Life's been crazy...

Sorry that I haven't been posting--life got crazy and I will hopefully catch up soon, but for now the blog's been a little bit on hold as we help my mother-in-law get through some crazy health issues.  I do have great new info about the upcoming Leadership Conference in February of 2011 in Orlando, so if you are interested, let me know!!

National YF&R Conference Tulsa 2010 (Part 1)

This Blog is all about letting everyone see what YF&R is and what they can get out of it.  So, one of the most exciting events in YF&R each year is the National YF&R Conference, held each year in a different destination.  This year we headed out to Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Last year was spent in Sacramento, which will be reported on in future posts, and next year (drumroll please):  Orlando, Florida!!    I hope that the pictures and information included help give an apt picture of what a great time we have had at these conferences, but unfortunately, I think that that truly only comes through experiencing the conference first-hand.  Well, enough of that, here is Part 1 of our trip to Tulsa: 

Trying to say Farewell to Nevada.....

.....But, getting out of McCarran International was a little harder than normal due to the fact that Air Force One was sitting on the tarmac waiting for President Obahma to finish his weekend of fun in our great state.  Security was upped, lines were beyond long, and we were pretty happy to get out of there, even if the next stop was a little frigid:

In the far-outer reaches of the airport in Denver, Colorado is a place that those who have been ther might refer to as 'outer-darkness.'  Bear in mind it was still winter and we came to the end of the terminal only to find stairs leading way down into another terminal, which led even further away, walking and walking as the temperatures dropped until we were all bundling up again.  We finally came to the end of the terminal and realized that we would actually be walking out onto the tarmac to board a little propjet plane to take us in to Tulsa.  It was here that we (Jamie and Grant Perkins and Lacey Sproul) met up with State-Coordinator, Stephanie Licht, and Dann Mathews.  The others from Nevada ahd flown out of Reno and were already heading into Tulas at this point.  This is also the point where four of us almost missed the flight because we didn't hear the announcement and Lacey didn't realize we were deaf and had gone on without us. ;)

Tulsa, Oklahoma!  Finally here, but stumped at the airport trying to get a shuttle.

The Conference opened with a Family Fun night at the Doubletree where we were staying and the conference was held.  Lots of fun activities, though I think a lot of them had been planned for slightly smaller kids, the BIG kids still had a great time.  YF&R (& Farm Bureau) are very family oriented and do what they can to make these conferences easier for families to attend, since so many YF&R members are in the stage of raising families.

We met up with our group from Reno, enjoyed hot dogs, cotton candy, treats, bounce houses, mechanical bull-riding and roping.  Not to mention, just visiitng with our Nevada group, and friends from previous conferences.

Lacey trying her hand at Roping.....

The Mechanical Bull.....We had so much fun!!

Nathan Whipple

Dann Mathews, getting ready!

Jimmy Lotspeich

Grant Perkins

Jamie Perkins

I wish there were pictures to show some of us going off--we had a ball on the bull.

The Nevada Delegation.....Getting Serious.

Lacey Sproul, Nathan Whipple, Hannah Hardy, Jamie & Grant Perkins, Jimmy Lotspeich, Dann Mathews, Ashlee Diamond.   

This morning was the beginning of the Discussion Meet in which Jimmy was competing for Nevada.    I will be adding more about the Discussion Meet in future posts, including the topics for the competition this fall at the state meeting.  We met for breakfast before the big event and then spent the day attending rounds of the Discussion Meet and workshops based on different agricultural aspects, leadership development, how to accurately tell our stories in agriculture, how to handle the passing on of the family farm, Accurate Ag Books and Ag Literacy, State Chair Development, etc. 

Attending Workshops......

This was a workshop put on by Matt Scramlin, who works for AFBF, and also attended our State Farm Bureau meeting last fall in Ely, as a presenter.  Mat always puts on very interesting, fun, and informative workshops. 

An important workshop on accurate agricultural books for school children.  As YF&R members one of our big projects every year is our Agricultural Literacy Project, where we place books in elementary schools around the state that accurately depict American agriculture.  This was our third year doing the project and it has grown each year.  AFBF is a big sponsor of these books and the programs that will get them into our schools.

