Page 9 - The ALEC Gazette-2018

“ As I have gone through this year, I find that my most important experience has been the ability to see how this organization has touched generations of FFA members from across the state,”
-Kenzie Bastian
Credit Mid-America, and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative,” Bastian explained. “While we stopped at many other wonderful places, these organizations helped us learn about what they do for the state agriculture industry. We also visited a few universities from across the state, which helped give us that ability to reconnect with students we met earlier in the year.”
Between the Goodwill Tour and the numerous varsity visits Bastian participated in, she found there was one important experience that truly rounded out her time as an officer.
“As I have gone through this year, I find that my most important experience has been the ability to see how this organization has touched generations of FFA members from across the state,” Bastian said.
Bastian didn’t always know she wanted to study agricultural education. It wasn’t until she helped teach a forestry class at Camp Clements that she realized she wanted to major in agricultural education.
“Teaching this class helped me see that this is what I really want to do with my life,” Bastian said. “Getting to talk to various FFA advisors helped give me an idea of what the job of an agricultural educator would be like.”
While Bastian has had many amazing experiences from this past year, it was her trip to South Africa that helped change her views of the world. Bastian was selected to take part in the International Leadership Seminar for state officers, which goes to South Africa every year. Bastian explained that she didn’t know exactly what was in store for her on the trip, but she knew she couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Bastian traveled all along South Africa visiting different schools and farms across that portion of the continent. From Bastian’s visits to those various places there was one thing that stood out the most.
“I think the thing that impacted me the most was the difference in our culture compared to theirs,” Bastian said. “I found that they were much more happier with less. They didn’t feel the need to have access to internet all the time. However, when they did have access to internet they used that time to look up things that would benefit their everyday lives.”
Seeing how different the cultures were, Bastian came away from this trip looking at the world a little different. Bastian plans to bring her South Africa experience into her future classroom.
“I want to instill in my students that it is important to gain an understanding and respect for another culture,” Bastian said. “I also want to instill in them the importance of agriculture across the world.”
Tennessee FFA is helping to build the next generation of agricultural educators one student at a time. This organization is giving students, just like Bastian, the ability to reach their full potential while also teaching them what it truly means to be an agricultural educator. p
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