The Journey

Hi friends! I’m Elizabeth Sturgis, serving as your 2020-21 Kansas FFA State President! Originally from the Riverton FFA Chapter in the Southeast District, some of my favorite memories include long bus rides that involved studying for the upcoming competition (and the occasional nap), competing in Extemporaneous Public Speaking, and serving on our district officer team. The genuine friendships made and incredible growth that has occurred in my blue corduroy are just a couple of my most cherished moments and cannot wait to create those experiences for future students as I begin my college career at Kansas State University majoring in Agricultural Education. We are undoubtedly going to face some unique challenges this year and seek solutions that have never been used before. However, we are beyond excited to turn our challenges into opportunities and create our own path this year.

Speaking of memories and experiences, my very favorite was at the Kansas FFA Convention at the end of my junior year. The memory begins long before that May however. December of the year prior was the start of the journey, at our Southeast District Speech Contest. For months I had been preparing my extemporaneous binders, going over ag issues, and practicing speeches. Finally the day came, and I placed third. My heart and mind raced as my advisor told me “Well, this means we have to get you ready for state then!” What?? I thought the hard part was over!

Fast forward about five months, and there I was entering the preliminary round of the extemporaneous competition. Nerves were stacked high while waiting to pick my topics. What if it’s one I don’t know anything about? What if I don’t know what I’m doing when I get in the room? After putting all my “what if’s” to the side, I went in. This is usually the part that I can’t describe to anyone because it just gets blocked out in my mind, but afterwards, it was like a huge stress was lifted from my shoulders and also more was added on. Then came the waiting game. Waiting for the top four speakers to be announced that would then move on to the finals round. Finally, after hours of telling myself that any result was a good one, the board came out. And second on that list? “Elizabeth Stungis” and yes, I did purposefully mistype that. My name was spelt wrong but one letter wasn’t going to keep me from celebrating. My hard work and stress had felt like it culminated into this moment. That night, every word of my extemp binders were read through, all 300 pages.

As the doors to the finals room opened up the next day, my hands were shaking despite my blue corduroy keeping me at a toasty 120 degrees. My speech was given, and it was now back to the waiting game to see what the final placings were in the fourth general session. Waiting backstage felt like a lifetime, the lights in McCain Auditorium shining in my eyes, felt like looking into the sun. They begin to call names, “In 4th place….” not me “In 3rd place…” not me. This is the point that my hopes got beyond me. I have a 50/50 chance of going to the National competition and I- “In 2nd place, Elizabeth Sturgis!” and before I knew it an award was in my hands and a grin spread so far across my face it hurt. We left the stage after the last name was called, and I headed back to my seat. Me, being the overthinker that I am, continued to wonder what it was that I didn’t do. What could I have done to just inch into that next place? Why am I not good enough to go to Nationals? But that isn’t the point. The longest part of this story wasn’t the moment of receiving the award or hearing my name called. It wasn’t standing on stage waiting. It was every moment leading up. It was the butterflies in my stomach and my shaking hands. It was the hugs given by my friends and chapter members before going in. It was the “everything is going to be alright, just go do what you know how to do” from my advisor. It was the misspelling of my name on the finals board. Without reading through my binders and putting so much time into making myself ready, I wouldn’t have gained the experience, I wouldn’t have grown. And as cheesy as it sounds, that was the best part. Although the hours of practice and long nights aren’t on YouTube to watch, they are a fond memory for me to replay in my mind forever. This year is going to be unlike any other, making it all the more important for us to truly remember that no memory or experience is worthwhile without a little hardwork, dedication, and a toasty FFA jacket.

How will you embrace every moment this year?

Appreciate the journey,

Elizabeth