Proceedings, 1997

Dear Rachel, Everything is great up
here in Alaska. I was just slated
chapter reporter! My first step
toward becoming a state officer. 1
hope to do all I can to make my
chapter the best it can be. See you in
a couple of months at national
convention. We're very excited.
Hi Rachel! I wanted to write and
tell you that 1 received my chapter 's
Star Greenhand Award. Our chapter
got a grant for a greenhouse, too.
Dear Rachel, I have some big
news! Do you remember when you
visited my school and 1 told you I
was going to run for state office?
Well I did and 1 MADE IT". It was
the most awesome feeling. If I had
to choose between $100 million and
being a state officer, I'd choose being
an officer 100 million times!
Hi Rachel! Thank you so much
for attending the South Dakota
Leadership Camp. Everyone and
everything there made me see how
good I have it at this point in my life.
On the back of your business card
you wrote "I believe in you." Well, I
believe in you too. Please write back
soon. Sincerely, LeeAnn.
Throughout this year, many
people have asked me, "Rachel,
what's your favorite thing about
being a national officer?" My
response was always easy. "Meeting
and getting to know each of you, the
FFA members." But no one ever
asked me what was the worst thing
about being a national officer.
Another easy answer: "leaving you,
the members."
"One of You"
Rachel Fehringer
National FFA Vice President— Western Region
Peetz, Colo.
During the past 12 months I have
jet-setted across the country, and
often times I would stay in one
location just long enough for me to
make some really good friends, and
then catch a plane to my next
destination, only to start all over
again. Often, my friends, we would
leave each other with you saying, "I
know you meet a lot of people out
there, but please don't forget about
me!" How could I forget dancing
with one of you at state convention?
How could 1 forget watching one of
you leap for joy after being named
the state creed speaking winner?
To those of you who have told me
of your hopes of getting elected to
chapter office or attending college, I
will never forget the impact you've
had on my life every time you've
smiled, laughed, screamed
enthusiastically in this convention
hall or simply picked up your pen to
write me a letter. By meeting and
knowing each of you, I believe in
you for the individual that you are
with special talents and abilities,
unlike any other, who has confidence
in yourself and your future.
ii The best thing
you have to offer
this world is
yourself. You
don't have to
copy anyone else. »
I have met a lot of FFA members
this year. But of all the students I've
met I never found two who talk
alike, walk alike or act alike, though
its funny how we all seem to dress
alike. One of you was an athlete,
another a rodeo fanatic. One of you
had a 4.0, another had bleached hair
and an earring. One of you was from
the city studying science, another
wanted to go back to the family
farm. From each of you I learned so
many different things: how to pitch
horseshoes or arrange a basket of
flowers, how to maintain nutrient
levels in a greenhouse water-line or
how to drive a snow-mobile. Even
more importantly, one of you taught
me how important it is to keep
trying if I didn't reach my goal the
first time. Another taught me that
there is great satisfaction in working
hard. One of you showed me the
rewards of taking risks.
One of you I met at camp. You
walked with braces on your legs, and
yet 1 watched you swim in a race
against others who were physically
much stronger than you, but your
inner strength was truly inspiring to
have even tried. One of you can't
hear what I'm saying, but because of
the special skills of another FFA
member, you understand my every
word.
'4-4-
FFA members, it's the differences
you possess that will make you great.
Because of the way you talk, think,
act, ride a bike, or even sing, people
will respect you for it, if you take the
time not to act like everyone else,
but instead be proud of being an
individual.
Isn't it strange that even though
most of us have 10 toes, two feet,
two legs, two arms, two hands, 10
fingers, a neck, a head, two ears, two
eyes, a mouth and a nose, others can
simply look at you and know your
name. You do not have to walk into
a room and announce that you are
Alice Miller or Antonio Stevens.
Even though we're all basically the
same in stature, people recognize
you. They recognize you because
you are unique. We do not need to
color our hair or change the way we
talk. We already are different. How
you walk, talk, sing, laugh, shoot a
basketball or write a poem is your
personal trademark. It's your
personal identity.
As I've traveled across the country
this year, I saw too many of you who
estimate your value as human beings
by things that aren't true to the real
person inside of each of you.
Because of my observation, I have
vowed to make it a rule in my life
never to compliment people on the
things that don't matter. I don't care
what kind of car you drive, who your
boyfriend is, or what that expensive
label on your clothes says. I will tell
you if I think you are a good driver,
are intelligent, have a great
personality, a beautiful smile or that
you're very talented just by being
you. Those are the things that
impress me about people. If those
people that you call friends, truly are
your friends, those are the things
that they like about you too!
So why do we always say things
like, "I'm not as pretty as she is?" or
"I'm not as smart as he is?" Why do