When I stepped into my Intro to Ag class in seventh grade, I had no idea I would be transformed into a passionate agriculturist, and eventually desiring a career in this field! I used to think agriculture was just cows and plows; something I could never see myself being a part of. I always knew I wanted to attend college, I just had no idea what type of job would tie in with my competitiveness and love for public speaking. My agriculture advisor opened my eyes to the potential I would have if I became an FFA member. Once my eyes were opened to Public Speaking contests like Creed and Parliamentary Procedure, I immediately fell in love with the FFA organization. I realized I could use my talents for speaking and debating to advocate for an industry that affects every single individual. In 2019, I started competing in the Creed Contest and became the California FFA Creed Speaking Champion. In 2020 my community experienced one of the most devastating wildfires in California, the Creek Fire. Recognizing that the mismanagement of forest lands left them severely unprepared for natural wildfire, I decided to write a Prepared Speech advocating for better forest management and widespread education about forest health. I was able to deliver this speech at the local, regional, and state level; sharing my stories with judges in our state capital, Sacramento. I plan to major in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, on the Economics and Policy track, or in Agricultural Communications. I will attend an Ag-driven University, either Cal Poly SLO or UC Davis. I hope the connections I make with industry professionals will help guide my path to an engaging career. At last year’s State FFA Leadership Conference, I was able to watch the California Assembly in action, and I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of in the future. I want every lawmaker to know the importance of agriculture and be willing to fight for it. We need the people in charge of decision-making to be informed about the industry in order to best serve everyone's interests. My dream career is to be an Agricultural Policy Analyst, helping Agricultural Businesses understand how new policies and regulations will affect their businesses. As a woman in agriculture, I will show young women that they can be a part of an industry that is typically male-dominated. I am confident I will have a role in agriculture for the rest of my life, and that I have the ability to make a lasting impact on this trade.

In 2020, the disastrous Creek Fire burned 379,985 acres of the beautiful Sierra National Forest. It wasn’t just pine trees burning; it was businesses, homes, and communities in the flames. When my family and I were evacuated, every five minutes I would see a new GoFundMe pop up on Facebook for a family that lost everything. It’s even worse when it’s people you know. My math teacher, my school principal, my classmates, my aunt and uncle, my cousins; all people that lost everything. It was bittersweet seeing the way that my community came together in resiliency. I volunteered at the donation center for a few days and the unity during that time was palpable. I sat with my mom painting signs “Thank You Firefighters and First Responders” in my garage before we were evacuated that stayed up in our community for months following the fire. I was able to go with a local CHP Officer and my ASB Advisor to physically place these signs around my community. As we waved to fire trucks and forest service vehicles that passed, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and knew that simple signs would never be enough to thank these people battling such a natural disaster. This inspired me to continue helping out wherever I could, because while I may not be fighting the flames, I knew I could make a difference by being a volunteer wherever needed. At the donation center, me and my fellow ASB officers were able to apply our poster making skills and organizational strategies to help manage all of the people and supplies circulating the ACE Hardware parking lot. We got to organizing boxes upon boxes, with enough toilet paper to single handedly solve the shortage of 2020. Signs we painted with directions, arrows, and positive phrases were placed around the center to make donation pick up and drop off more effective. During my days at the donation center, I had many jobs, but my favorite was “box packer.” I was able to communicate with a Creek Fire victim or evacuee, take them around to all the donations, and pack the essentials they needed. What opened my eyes to people’s selflessness was seeing people who had lost their homes volunteer their time and efforts at the donation center! My community nestled in the Sierra National Forest coined the perfect phrase to characterize the way everyone rallied togehter: ‘Mountain Strong.’ What does it mean to be ‘Mountain Strong?’ Each group, organization, and individual interpreted this differently. The FFA organization I am a member of decided to partner with Southern California Edison, a local forest management agency, to plant pine trees in order to rehabilitate the forest burned by the Creek Fire. This hands-on experience combined with camaraderie working side by side with my fellow volunteers made me proud to have a role in this service project! I am blessed to live in a small town where community means everything. Each role I served volunteering in Creek Fire service projects was one more step towards supporting the resiliency that filled the forest air amidst the smoke and ash. Smiles were shared, heavy hearts were held, and this mountain that burned was wrapped up in a hug by the community it loves. I learned what it meant to be part of something bigger than yourself; to serve others and be part of something that can make a difference. I have confidence going into the future knowing that the common goodness shared in people’s hearts is the driving factor of service and selflessness. Each day, I choose to be Mountain Strong.

