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Hello NJSA members! At the National FFA Convention this fall, I had the opportunity to talk to hundreds of youth involved in agriculture. We had life-sized pig cutouts at the NJSA booth that FFA members could have their picture taken with, either pretending to show one of the pigs or standing behind it holding a champion banner.

Although showing a gilt or having a picture taken holding a banner might be second nature to many of us, I couldn't help but notice how many FFA members would spot the giant pig cut-outs and run over, bubbling over with excitement to have their picture taken with one. After asking them if they showed pigs, I often received the response that they loved pigs and really wanted to show them, but their parents wouldn't let them, they lived in an urban area or they didn't have the resources or opportunity to get involved.

Born into a family with strong agricultural roots and raised on a rural crop and livestock farm, growing up raising and showing pigs was, to me, as normal as brushing my teeth twice a day. However, I realized that these FFA members would have given anything to have those experiences.

It took some energetic FFA members for me remember how truly fortunate I am to have grown up with the experiences and opportunities I was privileged to have and to still be able to call myself part the swine industry. The next time you are entering the showring, driving to a show or sale or simply heading to the barn to do chores, I challenge you to not take the "normal" things for granted and step back and remember just how blessed we are to be a part of this industry.

Cally Hass

Hello NJSA members! Now is the time of year that we look back at what our previous year has held and look forward to what is to come. As I look back at the year and few months that I have been with the NJSA, I marvel at how many new people I have met and how vibrant the youth of the NJSA are. One of my favorite memories from the 2011 year was when your NJSA Director of Junior Activities and my teammate, Cally Hass, officially started at the NJSA. It was a great day when she moved to Indiana and formally joined the NJSA. We were finally able to hit the ground running together and begin implementing new ideas and plans to keep moving the NJSA forward. My second favorite memory is of the NJSA Junior Board of Directors. What a wonderful group of young leaders that we had the privilege to work with. That group of directors had seen a lot of change within the NJSA, and it was fun to watch each of them grow and change from their different experiences. I only hope they learned as much from me as I did from them. Now that we begin the New Year, it is very exciting to think of the new things that are around the corner for the NJSA. We are looking forward to reaching the goals we have set for 2012 and getting to see each of you out at the NJSA events. I challenge you to look back at your 2011 and think about your favorite memories. Maybe you can learn from some of them and make your 2012 even better than last year!

Sarah Schwab