs that you may have a problem:

  1. Do you panic when you’ve misplaced your phone?
  2. Are you on your phone during social situations or in the presence of family?
  3. Do you carry your smartphone everywhere, even to the bathroom?
  4. Do you go to sleep and wake up looking at your phone?

Watch the following video: (with earphones please)

On your blog – react to what you saw and heard. Do you exhibit signs of a cell phone addiction? What’s your plan for changing that habit?  If you’re not one of those addicted to their phones, tell me about your experiences with friends or family who are.  It always amazes me when my husband and I are out for dinner and the groups around us are all on their phones.  Seems they’d rather be with who ever they are texting than the people they are with.  It makes me wonder why they’re not with the person or people on the phone instead of the folks they’re with?  Does your family or your group of friends have any rules regarding cell phone use at meal time?  Tell me all about it.

Your post is due Friday, October 5, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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What’s in a Label?

Posted on October 2, 2018 by

Keep working on your BIG Idea – is it due October 19th!  Also, how is your progress coming on Leadership CDEs?  If in doubt, re-read the expectations here.

We’re going to dig into the issue of GMO labeling.  I’ve found a couple of articles that are either in favor of or against GMO food labeling.  Read them here:

Article one

Article two

gmo-food1

What are the arguments made by each organization?  Why do they believe that foods containing GMOs should be required to note it on the label?  Conversely, why do some believe that it is not necessary?  What arguments can you make for each side? Which organizations are involved in these two articles? What other groups might be interested or impacted by this issue? What is a GMO? How many GMO crops are there anyway? List them  on your blog.

Your post is due Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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Messes and Due Dates

Posted on September 28, 2018 by

It looks like we are getting closer to having BIG Idea’s completed.  Keep working on yours.  Again – if you need some editing or proof reading help – let me know!

Leadership Development Events –

If you are doing Employment Skills as one of your two LDEs – your letter and resume are due to me on or before Monday, October 15th.  This will give me some time to help you to improve your documents.

All written materials for Market Plan, Ag Communications, Public Speaking, and Ag Issues will also need to be turned in to me by October 15, 2018

Your commercials and radio broadcast outline will need to be turned in by October 15, 2018.  Remember – your broadcast MUST include Markets.  If you don’t know how to read them, or what they mean – do some research!

If you are in an LDE that takes a written test – Ag Sales, Ag Comm – I have lots of samples – when you need one to practice, let me know.

I’ll have to register those who are competing at Jackrabbit and upload all written material by October 19th.

If you have been following any of the Supreme Court Nomination and Judiciary Committee news, you’ll know that it’s turned into a nasty, mud-slinging, circus!



What’s one type of person or situation that you would never mess with? I can’t imagine what it’s been like to be Judge Kavanaugh or his accusers or their families during this whole mess!  I would never want to be in their shoes!  What type of people make you crazy?  Lazy, dishonest, irresponsible?  People who have an excuse for everything, those who just can’t tell the truth – EVER? What’s an uncomfortable situation you’ve found yourself in that you’d rather never have to experience again?  How could you have avoided the situation you mention? Was it a case of you making poor decisions or were you a victim of the lack of judgement displayed by a friend or peer?  Finally – what are your thoughts about the Wounded Warriors Assembly we had today?

Your Post is due by 3:00 p.m. September 28, 2018

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Lonely or Alone?

Posted on September 27, 2018 by

Keep working on your BIG Idea, your due date is rapidly approaching (October 19th).  If you would like me to proof read what you’ve written before you hit the submit button – I’m happy to help!

The jobs for the Job Interview/Employment Skills CDE have been posted.  There are on the door.  You may also find them here.

If you need to refresh your memory regarding the expectations for this semester.  You may view them here.

Many of you know that Jay travels a lot for his job. That means I spend a lot of time alone.  I’m rarely lonely and I’m rarely bored.  That’s not to say that I don’t miss him, but, I enjoy my alone time, so it’s a tradeoff that works for me.  One memory of feeling really alone for me was when I was traveling to Europe to meet up with a group of WC students on an exchange to Moldova in the former Soviet Union.  I had had a conference to attend prior to departure so flew alone to meet them.  I was only behind them by a couple of days, but, I was alone.  Alone in a strange place with a strange language and some sights that took me aback.  When I landed in Bucharest Romania and we were taxiing to the terminal the sight out my window was of old broken down planes lining the tarmac.  Surrounding them were razor wire fences and gun turrets – with guys AND big machine type looking guns in them!  things went fine and I met up with the group the next day.  One thing is for sure, My one night in Bucharest, I was lonely and felt alone!  What about you?

1327How do you deal with alone time?  Do you camp out on the couch, remote in hand, channel surfing and watching whatever you want?  Do you call or text every person in your contacts to find someone to do something with?  Tell me about a time that you were truly lonely.  What happened?  How did you overcome it? Tell me all about it.

Your post is due Friday, September 28, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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Regulating Biotech Plants

Posted on September 20, 2018 by

Read this website/article

How does our government regulate Ag Biotech Plants?  When was the policy adopted? What is the policy called that is used to evaluate products developed using biotechnology?  What is the framework based upon?  What is it designed to do? Which government agencies are responsible for the oversight of modern ag biotech products?  What is the responsibility of each agency?

Your post is due Friday, September 21, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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How’s your BIG Idea coming?

Posted on September 17, 2018 by

You have about a month yet to complete your BIG Idea entry.  How’s it going?  On your blog tell me the following:  What is your idea?  Who is/are your partners (if any)?  What parts do you have done?  Have you developed your logo/marketing material?

Here is what I see on my Advisor’s Dashboard:

Looks to me like there is a lot of work that needs to be done.  You should be writing and researching for your BIG Idea today!

Your Blog post about the BIG Idea should be completed by Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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What’s your Leadership Style?

Posted on September 13, 2018 by

There are numerous types of leaders and leadership traits.  What type of leader are you?  Take your time and think about your answers to the quiz linked below.  Be sure to FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!

Take this quiz.

Screen shot your answers to the questions and insert them into you post

What result did you get, what kind of leader does the quiz say that you are?  Do you agree or disagree, Why or Why not?  Which of the questions were the most difficult for you to select an answer?

Your post is due Friday, September 14, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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September 11th – Remembering

Posted on September 11, 2018 by

What do you remember or know about September 11th?  In what ways has our country and society changed as a result of the attacks on our country 17 years ago?  Do you think we have over reacted or under reacted to safety and security issues in the country?  Do you think it’s appropriate that our news stations cover tragic events in a live manner? Why or why not?  What things did you notice about the coverage in the video you watched?  Why do you think the World Trade Center was targeted?  Was there symbolism in the choice of these targets?  What do you think it was like for the newscasters who were covering the stories of that day?

NOTE: Due to the editing process, some video clips may not represent the correct chronological order.

Your post is due Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 8:15 a.m.

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