Holsteins to Hospitality: A Full Circle Moment for the FFA

Full circle moment for me as I served food in a familiar cafeteria . . .

FFA was THE most important thing I poured myself into during high school. Band was cool too— but FFA really held a special place in my heart.

My family’s livelihood depended on Holstein cows, and I am so thankful I was able to learn the ins and outs of the family dairy farm through my childhood and adolescence. Years later, I use a different skill set in the kitchen from my wonderful Mom (Kathy Neisen)— shoutout to her around Mother’s Day! The year after Mom graduated high school was the year they let women be part of FFA, and she would have been a super FFA member! Can someone say entrepreneurship SAE?

SAE is an acronym for Supervised Agriculture Experience. Although I had a few, my main and most successful SAE was Dairy Entrepreneurship. In 2006, I was selected as the top Dairy Entrepreneurship winner as a junior in high school, and the first from Unity High School to accomplish this honor. I am proud of what I was able to accomplish through FFA.

Speaking of what Mom would have done with her time in school, we were at her high school last weekend.

We served the meal for the Payson FFA banquet in the high school gym. That school hasn’t changed much from when I was a kid helping mom cater their FFA banquet, and Mom confirmed it looks like it did in the 1960’s when she was a high school cheerleader.

As far as my Dad, he was involved with Liberty high school’s FFA program and went on to place in district for his Dairy knowledge. Their FFA banquet was also held last Sunday, and they enjoyed Boki’s Kitchen desserts. I am so grateful for the love of agriculture that has been passed down to me.

The meals each FFA Chapter chose were so tasty!

Payson chose to have our signature roast beef with gravy, which we served over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. Sides included our seasoned green beans, the one and only layered lettuce salad, and of course a roll and butter. Unity FFA decided to have grilled pork chops, twice baked mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans, roll and butter, and sheet cake for dessert. Each school had over 100 guests in attendance. Liberty FFA enjoyed a selection of spring pies, cakes, and cookie bars.

The parents at these banquets were FFA members I looked up to.

The FFA members present this evening were courteous and helpful. This says so much about the organization as a whole, but specifically at Unity High School. I am so proud to be able to be part of something so wonderful.

Adams County has amazing FFA programs. Your child does not have to have direct ties to agriculture to be in this organization. Our youth learns so much being a part of something like this. It has shaped who I am as a person today.

This FFA motto is:

Learning to do.

Doing to learn.

Earning to live.

Living to serve.

FFA brought many great people to my life… and now it allows me to keep connecting humans over wholesome meals.