Nothing unites a community like devastation or causes people to be the most selfless version of themselves. As of December 2021, the disastrous Creek Fire had burned 379,985 acres of the beautiful Sierra National Forest (Cal Fire). It wasn’t just pine trees burning; it was businesses, homes, and communities in the flames. When my family and I were evacuated, it seemed like every five minutes, I would see a new GoFundMe pop up on Facebook for a family that lost everything. It’s even worse when it’s people you know. My math teacher, school principal, classmates, aunt and uncle, and cousins. All people that lost everything. Seeing my community's resilience was bittersweet. I volunteered at the donation center for a few days and the unity during that time was palpable. Grabbing a large cardboard box and filling it will essentials for someone who had just lost their world is something that I will never forget. Painting thank you signs for our amazing firefighters and first responders made me so grateful for people in service industries. I didn't care at this point that I was evacuated from my home, and had to pack my favorite things and memories, I was ready to support and uplift those who had it much worse than me. The words "mountain strong" became the mantra of my community. Realizing that we are resilient when we come together sparked a sense of "I need to do something bigger" that I was missing before. I began to ponder how I could make a difference just being a sophomore in high school. As I learned more about what fuels a fire of that size, I got angry. The reason why my community burned was because of the mismanagement of California forests. Political problems over-regulating safe logging and control burning created a tinderbox of a forest, ready to blow. I was ready to spread the word beyond my community. I talked to my FFA Advisor about the Prepared Public Speaking Contest. You write an 8-10 minute speech about any agriculturally related topic, deliver it, and field 5 minutes of open questions from a panel of judges. This was the perfect opportunity to be an advocate for something that impacted my community. Additionally, my FFA Chapter was able to partner with our local Forest Management Agency, Southern California Edison, to plant seeds that would grow into tree saplings. These saplings would then be used to rehabilitate people's property that had been scorched by the fire. We spent days in each part of the tree planting process, and are now cultivating the saplings down at our school farm! I’ve done this contest with my speech on Responsible Forest Management for two years, with judges and audiences learning at the Sectional, Regional, and State levels. I delivered the speech at a local board meeting that members of the community attended. I met with local forest management agencies to learn and hear their perspectives on ways to educate others. My speech was printed in the local newspaper so those from my community could read the words I was advocating for them. When I realized that I could be part of something bigger than myself, that changed my perspective on what it was like to be selfless. I will always be a loud supporter of forest management, with my community right in my heart.

Nothing unites a community like devastation. Nothing inspires change and advocacy like anger. As of December 2021, the disastrous Creek Fire had burned 379,985 acres of the beautiful Sierra National Forest. It wasn’t just pine trees burning; it was businesses, homes, and communities in the flames. When my family and I were evacuated, it seemed like every five minutes, I would see a new GoFundMe pop up on Facebook for a family that lost everything. It’s even worse when it’s people you know. My math teacher, my school principal, my classmates, my aunt and uncle, and my cousins. All people that lost everything. It was bittersweet seeing the way that my community came together and was resilient. I volunteered at the donation center for a few days and the unity during that time was palpable. I began to ponder how I could make a difference just being a sophomore in high school. As I learned more about what fuels a fire of that size, I got angry. The reason why my community burned was because of the mismanagement of the forests. Political problems over-regulating safe logging and control burning created a tinderbox of a forest, ready to blow. I wanted to spread the word beyond my community. I talked to my FFA Advisor about the Prepared Public Speaking Contest. You write an 8-10 minute speech about any agriculturally related topic, deliver it, and field 5 minutes of open questions from a panel of judges. This was the perfect opportunity to be an advocate for something that impacted my community. I’ve done this contest with my speech on Responsible Forest Management for two years, with judges and audiences learning at the Sectional, Regional, and State levels. I delivered the speech at a local board meeting where members of the community attended. I met with local forest management agencies to learn and hear their perspectives on ways to educate others. I have volunteered with my FFA Chapter in order to plant trees that will rehabilitate the burned Sierra National Forest. My speech was printed in the local newspaper so those from my community could read the words I was advocating for them. I will always be a loud supporter for forest management, with my community right in my heart.

