“FFA members why are we here?” states the president during opening ceremonies. Following three taps of the gavel, FFA members filling the room rise, and with resounding and confident voices start, “To practice brotherhood, honor agricultural opportunities and responsibilities, and develop those qualities of leadership which an FFA member should possess.”
“To practice brotherhood…” can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people; but to an FFA member, it means more than a friendship. It means creating another family, a FFAmily. I have been blessed with the opportunity to grow in the FFA organization in the great state of Minnesota; and through MN FFA, I have met some of the best and most influential people in my life. Finding a commonality is easy to do at an FFA camp, but so is leaving with a new best friend. As many of you know, Mary is like the sister I don't have -- and we met at FFA camp. Whether it's our love for show stock or big hair and fashion, I can always count on Mary for a FANTASTIC and truly enjoyable conversation at anytime of day. Valerie sparked my passion for agriculture and truly serves as a role model for me, as well as many other FFA members. Her professional spunk and drive to serve others pushes me to be more like her. Whether it be catching up at a leadership conference, or helping me through a sobbing hardship, Valerie is such a rock and guide in my life. And then there are people like Nathan, Klarissa, and Madi. Whether it is three and a half hours later in a coffee shop, a quick late night phone call, or sound life advice -- these three know how to lift my spirits or just talk about life. I thank God everyday for blessing me with such unique people and placing them in my life. If you don't already have a Mary, Valerie, Nathan, Klarissa , or Madi in your life, keep looking. They will come to you when you least expect it -- but at just the right moment. Surround yourself with people you strive to be more like - they will rub off on you. Lastly, never forget to practice brotherhood with your closest friend or furthest stranger. You never know what impact they might have on your life down the road.
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A man with a big heart and bright smile will be dearly missed; especially by those whose lives he impacted during his 81 years on this earth. - - - My parents knew the Wigen and Thissen families because of their deep ties in agriculture and our community of Litchfield, Minnesota and Meeker County. Plus, Sara and Jay, Marlow’s grandkids, bought their show stock from my parents when they were still 4-H and FFA members, before I was born and in my younger years. So for my first through third Halloweens, Mom and Dad had to go show me off to the Wigen and Thissen families. As the family watched me grow up, my schedule got busier and I lost touch with Anna Mae and Marlow. I could always count on seeing them in church on Sunday mornings with smiles on their faces. If for some reason I was in the paper that week, they would make sure to congratulate me on my newest accomplishment. And then there is the Meeker County Fair. This was a time of year you could bet that the Wigens wouldn’t miss. Especially on Saturday night for the Meeker County 4-H Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction - that Marlow helped start 40 years ago. About eight weeks ago, we started to pray for Marlow in church. He became a candidate for open heart surgery and was ailing in health. Of course, lots of prayers were sent heavenward for Marlow’s health and his family. But, unfortunately in his state he was denied the surgery and started hospice. About a month prior to this, at LTC (Leading the Challenge - Region V FFA Leadership Conference) we made tie blankets as part of our “Shining a Light on Service” session that the Region V Officers created. We made 14 blankets in 20 minutes on that Saturday afternoon, and us nine Region Officers got to bring them back to our communities to give to someone in need. I was really struggling to find someone to give this blanket to. I asked my guidance counselor at school and my pastor; we were all struggling. Until Marlow enrolled in hospice. I knew this was the perfect man and family to give this tie blanket to. Marlow and his family have always been huge supporters of Meeker County 4-H and Litchfield FFA, things I hold near and dear to my heart. This was just a small way to say “Thank you!” for everything he had done in our community. My plan was to give the blanket to Marlow when I went to his house with Pastor Christian on Friday, February 19th, but something came up and I had to go by myself. I will admit - I was a little hesitant to go out there without anyone else. But as soon as I stepped into the house, Marla, Marlow’s daughter, and Sara, welcomed me with shining smiles. They directed me towards Marlow and Anna Mae who were hosting other company at the time. My plan was to give the blanket to Marlow, have a short conversation, take a picture, and head out; half an hour max. Boy was I wrong. An hour and a half later I am leaving the Wigen home with three pictures of me dressed in cute Halloween costumes in hand and reminisced stories on my mind. As I leaned down to give Marlow a hug as I was saying my goodbyes and heading out the door, he told me that his blanket was very special to him and that I was a very special girl. I reminded him that he was a special guy and that he impacted so many lives in Litchfield, including mine.