Nevada Delegation.... A Bit More Casual

Lacey and her mom made this Nevada-themed quilt as an item for the Silent Auction that is held every year at the conference.  The Auction offers items from each state's YF&R and lines the hallways for several days as people try to outbid each other on items of all sorts.

(Hmmmm.....can anyone guess who's feet are hiding behind the blanket? Bonus points for identifying locations pictured on the blanket!)


General Sessions.....Giving You an Idea of the Size and Scope of the Conference.

The conference has several general sessions with keynote speakers and presentations by AFBF YF&R Committee members.  CASE IH is a huge sponsor, along with Dodge and we came home with lots of little gifts, such as Dodge mugs, Farm Bureau hats, and Case toy tractors after most of the meals.  Did I mention that we eat A LOT on Farm Bureau trips?  It seems like we just get finished and they are having snacks in the hall, or it is time to head to another meal.  I hope that doesn't sound like a complaint, those don't come until we get home and get on the scales again!

Standing Up and Speaking Out!!

At the general sessions there is a tradition of each state's Chair person giving a 30 second spiel about their state.  This is sometimes a bit of a bragging session, sometimes a bit humorous, and usually very informative.  I was able to report some fun facts about Nevada's size, amount of federal land, agriculture, and even a few bad apples--one of which we are trying to keep from returning to Washington this coming election.

If you want to know more about the national conferences, YF&R, Farm Bureau, Discussion Meet, etc.  all you have to do is ask--post a comment or email!

Nevada YF&R's FIRST Summer Social!

On Friday, June 25th, Nevada Farm Bureau's YF&R members held their very first Summer Social at the Whipple Ranch, North of Alamo, Nevada. Though we had planned for one last summer, at the last minute it seemed to fall completely apart and everyone seemed to go every which way, so this year we were bound and determined to hang in there and pull through with it.  Though our numbers were few, I would have to say that it was a great success.

THE FOOD!!

The best way to ever start off a scoial is, of course, with FOOD!!  Lee, with his assistant, Dann, headed up the dutch ovening, with some pretty great chicken and potates.  Then there were plenty of brownies and cookies and soda to help us get our sugar high!

State FFA Officers, Ally and Jordan even happened to be passing this way and were able to stop and eat with us.  The Perkins, the Mathews, and the Stratton families were also present, along with Stephanie Licht, our state Coordinator, and Communications Director, Zach Allen. 

The kids, eating and getting ready for the 'rodeo.'

Behind the Chutes....

We had hoped to possibly hold a team roping, along with family events, but when it came down to it, it was hard to get that much off the ground for out first go-round.  So, the kids, and Dann, got to do some mutton-bustin', which they LOVED!

Bryson P. climbing back up after his very first ride--they didn't holler at mom soon enough to get her camera out and get a better picture!

One of the Mathews boys--I think he's been watching his dad ride bulls--he's got the form down!

The other Mathews boy--now check out the next few pic's to see how determined this one was to hang on!!

Look Close, he's still there.....

See, I told you, he was still there!

A few seconds later he slid until the helmet was in the dirt and had to have been getting in his face, and it still took a little more before he let go!

Well, she couldn't let her brothers show her up, now could she? 

Of course, these lambs needed a little coaxing, they sometimes ran, and sometimes we had to try and push them to get them to even move. ;)

The oldest and youngest of the Perkins crew--with Dad's help for the youngest.

Dann's big ride (s)!

Dann jumped on one, and then when Grant came with the second one, he decided he'd better take two since he's not such a little guy any more.

And then they just decided they were done and STOPPED. 

The youngest rider......

Time for a little Chicken Chasing--only we didn't want to risk the chickens, so we brought a goose and a couple of ducks.....the kids loved it all, though!

It was dusk and my camera was struggling with the lighting, but these pic's give you an idea of how much fun the kids were having.  They all got a candy bar prize for either catching one, or attempting to catch one!

All in all, it was a great first social.  As we were leaving, we were even making tentative plans for a second one at the end of the summer--maybe the day playing in the sun and water at Warm Springs?

So, for all of you who couldn't make it,but wanted to, and all of you who bombed out at the last minute, we hope that you are hoping for the next one because you can see what a great time you missed!!