By Dakota Westphal

It's great to be at the Indiana FFA Center and start a new year with new experiences as a state officer. We were excited to begin business and industry visits again early in January. We started our travels at Rose Acres in Francesville to learn about the company's focus on family tradition and values of integrity and excellence.

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Dakota Westphal is the Indiana FFA state reporter. She hails from Remington, and was a member of the Tri-County FFA Chapter

To visit one of the company's branches and see the egg-cracking process of Rose Acres was an incredible experience none of us will forget. Business and industry visits have opened my eyes to companies that offer so much to FFA as an organization and to members as future ag industry leaders. I met so many happy and successful employees that I can't help but be more excited to enter the agriculture industry in a few years.

Next, we attended the 26th annual Fort Wayne Farm Show. In the trade show, there were many opportunities to learn more about agriculture. Several displays focused on new technology, machinery or updates to farming equipment. As state officers, we talk to vendors and ask them to continue donating to the Indiana FFA Foundation. With the Foundation's support, our association continues to grow and produce profound leaders for the industry.

Although some of the best times are talking to those we know, we also visited with many strangers that may not know about FFA – an irreplaceable opportunity.

We later attended the state meats and dairy foods judging contests. These contests are always very competitive, and it's fascinating to see how members' hard work brings each of them success.

It was a great start to a new year, and I'm so excited to see what is in store for agriculture in 2015!

Mark your calendar now for National FFA Week, Feb. 21-Feb. 28. Get involved in local activities during FFA Week with your nearest FFA Chapter!

Westphal is the Indiana FFA state reporter. She hails from Remington, and was a member of the Tri-County FFA Chapter