AgWired

Commodity Classic Student blogger Margy Fischer, sponsored by Monsanto

As expected, I had an early start to my first full day at Commodity Classic. I attended a breakfast hosted by FFA regarding their program LifeKnowledge.

It was the best way to start a day here – with lots of agricultural products. From the orange juice, to the egg quiche, to the French toast with almonds and peaches, our tables celebrated our diverse food supply.

FFA promoted their exciting initiative of engaging and interactive leadership lessons called LifeKnowledge. The program is sponsored by John Deere, Monsanto, the National Pork Board, Chevrolet, and Cargill.

There were four student leaders of the Hanford FFA chapter, Hanford California present at the breakfast, so they got a day off from school and the chance to boast about the advantages of LifeKnowledge, which their teacher Kris Elliot who uses these lessons in his classrooms. From what I learned this morning, these lessons can be used to integrate leadership lessons into all classrooms, even technical classes.

FFA was not available at my high school, but I was enthused to see what the organization is doing to improve our youth leadership education which can have powerful impacts on our society and the agricultural industry.

Commodity Classic Student blogger Margy Fischer, sponsored by Monsanto

I’ve come down from the clouds of my in-flight nap and am happy to report that I am in California!

I go to school almost 800 miles away from home, so I have flown quite a bit for personal reasons to go home for holidays and such, and over the past four years, I have made a consistent observation of in-flight beverage choices – people love tomato juice or ginger ale when they fly. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen such a high concentration of consumption of those two beverages unless I am on a plane. Even our cab driver on the way home from dinner chuckled when I announced what I had noticed to our group. By the way, I love being close to the coast for fresh seafood because I had a delicious dinner. So thank you again to my sponsors.

It was a long flight, and watching what people order from the flight attendant is only entertaining for so long. So I read Vanity Fair and Farm Journal and had my iPod Nano playing G. Love and Ella Fitzgerald.

The first half of my week was full of class, group meetings, and homework to catch up on before my departure, but it was nice to be on my way to California, and now that I am here I am ready to fully engage in this event!

It’s great to know that my peers back at Mizzou can keep track of my blogs on CAFNRCornerpost.com. This is a site that is completely student-driven with reporting, editing, photography and posting all done by MU Ag Journalism students.

Yesterday morning I woke up at 4 a.m. Pacific time in order to pack, attend my first class and meet my shuttle to the airport on time, and this morning won’t be an exception. It shall be a day full of events and interactions with interesting people, and I look forward to relaying the day’s events back to you.

One of the guys in charge of this whole thing is the NCGA President, Gerald Tumbleson, seen here with his wife.

Gerald says in the program that we are “ensured a first-class experience” while in Anaheim. I’m looking forward to it.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic is being made posssible by our good friends at New Holland.

Here’s a couple of serious soybean promoters.

Can you identify them? They have long directed some of the most active and progressive soybean associations in the country.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic is being made posssible by our good friends at New Holland.

As we headed in to the opening reception this evening at the convention center we were encouraged to pick up a little flashy thing and wear it.

The reception was sponsored by Syngenta and these little flashing button things say, “Knowledge, Trust, Service and Presence” and of course, Syngenta.

By wearing them around the trade show somehow you’re eligible to win a chance at one of six $50 gift certificates at Bass Pro Shops. I’m game. There’s a new store not far from where I live.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic is being made posssible by our good friends at New Holland.

The first stop this afternoon was the media room to get checked in.

They have lots of ethernet cables set up this year and wireless. We should be in good shape and I know we’ll be in good hands.

Thanks to the staff at both NCGA and ASA for providing us with a nice place to base out of.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic is being made posssible by our good friends at New Holland.