I am a podcast enthusiast. Anytime that I'm driving in the car, I'm either listening to The Ramsey Show, Crime Junkie, Woah That's Good, or 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast. I have always been fascinated by podcasting! I love the feeling that I am listening in on someone's conversation, and it provides an engaging way to receive both knowledge and entertainment while being productive. In the summer of 2021, I met with my district superintendent and pitched the idea of starting a school podcast. He loved the idea, and after I wrote numerous tech grants and drafted plenty of google spreadsheets, the Sierra Yaduha Podcast was born. A bit behind the name: "Yaduha" means "talk" in the Mono Native American Language, which is the tribe local to my school district. This was a perfect way to highlight the rich culture that lies within my community. My mission with the podcast was to highlight student voices, clubs, and ideas right on campus! Once all of the equipment was ordered and delivered, the challenge came of understanding how to use it. I dove into the instruction manual and watched countless YouTube videos on editing and uploading audio files. Even though it was a steep learning curve, my determination proved worth it when I was able to start recording and publishing episodes. Since starting the podcast, I have been able to connect and highlight sports teams, mental health, Native American Culture, advice, and clubs through this technology. So far, there are 15 episodes and counting! I am inspired by the future of the Sierra Yaduha Podcast. I believe that this world needs more technology that allows all voices to be amplified. Hearing different perspectives and insights would cultivate a better place for all.

One of the biggest problems with people understanding our climate is the spread of misinformation. Many people believe that logging and forest management are a cause of climate change, but that is simply not the case. See, it is the other way around! When we have safe and healthy forest management practices, this will cultivate a healthier climate for our world. I am from the small town of Auberry, California. In September 2021, my community was rocked by a devastating wildfire that burned 375,895 acres as of December 2021 (Cal Fire). The culprit of this disaster was lacking forest management practices that contributed to an overgrown, not ready for wildfire forest. As a result, this extreme fire resulted in significant pollution that lingered across the entire state of California, in addition to other states experiencing smoke in their air. Wildfires are extremely harmful to our climate and air quality. I am a major advocate for responsible forest management practices that will support the health of our climate. After the fire, I entered the FFA Prepared Public Speaking competition with my speech urging healthy forest management in our state. I have delivered this speech to my school board, and at 6 competitions to numerous judges from the agricultural industry. I strongly believe that we need agricultural professionals supporting management practices that benefit our climate. If we can return to healthy forests, we will not have mass wildfires that damage our climate on major levels. After seeing the negative effects of fire on my community and our environment, I will always be a vocal advocate for responsible forest management!

From a young age, I have always heard the phrase that "there's two sides to every coin." With this phrase, I have always tried to remember that there are two sides to every story, and it's okay to have different opinions and ideas than others! I like to think of myself as a very open-minded person. I am always looking for new experiences and ways to broaden my thinking. In contrast, something that has challenged my perspective the most was being in AP Biology last year. One of the core principles of Biology is evolution. As a Christian, I originally fully rejected this idea because I believed that it did not align with the Bible, and of course "we didn't come from monkeys!" But, to pass the class, I had to study and try to understand these principles of evolution. Once my mind was open to learning, I began to understand that evolution did not necessarily mean that we came from monkeys! As I discovered the ways that adaptations work, and populations migrate, breed differently, or are affected by natural causes, I recognized that this issue of evolution was not as black and white as I thought it had been. The key to understanding this concept was having an open mind. I am still a Christian and believe that God created the heavens and the earth, but I now also believe that sometimes, both religion and science can exist at the same time. I stand by the fact that I am a lifelong learner and try to learn something new every day, because I feel that there is always room to grow and change.

Every Wednesday night at precisely 6:35 pm, I would hop in my car and drive around 8 minutes to do my weekly babysitting job. I loved the opportunity I had to spend 2 hours with these 2 kids each week and always tried to make the most of it. My main goal was to always make sure they felt seen, heard, and loved. Now, even though it doesn't seem like it, babysitting isn't always the easiest job! I was always up for whatever the kids wanted to do, as long as it was within reason. I acted out superhero stories with them, roleplaying the evil mastermind robot and thinking of witty lines off the top of my head. I choreographed dances to their favorite techno music and even recorded it on their iPad. I did some of the silliest things that I probably would have never been caught doing so that I could make them feel loved and engaged with. The best thing that came from me babysitting them though, was "chat time." I babysat a brother and sister, and they were always vying for my attention, trying to tell me stories or ask me questions. I established at least 5 minutes for each of them alone, every Wednesday, to have alone time with me to talk about whatever they wanted. In a way, I kind of saw this as a mentorship. The younger girl, during her chat time, would always tell me about her day, what American Girl doll she wanted next, or what games she was playing on the playground. The older boy, was always asking me questions about my high level math classes, and what high school would be like. Giving each kid their own time made them feel special and their voices heard!

