What You Play For

If I mentioned Ernie Davis, or the 1959 NCAA Division I-A Championship team would that mean anything to you? Chances are probably not, because that was over 50 years ago. I’m not concerned that you remember Ernie Davis for setting a record of 7.8 yards per carry or being the third leading rusher in the country, more importantly I want you to remember #44 as a player who played the game with passion and dedication.

Davis was a young man with big plans and a bright future in professional football, being the number one draft pick in 1962, he was drafted to the Washington Redskins and almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns. However, Davis would never play a single minute as a Brown, because at the young age of 22 he was diagnosed with leukemia. For most such a diagnosis would probably leave us feeling frustrated and confused, but not Davis. He knew that he had achieved more success than he ever could have hoped for. In a letter to the Saturday Evening Post, Davis is quoted as saying “It's funny, most people think my life has been all about football. I've even thought that myself. But football is just a game. What matters, is what you play for.”

“What matters, is what you play for.” In our everyday lives do we get up with the agenda that it’s all about me, and the 101 things that I need to get done. Or do we live a life in hopes that each day is an opportunity to help those in need. Even though Ernie Davis died over 50 years ago, his words give us insight to what it really means to live a life of purpose and find true success in whatever we do.

Sometimes we get lost in the fact that life is all about winning, and getting ahead. We hear from the time we are little “if you aren’t first, you’re last”, but I would like to go against what has been so deeply ingrained. Can we change the common definition of success? The color of the ribbon, the size of the plaque, the corner office, the number on a pay check…none of it matters if we live only for ourselves. Can we prove that as we work hard and remain dedicated to our goals we all experience success, and it’s even more rewarding when you go in knowing that regardless of what happens you have already won.

What matters, is what you play for!

Turn Up the Heat

At 211 degrees water is hot. At 212 degrees water boils and can power a locomotive. One degree. One degree is all that separates normal from extraordinary. A seemingly insignificant thing, one degree. It has forever changed how I look at my own life. The idea of one degree has forever changed how I live, work, and succeed. One degree- an idea that shows me that to get what I want I have to go above and beyond what I’ve ever done before…I have to turn up the heat!

Going from normal to extraordinary takes focus, belief, perseverance, and a good attitude; it’s not easy but, believe me, it’s worth it.

Focus: Continuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential

Belief: What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve

Perseverance: Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall

Attitude: It is the ability to open our eyes and minds where limitless wonders are discovered

The cool thing about this concept is that it applies to everyone. It applies to the stay at home mom, the farmer, the scientist, the farm broadcaster, the doctor…no one is exempt from this concept. The New Year is often about resolutions, second chances, and new opportunities. So, my challenge to you- turn up the heat! Don’t quit when the going gets tough, in fact in those instances remember that one degree separates normal from extraordinary.

All in the View

It’s all in the view. That’s what I mean about forever, too. For any one of us our forever could end in an hour, or a hundred years from now. You never know for sure, so you’d better make every second count. –Sarah Dessen

Lately it seems as if time has been flying by. The semester is coming to a close, and I’m trying to remember where all that time went. And as I think back to what has been occupying my time I find that I am wondering if I spent my time doing things worthwhile. Did I make every second count?

The funny think about that question is, just like it says in the quote, it’s all in the view. I might find that the way I spent my time was time well spent, but to others they might find what I did meaningless. One of my goals, is to not have to look back on my life with a lot of regrets. Ten years from now I don’t want to look back on my life and say to myself: “Wow, Jessie. You sure missed out on some great opportunities. You could’ve done some great things, but you forgot that time goes by really fast.”

I want to challenge you: Don’t take one second, one minute for granted. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, so use your time wisely. Fill your time doing things you love. Make every second of your life count. And remember…It’s all in the view!

Not an A+ Week

This past week was probably one of the most stressful that I have had this semester; papers to write, tests to study for, deadlines to meet. There were honestly times when I didn’t know if I was going to survive. I would lay down at night and the thought of sleep was the farthest thing from my mind…I just kept thinking about the 101 other things that I should be doing instead of trying to sleep.

There is a quote by Thomas L. Holdcroft that says “Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.” I saw that quote this weekend and immediately said that I had let this week break me. I really shouldn’t stress because in the end everything gets done…somehow it always does. The stress that I put on myself wears me down and is so unnecessary. The time at college is supposed to be the time of my life, so I can’t let this experience be one that wears me down…it needs to be one that molds, polishes, me into the person that I will become.

Growing up heavily involved in the ag industry I understand just how busy and stressful life gets. But what we all need to remember is that the situations we go through are meant to shape our future. We can let our experiences be negative and wear us down, or we can find the bright side to the story and learn from it.