I left that day with a buoyant heart; knowing that my hour and a half spent with Marlow and his family was time well spent. My heart and mind were heavy last Sunday morning as I sat in the back pew of church by myself. I had to lead communion songs and Tanner had his last basketball tournament of the season, so I was on my own. I thought I could handle it; Mom told me the night before that Marlow had passed away but I must not have comprehended it. It hit me like a ton of bricks that morning as I listened to the prayers and announcements, and saw Marla and Sara in their normal pew up front. After the service, long and tearful hugs were given to Sara and Marla; during which they told me that Marlow had my blanket on his bed where he passed on that early Friday morning. “It had just meant so much to him” came out between Sara’s light sobs. The following Tuesday at the visitation I was reminded by the family countless times about how much my visit that Friday afternoon and how the blanket given to him meant so much. The tears were ever-flowing for me, and my mom, as we expressed our condolences to the family. But through the tears, Marla, Anna Mae, Sara, Mom and I were all still smiling … the impact was greater than I had ever imagined. Anna Mae shared a piece of advice with us before we left that evening after thanking me for what I had done just weeks prior, “It’s the little things in life that matter.” The little things in life… an hour of your time, small tokens of appreciation, kind words, or a simple smile - giving of yourself and giving back like Marlow did - can sometimes have the greatest impact in one’s life. That time spent with Marlow will always be held near and dear to my heart; for you never know when today is your last or if tomorrow is just the next chapter in your book. - - - Rest in peace Marlow. I recently had to write a SLAM! poem for my Advanced English Literature class and as I was thinking about what to write, I thought about what was most important to me, my passion. So I picked showing cattle. It's where my heart lies, and I live to wake to go to the barn, work well past sunsets each and every summer night, and go to stock shows where I can spend a week with some of my best friends. It's a part of my life that I was born into and will die in as well. My true passion for agriculture, particularly animal agriculture, was brought to life on the original 40 acres my parents bought in 1994 where they started raising beef cattle and sheep at K Bar K Cattle Company & Club Lambs. A week before the 1999 Meeker County Fair, I was born, and that could be considered my very first stock show. The winter after my first birthday, I wanted to do everything I could to help outside, especially with the sheep and lambing. Those bottle lambs were my favorite animals on the farm. (I now know why my parents let ME take care of them, those things are a pain in the butt.) My love of the farm only grew from there. By the summer of my third birthday, I was showing my first sheep, Maggie. When I was 5, dad bought me my very first show heifer, Rebecca and we went to Hutchinson, Kansas the summer of 2006 for my very first Junior Nationals. I won showmanship that year, and won't ever forget it...the judge told me that, "All this girls' missin' is her two front teeth!" I couldn't see over Becca, so I looked under her and let her head rest on mine when my arm got tired. I fell in love with showing cattle that year, I just didn't quite know it yet. For years, I told people I didn't know if I liked showing sheep or cattle better... in fact, I took a sheep to the State Fair my first year. Looking back I don't know what I was thinking, showing cattle is so much more fun! But, it's a lot more work. I think that's why I love it. Not just anyone can show cattle. It takes a special kind of people. I love the dedication, determination, commitment, perseverance, positive attitude, daily work, early mornings and late nights, needed for success. In the show ring, on the basketball court, football field, pool, or in life, the ribbon or championship banner isn't just handed to you. You have to work at it to get it just how you want. For some people, it comes more naturally than others, but even the "naturals" put in the time. I want to share with you my poem. It holds a special place in my heart because my roots were planted in agriculture, and just because I go to school where I can count the number of stock show kids on one hand, it doesn't mean that we are all that different.... Because My Favorite Color is Purple By: Kylee Kohls Some may wonder why I spend countless hours in the barn. I tell them “because my favorite color is purple.” Rising with the sun in June, July and August, Just to go outside, get dirty, sweaty and just plain tired out. I tell them “because my favorite color is purple.” The late summer nights in the barn with my best friends. The smell of the Shampoo, and Sheen, Final Bloom and fresh wood chips. “Because my favorite color is purple.” I wake up in the morning to see their happy faces and feisty attitudes. The unbreakable bond, what every stock show girl covets. I tell them, “because my favorite color is purple.” We create a correlation so strong, I notice every nuance in each of them. We work so hard, fabricating the art necessary for success. For me, showing cattle isn’t just a hobby, no, it’s a component of my life that I hope to never lose. “Because my favorite color is purple.” Many of you wouldn’t understand the intense bond between me and my heifers and steers. You don’t understand why I’m “throwing away” my time and money, But I don’t understand why you do the same for basketball, swimming, dance, or wrestling. We have one common goal though, we put our hearts into what we love. Because we want to win, we are driven by success. This is just one reason I am passionate about what I do, why you love what you do too. Because our favorite color is purple. The color of champions and champion banners. Blue is for those who want to be average, first place...wahoo! But in our hearts, we all want to be champions. Some might say I’m just chasin banners. You now know why I wake with the sun to go to the barn, the same reason you go to the gym, the pool or the studio. Because, purple is an ambitious and powerful color. Plus, you can never win too many Champion banners. |
AuthorKylee Kohls - #passionateAGvocate Archives
July 2018
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