I have to begin this essay with some honesty. I have never thought of myself as a brave or bold person. I can be brave when I know I can succeed at something, I can be bold when I'm secure in how the event will play out, but outside of this, I really struggle with both of these attributes! I don't mean that I don't try, because I believe that practice doesn't create perfection, it creates habits. As a success driven person, I get really nervous and lots of anxiety before I compete in competitions. I'm a dedicated FFA member and I love doing speaking contests! I set high goals but I must be brave every time before I enter the room to be judged. Anytime I think about when I really had to practice bravery, it brings me back to one specific scenario when I was in seventh grade. I was so excited to be Sierra FFA's first-ever 7th grade member, set to compete in the East-Fresno Madera Sectional speaking contest! Well, until the night before. I sat on my deck balling to my parents that I did not want to compete because I was so afraid to fail. I set this huge pressure on my shoulders and saw no way out of it. After a conversation, I decided I would still compete the next day. My stomach literally did cartwheels the day leading up to the contest! To my shock, I ended up taking first place, making history in my section as the first seventh grader to do so! Even though this worked in my favor, I've had numerous other experiences when I didn't get the win. Practicing bravery and living boldly doesn't come naturally to me, but I am always willing to practice and willing to try.

In September of 2021, my community was rocked by the Creek Fire, that consumed 375,895 acres as of that December. Amidst the burn scars and ashes, my community emerged stronger than ever. After what felt like the whole mountain burning down, my FFA chapter partnered with our local forest management agency (Southern California Edison) to plant trees to rehabilitate the Sierra National Forest, as it lost many trees through the fire. Not only were we going to plant these trees in the forest, we were going to get to hand ready-to-plant saplings to people who had lost their homes and foliage! I was so thankful to take part in this service project because I am very passionate about proper forest management. I have competed in the FFA Prepared Public Speaking Contest with a speech on responsible forest management and how it can improve the health of our forests for two yeas. I delivered this speech at the sectional, regional, and state level as a form of advocacy for my community. Getting to represent my community who has been impacted by neglectful forest management in Sacramento has given me the chance to encourage change to be made in our state's forests. I also delivered this speech at a community board meeting to show how much I cared about not only our forests, but our livelihood. Wildfire truly changes a community in many ways. It's devastating when you learn that your Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins have lost their home that their children grew up in. It's heartbreaking when your principal and favorite math teacher tells you that their houses burned down. This disaster quite literally lit the fire within me to be an advocate both inside and out of my community for proper forest management.

When I was a kid, my mom always put peas in my Mac and Cheese. She did this every time she served Mac and Cheese, to the point that when I had it at a friend's house, I asked them where the peas were! I have always loved vegetables from the time I was a young kid. My mom instilled a mentality that I didn't have to like every food she served, but I had to try it at least once! People were pretty impressed with my palate as an elementary school kid when I showed up to the cafeteria with hummus and veggie boxes to eat in contrast with other kid's Nutella sandwiches. I just never knew any different. I have been very fortunate to grow up in a rural area where my mom always had a thriving garden steps away from our kitchen. It was never abnormal to have squash and radishes on our plates in the summer time, and I always looked forward to fresh tomatoes right off the vine with some salt and pepper. I am thankful the fact that I have always had easy access to superfoods! My three favorite categories of superfoods are greens, grains, and fruits. I am not the biggest fan of meat, so incorporating these foods into my diet is important for me to stay healthy and get all the good vitamins and nutrients that these foods possess. I'm a big fan of kale, Swiss chard, Rainbow chard, spinach, and sprouts! My favorite way to eat greens is to sauté them in olive oil and garlic, and then eat them with eggs and avocado for a high protein filling breakfast. Sprouts are the best on a turkey sandwich with fresh tomatoes- it's my favorite summer lunch! When it comes to grains, my go to favorites are oats and chia seeds. Both of these grains are perfect when it comes to meal prepping for a quick and easy morning breakfast. I like to make overnight oats, with a drizzle of honey, some greek yogurt, and strawberries. I also make chia seed pudding which creates a kind of gel consistency, but is really good for you and a great way to start your day! I could go on and on about all of the superfood fruits that I love to eat. Pomegranate seeds and blueberries are a great addition to my smoothies with their high antioxidants and vitamins. Apples drizzled with almond butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon get me through many afternoon homework slumps. Pineapple is my favorite in the summertime out by the pool to snack on and transport me to a tropical paradise. If there was an award for superfood fan, I would probably be right up there at the top! I'm grateful to my parents for always exposing me to new foods that keep me healthy and benefit my wellbeing. I have also introduced my picky friends to new superfoods that I bring in my lunch; sometimes they are skeptical, but they usually end up liking them! It's safe to say that I will always be an advocate for superfoods and the way that they play a role in maintaining both a healthy mind and healthy body!