The lesson I learned this last week: It isn’t about getting 100% on every project. It’s about preparing yourself, learning along the way, and giving it your all.

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem…Seize the Day. A simple saying that can have life changing effects. You see we can go through life just living, just getting by. Or we can live each moment to the fullest, take each and every opportunity we have and run with it…don’t you think that is a life that is more meaningful? Don’t you think that if we seize every moment, every opportunity our life will make more of an impact?

Carpe Diem can mean many different things to many different people. For some it may mean that we need to try new things whenever the opportunity presents itself. For some it may mean that we need to talk to people about the important things in life. For some it may mean that we need to slow down, truly enjoy the simple things in life. We each have a different meaning for the term Carpe Diem, and that’s okay, the important thing is that we live out its meaning.

The perfect example of this saying, in my mind, is probably my dad. My dad comes to mind specifically because he is always challenging me to go above and beyond. The drive that I have to succeed is because it is something that he, and my mom, have instilled in me. By watching my dad take advantage of every opportunity possible I have learned the importance of not passing on opportunities. It is sometimes scary, challenging, and to be honest sometimes I just want to say no or even give up. The relationships that my dad has in the world of agriculture have opened so many doors; they have allowed him to take advantage of so many opportunities. For anyone involved in agriculture, there are so many doors that we can choose to open or just walk by. Unfortunately, especially in the younger generation, it is becoming so common to close the door on opportunities, or not even open them for fear of failure. When opportunities come knocking on the door of our life it can be scary, but exciting at the same time. If we would all just seize the opportunities handed to us, think of the impact we could make.

Our time is limited, but the impact we can have on all those around us is limitless. We have to take advantage of every opportunity possible. Stop walking by an open door. Open the door and seize the day…Carpe Diem

Infinite Potential

This past week thousands of students from across the United States traveled to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have made that amazing trip several times myself, but was unable to make the trip this year. That trip is one that changes your life. For those who have the extreme honor and privilege to compete on a team, you partake in an experience that will forever change your life.

The hours of practice, sleepless nights leading up to the big day, homework neglected, social life forgotten…all for the moment of truth. But what exactly is the moment of truth?

Is it the moment when you finally get first in the nation? Is it the moment when you realize that you didn’t do as well as you thought? Is it the moment when you are surrounded by thousands and thousands of Blue and Gold jackets and feel such an amazing sense of pride?

Does the moment of truth define who you are? I believe that how you react to the moment of truth helps to define who you are, but is not a moment that forever defines the impact you will have on this world. At the time you might not realize the impact that this event has on your life, but years down the road when you get the chance to reflect how you do…that is when it all comes into perspective.

For those of us involved in agriculture, and even those who are not, we can learn so much from the members of this incredible organization. We learn that hard work always pays off, no matter what the outcome is. We learn that pride in your organization is something that cannot be explained. We learn that to be passionate about something is a feeling that changes everything. We learn that anyone, no matter how old, can make an impact.

I didn’t have the opportunity to attend the National FFA Convention this year, but I still learned a lot from all of those who made that life changing journey. National FFA 2010…Infinite Potential.

Miraculous World of Agriculture

The other day as I was driving I looked out my window and was absolutely amazed. It seemed like just yesterday that I was driving by these same fields and praying for a good crop, praying that the tiny seedlings would yield an abundant harvest. Some of the fields I drove by had already been harvested and some fields of corn, soybeans and sunflowers still remain. What a miracle! To think that a tiny seed will go in the ground and emerge looking completely different…emerge to do incredible things! The world of agriculture is full of miracles like this one; miracles that we all too often take for granted, if we just look around us we will see that agriculture offers us so much, all we have to do is take the time to notice it.

So often I find that I drive by fields on the side of the road and acknowledge they are there, but lately I’ve been asking myself…do I really notice them? Do I really understand the importance that every single plant in that field has; do I understand their worth? Do I truly embrace the miracles of agriculture?

Farmers plant millions of tiny seeds each year, and those tiny seeds grow to make a significant impact on the lives of many. It has got me thinking, if a tiny seed can make that big of an impact why can’t I? I am ready to leave my footprint in the field of agriculture, and I am tired of sitting on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to make that impact.

Farmers cannot sit around waiting to plant the seeds or harvest them, business people cannot sit around waiting for the sales to come to them, and agriscientists certainly cannot sit around waiting for the next big discovery to just appear in their labs. And I certainly cannot sit around waiting for someone else to tell people about the miracles of agriculture! My question for you…how will you make an impact in the miraculous world of agriculture?!