Wisconsin Ag Connection - Hodnik Wraps Up Exciting Year as National FFA Vice-President

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Hodnik Wraps Up Exciting Year as National FFA Vice-President
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 10/29/2012

We all know how easy it is to get caught up in worrying about what other people think of us. But outgoing Central Region National FFA Vice President Alicia Hodnik challenged delegates at last week's National FFA Convention in Indianapolis to paint their own canvas of what their lives should look like. In her retiring address, the former Wisconsin FFA President from Walworth said the act of comparison is the 'thief of joy' and that we all would be better off if we just stopped comparing ourselves to others and simply tried to be better than we were yesterday.

"People all around us help build a certain self image in our minds and we grab that and we build it larger and larger because that's what 'we' believe everyone wants us to be," she proclaimed in her speech titled, 'Paint From the Heart.' "But the truth is, we didn't take the time to design our own lives; and instead we settle on listening to the voices around us instead of our own hearts."

Hodnik also admits that we all have those moments where we try to impress other people. But she encouraged FFA members in the audience that in the long run, being who we are will bring us the greatest rewards in life.

"How sad is it that we are willing to do anything to make ourselves feel worth it to the world when all we really needed to know is that we've been worth it since the day we were born," she said.

She concluded by encouraging members of her youth organization that from this point forward, we can also work to become better people, no matter what choices we've made in the past.

As Alicia and her officers were wrapping up their last duties on stage on Saturday, the organization announced that this year's convention broke an attendance record of 56,157.

Meanwhile, several Wisconsin FFA members came home with honors during the weekend. Four students were named national winners of proficiency awards. They include Tom Allen, Reedsburg, Dairy Production; Ashley Orr, Waupaca, Diversified Livestock Production; Nathan Leystra, Randolph Cambria-Friesland, Grain Production; and Jos Bruckert, Sauk Prairie, Wildlife Production & Management. Ten others competed as national finalists in their proficiency award areas.

Jacob Paul of the Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA was a top four finalist for the title of Star in Agribusiness. And Emily Herness of Whitehall received Gold in the National Agriscience Fair.

In the career development events, a dairy judging team from Amery placed second in the Dairy Cattle Evaluation competition, with Trent Dado named top individual in the event. Jessica Pralle of Osseo-Fairchild also took first place in the Dairy Cattle Handlers contest.

This year, 177 students from the Badger State received their American FFA Degrees. And the Loyal FFA was named runner-up for the National Chapter Award Model of Innovation.

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