My favorite scientific discovery was in the 15th century when Robert Hooke discovered cells! When I learned about this in my seventh grade biology class, I was hooked. I began to look at everything differently, considering the fact that all living things were made up of these microscopic structures! Each day that I came to class and learned that it was microscope day, I was ecstatic. Getting to see all the different types of cells- plant cells, blood cells, animal cells, was always the highlight of my day. Cells weren't just cool to me once I learned how important they were, they were fascinating! As I learned how knowing cells and cell theory was vital to understanding diseases and living organisms, I realized how important cells were namely in the medical field. The way that different cells could be used to treat viruses and diseases made me so thankful for this world changing discovery. What really hooked me in to this discovery was learning about how cells were used in GMOS or genetically modified organisms! This sparked my interest in learning about agricultural systems and how this was used in farming technology. I even gave a presentation to my seventh grade biology class about how GMOs were good and the way that cells drove the process! This has caused my interest in food science; an industry that is vital to feeding our world. The use of taking cells from high protein organisms and placing them into rice cells created golden rice, a food has saved third world countries from malnutrition. I will forever be thankful and fascinated by the way that cells have transformed our lives!

I think that everyone can agree that during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all went through a rough time. Being a high school student with nothing to look forward to was extremely disheartening. One thing I noticed though, was how awful it was for teachers. I watched my mother (an elementary school teacher) sit in front of a computer screen, trying to teach and engage with elementary school students who could care less about school as their whole world just got turned upside down. I watched her end the meeting once class was over, close her eyes, and hold her head. I knew that as a sophomore in high school, my teachers probably felt the same way. High school class zooms were likely even harder. Kids wouldn't turn on their cameras, and I could imagine that teaching to 30 black screens wouldn't be the easiest. I made the decision that I would try my best, every single class, to turn my camera on, ask questions, and engage with the teacher. This was like a domino effect! Once I turned my camera on, other kids began to turn their cameras on too! People began to ask more questions and try harder to engage with the teacher. I could tell that my teachers were happier and this made a difference in the mundane reality of trying to teach during a pandemic. This has taught me that small changes can have a large impact on people. Kindness and intentionality truly can spread and make a difference. It's all about making the choice to love others and show that they matter to you!

Any time that I hop in my Subaru Forester to take a drive, I turn on the Ramsey Show. The opening jazz music rings in my ears and I can practically recite the intro. I love listening to this podcast on financial wisdom and freedom because as a 16 year old, this is something that I hold in high value. Often, listeners will call into the Ramsey Show asking for help to get out of debt. Dave Ramsey and one of his co-hosts will ask them to break down their debt sources, and many times, the largest chunk is student loans! They explain how this debt has taken over their lives, and many times they fall into depression and feel that there is no way out of their situation. This caused me to worry as I had considered applying for student loans so I could attend my dream college, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I began to listen to every episode that had the name "student loans" or "student debt" in the title so I could learn some strategies that would help me avoid a hopeless situation in the future. The best finance advice that I heard was when one of the hosts said that you could pay for a majority, if not all, of your college expenses by applying for scholarships. I always knew that I would apply for college scholarships, but when he said to treat applications like a job, that's when it clicked for me. So, every day for at least thirty minutes, I work on scholarship applications because there is no way that I will be applying for student loans. I believe that my hard work will pay off in the end and set me up well for strong financial freedom in my future!

Send a text. I mean it. It doesn't have to be a long, drawn out paragraph about how, or why you're concerned, it can be simple, sweet, and to the point. In my ASB class at school we were tasked with creating a suicide prevention advocacy video. While most students in my class were giving complicated ways to reach out and ask a friend about mental health, my group decided to keep it simple and accessible with our video titled, "Just a Text." Within the video we provided examples for how people could support those around them in simple ways. "I'm here for you." "How was your day?" "What are you up to?" "How's it going?" Sending a couple words with intentionality go a long way. You may not know it, but 'Just a Text' can let someone know that you're there for them. 'Just a Text' could save someone's life. It boils down to purposeful interaction that is authentic. A few words can make or break someone's mental health, and we all know how to type out words on our phone; so why not use them for good.

