Humble Winner, Gracious Grower: Life Lessons from FFA

National FFA Week has come and passed, but with the strong-rooted person I am, I couldn't help but share some words about this organization. This fall, when I was working up my essay (in less than 24 hours!) on why I wanted to be a National FFA Officer, I recalled the things that I loved most about the organization: encouragement, cheap philosophy (thanks, dad), and most of all, the intense love I have for agriculture.

Growing up, my sister and I spent a LOT of time at the Iowa State Fair. The smell of fresh wood chips, hair blowers starting to buzz throughout the barn, and the smell of shampoo and clean cattle fill the air. There is nothing like the adrenaline that is brought by the morning of the Iowa State Fair Performance Beef Show. My sister and I typically roll up to the barn at about 4:00 AM, walk to tie-outs, bring our steers into the barn for breakfast, and then it’s time for preparation to begin. Washing, blowing, fluffing, grooming, and adding a touch of Prime Time hair adhesive is typically all a corn-fed Angus steer needs to look his best when walking in the show ring. Over the loudspeaker, we hear, “First call for class one of Angus steers.” Time to go. My mom grabs a roll of paper towels and our show sticks, my dad grabs a bucket of water, my sister and I put on our number halters, and before we know it, my family is headed to the Pioneer Pavilion to be the first class of Angus steers to go before the judge. We have anxiously awaited this day all year and our excitement can barely be contained.

Before we walk in the ring, my dad always shares a few words of wisdom. Most commonly, his favorite message is, “Girls, remember to always be a humble winner and gracious grower.” Sometimes, we’re lucky and the judge decides to give us the grand champion handshake, and other times, he sends us home with a blue ribbon. We know that no matter the outcome, it’s one judge’s opinion on one day and we have done our best to get that steer to market weight so that he can serve as a steak for someone’s Sunday dinner. We also recognize that every time we walk into the show ring, it’s a learning experience and we should make the most of it.

Through the years, the message of being a humble winner and gracious grower has stuck with me. In anything we do, there is always a lesson with the outcome. Understanding that there is a time to be a humble winner, and there is always time to be a gracious grower is so important. I know, first-hand, what it’s like to be on both ends of the spectrum and how a little encouragement can go a long way. Encouraging words provide an atmosphere filled with confidence, optimism, a sense of community, and the longing to do better to fill our potential.

This is just one of the life lessons I learned from FFA, but it has stuck with me as I have continued my time at Iowa State. No matter what stage we are in life, there is always time to be an individual who wins but is humbled at the same time.

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO EAT BEEF.

Lauren