I am more.

Hey y’all. It’s me again. As I sit here writing my last blog for Kansas FFA, I can’t help but think of the burning question, “What’s next?” FFA has been a huge part of my life for many years and some may even say it was my whole life. There’s a little voice in the back of my mind that is getting louder and louder as State Convention nears. The question screaming in the back of my mind is “Who are you?” Now, this seems like a simple question, right?

My name is Bailey Sipes. I am originally from the Stanton County FFA chapter. I am currently a Freshman at Kansas State University majoring in Agricultural Communications and Journalism. And I am proudly serving as your Kansas FFA State Secretary.

That’s the elevator pitch I have given time and time again throughout this year. There is one small issue though… two out of three of those quick facts involve the one thing I am leaving behind in a few days. So, I ask once again, who am I? This question has been looming in the shadows and pouncing on me when I least expect it for months because the one thing that seems to define my life will be over in less than 10 days. Who am I without FFA? Who am I when I am not serving members across the state? Who am I when I can no longer introduce myself as the Kansas FFA State Secretary?

I am still actively searching for the answers to these questions. Although I have not come up with a definitive answer, I have concluded that the answers to those questions will always keep evolving. There will always be more. More stories, more experiences, more impacts and most of all, more ME. Our lives are made up of so many different things. They encompass both who we are and the impacts we absorb from others. So here are a few things that I have found on my journey to find who I am:

– I hold my breath when I pass by cemeteries because Elizabeth has made me on our road trips for the last year, so now I do it out of habit.

– I call any type of sauce Ju Ju because my mom does. (My roommates find this one weird.)

– I say “now we’re cookin’” because my grandpa always did, whether he was actually cooking or not.

– I listen to the Beatles because my brother did in high school, and I thought he was weird. Turns out I also like the Beatles.

– The best way to cut a sandwich is in rectangles because that’s how my mom did it.

– I eat out of the middle of the brownie pan because I know my family likes the corners.

– I always get a pretzel twist at Sonic because that was my best friend Paige and I’s thing and it brings back fond memories.

– I hoard napkins in my car like nobody’s business because I spilled a whole large ocean water with strawberries from Sonic in my car one time and did not have enough on hand.

– I write my 2’s like a cursive Q because I saw a high schooler do it when I was in elementary school and wanted to be cool like them.

We are all more than what title does or does not follow our name, what/how many organizations we are involved in and the score we made on that last test. We let the things that don’t matter in life define us. When really, the things people remember about a person is how they made you feel and if they call roast juice, Ju Ju. I would like you to hold out your pinky for me. Yes, actually hold out your pinky. Now, give me an air pinky promise that we will stop letting things define us that don’t actually speak to who we are. We have now made an airtight promise that cannot be broken (pinky promises are basically law). So, join me in my journey to answer this question, “Who am I?”.

Kansas FFA, this is me signing off for the final time.

As just,

Bailey Sipes