I always get a little thrill out of catching a fun little post to someone's facebook status. Today's thrill came from a friend that went to school with, although she was quite a few grades ahead of me, but just a fabulous person then and now. She now heads up a group of students that deal with Agriculture, otherwise know as FFA or Future Farmers of America. I hope they all become a Farmer or at least a Farmers Advocate because I like to eat; all things, hummus, red meat, fruits, veggies and chicken: hatched and unhatched. The little nugget of fun I found today was a link to a site operated by Mike Rowe, the face of Dirty Jobs, and it details his experience in addressing the 82nd National FFA convention and the results of addressing that mass of adolescents. Take a look at his thoughts and explore how you feel about the Future of Agriculture...
http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/05/the-future-of-farming/
I had the opportunity a few months ago to listen in and judge the delivery of the FFA creed at our local chapter where two of my friends are advisors. As an organization they are looking to revise the creed as it is now written, why and to what I'm not sure, but probably to address the same reasons that members would prefer to be called FFA members rather than Future Farmers of America (reference above link). I think that is too bad, I like Farmers, I know a lot of them and they are hard working, self-sacrificing, and truly individuals to be respected. Truly individuals that are out on a limb, both in a figurative sense and in a legislative, special interest group, threatening kind of way. Which again is too bad, I bet those same people like to eat as much as I do.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
if it's not a good experience, it's a great story
Going out on a limb is really hard for some people, those individuals that don't handle change well, don't want to disrupt their stable world and those that are afraid of fallout from taking a risk.
Then there's me.
It seems I've taken up residence out on a limb. I'm not sure when it happened or why I'm still there but I seem to survive better, no... thrive, when I'm not firmly nestled into a proverbial tree trunk. Granted, I don't think my mother would agree too much with me. I believe she finds my slightly precarious position unnerving and foolish. Fortunately, I have found another human who thrives out on a limb and he's happy sharing our little branch of life. I think this also causes my mom to worry, nothing like two headstrong individuals to make life interesting! I'm not sure what he expected but so far so good.
The risks I've taken, to some aren't huge, but they certainly have been life-changing. Not all have gone well or resulted in what I'd hoped but the excitement of getting there and the challenges along the way have made it worthwhile. Luckily, I have formed a great network of friends who by habit or sheer nerve applaud and encourage my nesting here on the edge. A friend once told me that she didn't know how I managed to handle all the uncertainty that surrounded me, I told her... "Things change every day, I just have days that always change and I'm not afraid of that. Things work out they way they are supposed too."
Out on a limb is where the fruit is. Not always is it sweet, or ripe, or perfect but it is satisfying.
Then there's me.
It seems I've taken up residence out on a limb. I'm not sure when it happened or why I'm still there but I seem to survive better, no... thrive, when I'm not firmly nestled into a proverbial tree trunk. Granted, I don't think my mother would agree too much with me. I believe she finds my slightly precarious position unnerving and foolish. Fortunately, I have found another human who thrives out on a limb and he's happy sharing our little branch of life. I think this also causes my mom to worry, nothing like two headstrong individuals to make life interesting! I'm not sure what he expected but so far so good.
The risks I've taken, to some aren't huge, but they certainly have been life-changing. Not all have gone well or resulted in what I'd hoped but the excitement of getting there and the challenges along the way have made it worthwhile. Luckily, I have formed a great network of friends who by habit or sheer nerve applaud and encourage my nesting here on the edge. A friend once told me that she didn't know how I managed to handle all the uncertainty that surrounded me, I told her... "Things change every day, I just have days that always change and I'm not afraid of that. Things work out they way they are supposed too."
Out on a limb is where the fruit is. Not always is it sweet, or ripe, or perfect but it is satisfying.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)