State FFA President Andrew Christenson Delivers His Retiring Address

Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Indiana Jones! An American hero. The man with his distinctive hat and bullwhip who was always after the next great treasure. His life was a journey. A great journey filled with dangers, excitements, thrills, risks, explosions, and so much more.

Now, our lives are no where near as dangerous or explosive has Indiana Jones’ but they are still filled with twists and turns. Our lives are a great journey filled with rewards, benefits, obstacles, hardships, difficulties, and successes. And some people look at their lives as a time of great hardship and great failure. While others look at their lives as a time of astonishing and great success. But, when it comes down to it, our lives are all pretty much the same. You’ll have a couple good days and you’ll have a couple bad days. But in the end, all the same.

What it comes down to is what you believe your life to be like. Do you believe that your life is a success? Do you believe that your life is a failure?

Indiana Jones believed his life to be dedicated towards history and learning. And every movie has a common theme to it. In every movie, Indiana Jones was in search of some legendary artifact. But he runs into problems along the way. There are always bad guys who are out to destroy him and to claim the prize for themselves. In the end Indiana Jones finds out that there are more important things in life then riches and gold. He finds that it’s about saving his family and friends. See, Indiana Jones had a support network of family and friends. These individuals helped him to defeat the bad guys and save the world from ultimate destruction. They give him the courage he needed to make a difference. To serve, not himself, but others.

Serving as a Wisconsin State FFA Officer requires the same support network. My family and friends have helped me to grow throughout my many years. They have helped guide me in the right direction and they have all played vital roles in the development of me as a person. And for the past two years of my life there have been 20 individuals who have helped me grow significantly in the area of FFA. 20 State Officers from 2 teams who have made a world of difference in my life. Each one has helped me to grow and for each one I am personally grateful for and I thank them all for what they have done.

With the help of my support network I have discovered what servant leadership is all about. Serving others! It’s not about the prize at the end of the tunnel. It’s about helping others along the way! Living to Serve is a phrase that has been embedded into my brain. Real treasure in life is not gold or riches but the feeling you get when you can make another person smile because you helped them. That’s what real treasure is.

Four years ago I couldn’t have been a State Officer. I was scared. I was shy. I had no confidence what so ever. I couldn’t lead a group of people. I couldn’t lead an association. I couldn’t even lead a calf to the barn. It just wasn’t me.

But for some reason, two years ago, something happened. When I was attending college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, I had a few people in my support group that told me I could be a State Offcier. They believed in me. I didn’t think that I could do it, but they believed in me. And through their encouragement, I believed that I could do it. And sure enough, I have.

My experiences in this organization have been amazing! Just these past two years my life has done a complete 360. I love public speaking. I love traveling around the state. Thanks to the FFA my true passion and pride for Agriculture has finally come out! I grew up on a farm and I loved my cows, but gosh darn it! I never knew that agriculture was so amazing. I never knew that there was a organization like this, right here, that could turn you into such an amazing individual. This organization has sharpened all of my skills. All because I took advantage of one opportunity, that one thing made all the difference in my life. I have grown. I have goals. I want to be President of the United States someday. And I’m going to do it. Why? Cause FFA has grown me as an individual. It has shaped me and molded me into a premier leader.

This growth that I have experienced was growth in myself that didn’t come with ease. There was a point, in my year as President this year, that I faced a very difficult situation.

There came an event in my life that changed me forever. It happened on August 19 of 2007. It was a Sunday and I was at a Milwaukee Brewers Game when I received a phone call. I was told that something terrible had happened to one of my teammates. I was told, that my President, Matt Anderson, had died in a farming accident.

Many of you know who Matt was. But I would like to tell you what he meant to me.

Matt Anderson was my hero! He was my best friend. He was my role model. He was my President, my leader. He was the man I looked to when I had questions, the man who was going to help me through my year as President. And then, he was gone.

The days leading up to his funeral were, unbearable. I was on the phone for hours and hours. I called up my buddies to take me fishing. I didn’t want to face the truth, I just wanted time to pass me by.

On August 22nd, 3 days after Matt’s death, I was in Sauk Prairie. We stood in line for what seemed like eternity, to go and see Matt. I was able to hold my tears back, until I came to his family. And then, I let it all go. I was a mess!

Before leaving the school that night, I went out to the football and track field. The track itself circled the football field. I needed to think. I walked out to the starting line on the track and I stood in the Number Two Lane. I stood in that lane because I was NOT ready to lead this association by myself. I needed Matt in that Number One lane to show me the way.

I looked up to the sky and said “Now what?” I began to walk around the track in the Number Two Lane in the dark. I stated talking out loud. “Why you Matt? Why? Of all the people in the world why did it have to be you? You’re my friend. My role model. My hero. My President. How am I suppose to lead this team without your help?” Tears started to role down my eyes. “I can’t do this Matt. You were suppose to give me tips! You’re my President! And I need your help to lead this team. Give me a sign. Anything! Just so I know your helping me. I’m not ready. Matt, God, I need a sign.”

And that’s when it came to me. I ran across the football field and went to my vehicle. I went inside a compartment and pulled out, this Flashlight.

About a month after I was elected President, a couple of us from Matt’s team gathered in the town of Cashton to take a canoe trip down the Kickapoo river. When I arrived Matt pulled me aside and told me these exact words.: “Every year the old President gives the new President and item of significant importance, so here’s a blue flashlight with an emblem on it. I’m giving this flashlight to you for two reasons, reason number one, now you have a flashlight if you ever need one. Reason number two is, there are going to be times throughout your year in which things will be dark and you won’t know what to do. Just remember to take this light and shine it through the darkness and you will be able to find your way.”

Almost 82 hours after Matt’s death, I now understood. Matt didn’t leave me un-prepared for my job as President! He gave me this flashlight for a reason, to shine it through the darkness. I walked back out to the track, with the flashlight and I went to the starting line. I turned my flashlight on and pointed it down at the ground. I was standing in the number two lane. I looked at the number one lane and said “Now Matt, Now I understand.” I took one step over and started my walk around the track, in the number one lane.

With the lose of my President I didn’t believe that I could effectively lead my State FFA Officer team through a whole year of service. I didn’t believe in myself as a leader. But Matt left me a sign! All I needed to do was shine this light through the darkness. And I did! I walked that track, all the way around, in the number one lane. I knew that I was ready to lead this Association because I now BELIEVED in myself. I had the talent, I had the skills, I had the experience. But NONE OF IT was any good until that night. That night is when I BELIEVED.

We are all capable of doing anything we want! Indiana Jones was a regular man, a professor. But when he put on his hat he turned into an American Hero! I didn’t believe in myself to be able to lead this organization. But Matt gave me this flashlight. He helped me Believe in myself. We all have that leader we are waiting to unleash. But the only way you can lead is if you Believe. Believe in the others around you. Believe in your friends. Believe in your family. But most importantly Believe in yourself.

Ladies and Gentlemen, You can conquer any dark situation!
All you have to do, is Believe!

Andrew Christenson
2007-2008 State President
Wisconsin Association of FFA


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