Adrienne Bradley

FFA State President

 “Ten percent of life is what happens; the other ninety percent is how we react to it.”  This concept may appear simple on the surface, but by taking a closer look and applying it to our lives, this quote holds significant value.  Getting a new car, receiving a compliment, meeting new friends, and traveling to a favorite place are all positive events that may draw similar reactions out of individuals.  But what about the opposite side- a flat car tire, a hurtful comment, disappointment in a friend, or a personal mistake? How will we react, and are we proud of that reaction?  Are we making the most out of those events and moving on in a healthy and positive way?  Reflection is the key to personal growth. 

Opportunities and experiences will come and go and sometimes be left in the past.  But by simply reflecting on the events that have taken place in our lives, we are able to evaluate our actions and reactions, and productively make those experiences last a lifetime.  By taking what we learn from the ten percent of what happens and applying it to our everyday lives, we can ultimately become “the best us”.  Over the past few months, I have had an amazing journey, and I am learning more and more everyday!  I have learned most of all, to embrace the journey and continuously allow room for personal growth. 

            This summer has definitely been one of a kind.  Jam-packed with several conferences, trainings, and industry visits, I have really enjoyed the thousands of miles traveling across the country and up and down California. 

·        Blast-Off training kicked off the summer with four days of intense learning and a Rivercats baseball game with our trainer, Seth. 

·        Then came CATA (Conference for Agriculture Instructors) in the beautiful San Luis Obispo where we got ready for our upcoming conferences, visited Ag teachers from all over the state, and snuck in a day at the beach! 

·        NLCSO (National Leadership Conference for State Officers) was held in Bryce Canyon, Utah, where the state officers from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah joined us with national officers Nessie Early and Hannah Crossen for training, conference preparation, and national convention planning.  I thought that I had experienced FFA “van-rides” to their fullest during high school, but nothing will be able to top the 15 hours we spent in a van all the way to Utah!                 

       On the way home, we took a detour through Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon- it was amazing!  Perhaps one of the most memorable parts of the trip was staying at the “Railroad Motel” where some of the rooms were cabooses of a train!  Then there was the small town of Williams along the old Route 66, where we ate dinner at a spectacular little restaurant called Cruiser’s Café.  This town sure was hoppin’; people were dressed up in old fashioned clothes, there were exhibits along the street, and we ate dinner to live music outside.  This trip was a lot of fun, but we were really looking forward to the next event on the itinerary…

·        ROLC (Regional Officer Leadership Conference)!!!  I had been counting down the days- the opportunity to finally spend some quality time with FFA members had finally arrived.  Meeting and working with the regional officers from up and down the state was one of my favorite experiences this summer.  The four-day conference was jam-packed with workshops, patriotic observances, theme presentations, team-building and bonding, presentations of agriculture issues, a luau, and more.  The regional officers had the chance to grow together as a team but to also spend some quality time with other regional officer teams.  This year each team was required to create a public service announcement in the form of a video with the idea of recruitment in mind.  I was blown away by the regional officers’ performances!  Thank you everyone for allowing us to get to know you all and have a fabulous time!

·        Next to come was the State Presidents’ Conference in Washington D.C.  Sam and I had the opportunity to travel across the country and meet vice-presidents and presidents from every state and Puerto Rico!  Upon arriving to the airport in D.C., my luggage got lost!-one of those events in which the event/reaction quote definitely applies.  Working with the national officers, we established committees for national convention and discussed the issues facing the FFA.  In addition, we got together with other state officers and had some time to tour the incredible Washington D.C.  A definite highlight of the trip was meeting Assemblyman Tom McClintock and chatting about water in California!

·        Over the past few months, we have visited a handful of colleges where we received various types of training.  UC Davis, Chico State, Fresno State, and Cal Poly (SLO) each had different content and a unique style that has and will continue to help us along the course of this year.

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·        State Fair was a lot of fun as we had the opportunity to present awards, work in the Sale of Champions, interview exhibitors, and judge pens.  Congratulations to everyone involved!  It was truly amazing to see all the different SAE’s and how much work is invested into the animals.  Personally, I learned a lot just being there.  Danielle Alicea from Placerville taught me everything there is to know about rabbits- I’ll never forget about the jersey wooly and the angora rabbits. 

·        Next was the San Joaquin Section Officer Leadership Conference.  Workshops, opening and closing ceremonies, amazing meals, and a competitive volleyball tournament made for a very enjoyable experience at Exeter High School.  Section officers were able to team-build and bond as they shared personal experiences and stories within their teams.  It was an honor to be a part of that experience and hear what everyone had to share.  Thank you Benji for the gorgeous drawing and to the rest of the RO’s and SO’s for an incredible time!

·        Lastly, visiting numerous industries truly opened my eyes to the heart of agriculture.  The California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Forestry Foundation and Sierra Pacific Lumber Mill, Bolthouse Farms, Limoneira, Valley Crest Nursery, Foster Farms, the Tulare Agriculture Expo, and the E.A.T. Foundation were among the industries and organizations we were able to learn from. 

The best is yet to come!  I am really looking forward to seeing the thousands of FFA members as we travel all around the state for chapter visits.  We got a small preview already with Elk Grove-Pleasant Grove, and that was fun!  The Albiani and Quinn families were amazing hosts- I will never forget Bocci Ball, the delicious dinner, volleyball, and most of all, our intense games of Ninja.  Over the next few months, we will be visiting several chapters and attending various Chapter Officer Leadership Conferences and a few more Section Officer Leadership Conferences.  National Convention is right around the corner- good luck to everyone competing! You will all do fabulous- just know that you have the support of 66,000 FFA members in California cheering you on.  Also be cheering for our national officer candidate, Levy Randolph, as he competes for a spot on the national officer team- Go Levy and California at the 82^nd National FFA Convention!

This year we hope to emphasize the idea of recruitment- not only encouraging junior high students to get involved when entering high school, but also drawing in more high school students and influencing increased involvement in the FFA.  We urge everyone to get proactive in recruiting and work to increase involvement and membership in California.

Thank you for being a part of the journey so far!