Riding in my Dad's truck usually means two things: listening to sports radio or hearing the wisdom of famed financial advisor, Dave Ramsey. Typically, I would stare out the window and drown out the podcast that I felt like I didn't understand; using fancy words and talking about investment strategies. As I entered high school and learned what price tag was actually on a college degree, I began to listen to the Ramsey Show myself. Hearing the stories of how debt can truly damage one's life has helped me fully understand why it is so important to not take on student loans. I am in a tricky situation myself because while both of my parents work, they cannot pay for the entirety of my college education. Their yearly income though, does not qualify me for financial aid. Dave Ramsey explains that you should treat applying for scholarships like it's a job, to spend at least thirty minutes to an hour each day filling out applications and writing essays. I believe this is the best financial advice I have ever received, and its application to my life will be something that I will surely thank myself for in the future. Although it is tedious to write essays and search for scholarships that I qualify for, I hope that this will be worth it by the time I go to college. Not only am I taking steps to secure my financial future, I am also developing dedication, time management, and work habits to maintain good financial literacy.

Hi, my name is Macy. I live in a small town and have less than 100 kids in my graduating class. Growing up in such a bubble, predominately white, made me not even realize the rich diversity quite literally in the backyard of my mountain town. The Native American culture and tribe surrounding our community was reflected in the name of my school, the "Sierra High Chieftains," but was lacking in the students voices, so I sought out to remedy just that. In the summer of 2019, I struck up a conversation with my district Superintendent and pitched the idea of starting a school podcast. My idea was to create a podcast that showcased the voices of our students, sharing raw, candid conversations between me and my fellow peers. He loved it. One of the difficult parts was coming up with the name. We bounced around ideas; "These Mountains Speak" or "Voices of the Sierras," but nothing we came up with truly reflected the school. Then we had the idea to reach out to the Native American Club to see if they had any name ideas! We found that the translation of the word "Talk" in the Native American Language translates to the word "Yaduha," and with that, the Sierra Yaduha Podcast was born. After I took some months to figure out how to use podcasting software and edit some test audio, I was able to set up a recording with the Native American club, and have them send two members to chat with some question prompts and bullet points. I wanted to do everything to make sure I was respectful and engaging, but mostly with the emphasis of amplifying the voices of two Native American girls. We started off the conversation just chatting about the club, what they were up to, and what events they had planned. Little did I know, the conversation would evolve in to much more. What was originally planned as a 20 minute episode turned in to 45 minutes. After we got through the talking prompt bullet points, the two girls continued to share their stories, and I couldn't believe what they were willing to share. Both my eyes and ears were opened as I listened to their experiences as girls growing up in the Native American culture. They spoke to the damaging nature of Native American stereotyping, the struggles of reservation life, and their rich culture and hearts for tradition. The beauty of this was that it was not just me hearing their truth, but would be published for anyone to listen to. Once the podcast was recorded, I spoke at the next board meeting, urging the community to listen to these voices share their stories. This year, 2022, celebrated 100 years of my school, Sierra High. While this is an exciting accomplishment, it is important to recognize those that have been there for centuries before us, the Mono Native Americans. The chance I had to hear these girls speak, and to use my startup podcast to amplify their voices, is something that I will always value, and hope that others will continue to listen. I urge others to be open minded and open hearted, because there is always a voice that is unheard. I attached a link to the podcast if anyone is interested in listening!

Agriculture is the foundation of America, and something that I believe I will always be passionate about. Growing up in a small, rural town has pushed me to become an advocate for an ever-important industry in our country. I have taken a step further through my membership in the Future Farmers of America Organization, where I have learned how to be a vocal advocate and improved my public speaking skills. This year, I wrote a speech on the vitality of proper forest management in the State of California that I delivered at the Sectional, Regional, and State Level. My community was affected by a devastating wildfire that destroyed many homes and local businesses. I saw this disaster as an opportunity to be a voice for my community and share my story about why it is important to advocate for our forests! I spoke to our community and school board, and to judges in the city of Sacramento. Many people in urban areas do not know much about agriculture or forestry, even though it is something that affects them every day. Through teaching others about the science of the forest and important management tools like Biomass production and logging, I have been able to educate people on what forest management actually is! I hope to spread the word about why this industry is so important, and to inspire the youth of America to become AG-vocates themselves!