Country Lifestyles
Texas FFA Officers Austin Blagg & Windsor Godfrey
By Dani Blackburn, [email protected]
With today’s FFA experience providing a vast array of pathways, it is common to see the student leader’s experiences reflect agricultural education diversity. This year’s Texas FFA State President Windsor Godfrey, Area IV, and Area V Representative Austin Blagg are utilizing their unique backgrounds to serve the largest state association in the nation.
Both representatives refer to their journeys to state office as nontraditional, yet it was their names announced at state convention as two of the 12 officers for 2022-23. For Godfrey, she explains she did not grow up on a large farm and in fact, her small school in a town of only 500 did not even have an FFA charter until her junior year. When she ran for area officer, she said no one even knew her name.
“There are many, many people who have fit the stereotypical FFA mold and been extremely successful, it just wasn’t me. I think I am a very average FFA member. I just wasn’t exceptional when it came to competitive events and things you normally see in a state officer. That summer between my junior and senior year at the convention, I looked up on stage and felt as if there was no one like me up there. I knew I had every ability to be a state officer and had the qualifications, so I decided to run because I wanted other members to be able to look up on stage and say, ‘She’s just like me.’ To understand they don’t have to have fancy titles, banners or buckles to lead our organization. All you must do is go up there and show people exactly who you are and what you are able to give,” Godfrey said.
Meanwhile, growing up in an up-and-coming city, Blagg’s upbringing also was far from typical.
“I had more of an untraditional FFA background. I grew up in Frisco, which is not necessarily the most rural of places. None of my immediate family was involved in FFA. There was no passing it down from generation to generation. My main goal was to prove that regardless of what your background is or if you are a state or grand champion, if your intentions are positive and you are dedicated enough to become an officer, then it is an option for anyone who wants it,” Blagg said.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Dal Houston
I am terribly saddened by all the argumentative discourse that seems to be going on in today’s world. It seems as though it is no longer enough just to disagree on certain issues. We are expected to classify someone as an enemy if they do not always agree with us on all issues, lest we be considered weak.
To make things even worse, because those who disagree with you are now considered enemies, the sentiment seems to be that it is only fair and proper to destroy them, because they are the enemy, again with the fear of ridicule for being weak if we do not fight.
With all that said, and seemingly unrelated, I am a big John Wayne fan. From watching him dive into his role as a cowboy, to marveling at his time portraying a soldier or appreciating his acting gig as a sailor, there is seldom a week that goes by without me watching at least one
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Martha Crump
That old adage, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.,” may have some basis in truth when applied to minor situations. However, when what you don’t know is presented in the form of a “Trojan Horse” and is what amounts to an incredible attempt to fleece American property rights, it becomes a different story altogether.
To put this unbelievable tale together, we need to step back to Joe Biden’s 2021 Executive Order which pledged commitment to help restore balance on public lands and waters, to create jobs, and to provide a path to align the management of America’s public lands and waters with our nation’s climate, conservation, and clean energy goals.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Lacey Vilhauer
Ingredients:
1 whole lemon, seeded and roughly chopped
2 cups sugar
2 pounds strawberries, hulled
Juice of 1 to 2 lemons
¼ cup water
Directions:
Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a food processor and pulse until combined. Transfer to a large bowl. Puree the strawberries in a food processor and add to the lemon mixture along with juice of one lemon and water. Taste and add more juice as desired.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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