UPDATE Notes From

the

Executive Secretary

Bob Young, Texas Young Farmers Executive Secretary

As I begin this article, I must admit several different topics of discussion to write about have passed through my mind. By the time you receive this newsletter, another school year will have been completed. I believe administrators and teachers alike should ask themselves if they made the most of their opportunities to be positive forces in the lives of the students they serve. How did they go about achieving these goals? Were their actions done with dignity, honor, and respect? Did they nurture in students the desire to learn more, try harder, and even to help fellow students to be more successful? Did they instill in students the characteristics of responsibility, determination, dependability, and accountability? No doubt, these are some of the most important aspects of education, helping form the cornerstone upon which quality education is based. I now have the privilege of observing FFA Chapters throughout Texas and as far as I am concerned, there is no better place to find examples of teachers doing their jobs and accomplishing the standards mentioned above than in an FFA Chapter. It has now been thirty-seven years since I last taught “Vocational Agriculture” (as it was called then) in high school. I asked myself those questions each year. I soon discovered, though, with the help of some very knowledgeable, experienced “mentortype” ag teachers in my district, that one of the keys of successful teaching is to ask ourselves these questions continuously throughout the year. Don’t wait until the school year is over. Because teachers have the opportunity to learn from their students, this constant self-evaluation process may allow for needed adjustments or changes to be made during the year to help make more goals attainable. There must be a lot of this happening in our chapters today because there are so many obvious success stories about both students and teachers. Teachers, you are providing the opportunities for your students. Speaking as a representative of the Texas Young Farmers, I applaud you for your hard work. You are helping to make Young Farmer Chapters stronger also as you excel at your work. Each year the Texas Young Farmers Association 8

awards a total of $7000 in scholarships to deserving FFA members of FFA Chapters which have a Young Farmer Chapter in good standing with the State Association. We award five $1000 scholarships, selected by a state Young Farmer committee. One additional $2000 scholarship is awarded through the Texas FFA selection process. We are proud to announce the recipients of the five $1000 State Association of Young Farmers of Texas Scholarship Awards Program for 2018: Kaitlin Newman, Fairfield FFA; Cory Sinkule, Penelope FFA; Kourtnee Kirgan, Fairfield FFA; Audrey Brown, Dayton FFA; Caelyn Thompson, Teague FFA. These recipients will be recognized at a special breakfast ceremony at the State FFA Convention and will be presented with their award at a Convention session. Congratulations to all five recipients. On another note, Texas Young Farmers State Officers will conduct a quarterly meeting on Saturday, June 30, in Temple at the Hilton Garden Inn, the host hotel of our 2019 State Convention. Our planning process seems to never slow. We have some great tours, educational workshops, informative meetings, enjoyable and competitive contests, state officer elections, and outstanding meals scheduled for the convention, which will be held January 10-12, 2019. It is an event worthy of putting on your calendar. I have always enjoyed attending the Texas FFA Convention and the VATAT Conference. I will especially enjoy them this year as it is my first time to represent Texas Young Farmers. Just as Don Beene did for his fourteen years as Executive Secretary, we will have an exhibit booth at both events. We are certainly looking forward to visiting with teachers, students, and supporters. We also hope to encourage teachers to consider starting a Young Farmer Chapter and to reap the rewards of having such a valuable support group for your FFA Chapter. So please come by our booth to visit. Until next time, remember, “Everyone who remembers his/her own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system.” - Sidney Hook