OFI 506: Building Self-Confidence And Passion Through The FFA | FFA SAE Edition | Adrienne Blakey | Stillwater High School FFA

SHOW NOTES:

INTRODUCING ADRIENNE BLAKEY!

On this show I like to talk about recurring themes.  I see many over time with all of the interviews I do.  Many of these have to do with what motivated people to either start a business or do a project.  

There is one theme that is especially touching, and to my recollection today is just the second time that I have run across this.  Our guest today, Adrienne Blakey, has been nominated for a National Star Award in agriscience for the research she has been doing on gluten levels in wheat.  Adrienne had a different SAE, beef production, before she started this one, and her family does not grow wheat.  

When Adrienne was about 14 years old her mother became ill, and it was discovered that she had a significant allergy to gluten.  What her mother went through impacted Adrienne, that that stuck with her.  When she got to Oklahoma State University and had the opportunity to conduct intensive research into gluten allergies, she went for it.  

Because Adrienne was not a wheat for crop farmer of any kind, she felt kind of out of place when she first began.  However, she pushed through the uncomfortable feelings and persevered.  She talks a lot about developing self-confidence and passion through the FFA.  Now she is nominated for the FFA’s biggest award in research.  

I’d say it worked.  I hope you enjoy getting to know Adrienne Blakey.  

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Agriscience

HIGH SCHOOL: Stillwater High School; Stillwater, Oklahoma

MASCOT: Pioneers

FFA ADVISOR: Carl Knipper

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ADRIENNE BLAKEY:

Click on the picture below to be taken to the Stillwater High School website:

Adrienne’s FFA Advisors’ Email Addresses: cnipper@stillwaterschools.com

Stillwater High School’s Telephone Number:  405.533.6450

FFA LINKS:

National FFA Organization

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE’s)

Support FFA 

Donate to FFA – One way that FFA students are able to start small businesses is through an FFA grant of $1,000.  In 2014, 141 FFA students received these grants.  With your donations, more students can get this head start – pay it forward.

REASONS TO DONATE TO FFA:

• Only 2% of Americans grow and raise most of the food and livestock consumed by the other 98% as well as the rest of the world.  FFA is providing the needed education, training and resources to Americans that will carry that torch forward and insure that America continues to have inexpensive, quality food.
• Rural Communities will rely on entrepreneurship in the future for population growth and job creation.  The FFA is a major catalyst to that entrepreneurial growth.
• Farmers, ranchers and those working in agriculture give the rest of America incredible amounts of freedom because the search for food is as simple as going to the grocery store:

“Because American farmers are able to provide for so many of us, they give more and more of us the freedom to pursue goals and livelihoods beyond growing the food we need to survive.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack 

Other Places You Can Listen To Us:

D&B Supply Show

Where You Can Listen To Us:

Official Member Of The National Association Of Farm Broadcasters

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