NEWS A Texas Team Ag Ed Publication
October 2018
#TammyTalks
Tammy Christian, Penelope
Howdy from Penelope, Texas! We met our three week mark at the beginning of last week here at school. By the time you receive this newsletter you will likely have finished or be finished with the first six weeks and on to the second, or pretty close to starting it. It is so hard to believe how fast the school year moves. We have so many activities, deadlines and events there are few, if any, dull moments or lulls! Add writing a newsletter article to that, and it moves really fast! In Area VIII, we have had our area banquet, greenhand conference and most districts have had their first district meetings. Many of us are busy visiting projects, buying projects, preparing for LDE’s, working concession stands and fundraising. To continue my story from last month, as 1980 moved into 1981, my enthusiasm remained high, I was a part of the livestock judging team, we had county fair and quickly began making plans for the state FFA convention. I was catching on to this FFA thing and it was a priority with me. I was fortunate as a kid, to grow up in a loving home with parents who encouraged me. My Dad always expected success and he continually raised the bar! I look at so many of my students today, and I feel that is a part that is sometimes lacking in their lives. No one at home has taken the time to nurture their drive for success and
raise the bar. The next three years of high school, for me, proved no different. I worked hard to succeed and be on top, no matter what we were doing. Mr. Hawthorne continued to do his job so well! He offered every new opportunity he could, all the while encouraging us, and preparing us. My peers recognized my passion for the blue and gold and they began to encourage me to run for a district office. I finally caved in and took the leap. I ended up serving the Lake Whitney District as secretary in 1983-1984. It was a huge step and another life changing experience. During high school I served as chapter President, was awarded outstanding female member and outstanding chapter officer. That blue and gold jacket had changed my life! To be continued… Many of you are learning your new students and their talents. You are also renewing and cultivating the talents of those who have been involved. For those new teachers, as you prepare for fall LDE’s, do not spread yourselves too thin! Choose a couple of contests, or even three, you feel confident about, and have students interested in. Work hard on them, prepare and learn. Offer to judge a contest that you are interested in and learn, it is a great way to hone your skills. I have spent the majority of my career in oneteacher department and honestly, I
think, everyone should be able to train a couple of creed speakers and quiz teams. Any of the LDE’s that you can get students interested in, and willing to participate in, are beneficial. There are a number of invitational LDE’s that are being posted on Judging Card, check it out. Begin to work on your rosters so that you are not rushing toward that deadline. As you shop for animal projects, please be mindful of the importance of being professional, honest and ethical. It is part of our job and responsibility. We attend the National FFA Convention every other year. I usually take four to five students who have been active and on track to be scholarship Continue on page 2