Washington to Kansas

Rain and Twilight

2012-02-01T21:28:00.000-06:00

If you haven’t already noticed, I am a long ways away fromhome. To be exact from the front door of my dorm in Manhattan, KS to mydriveway in Pullman, WA, it is 1528 miles. With the distance comes a lot of questions, about where I grew up. Thetop being: “How do you like the rain?” “Have you been to Forks?” and “So,you aren't used to small towns and this much agriculture?” And to thosequestions I smile! I compare the common questions I am asked, to asking someonefrom Kansas how Dorothy and Toto are, or if they live in the middle of nowhere.

“How do you like the rain?”

I love the rain I am a farmer’s daughter! But, what peopleare often referring to is the Seattle area, where it rains on average 40-50”each year. I live on the east side of the state, literally four miles from theIdaho border, where we average 15-20” of rain each year. In Eastern Washingtonis gets into the 90’s in the summer and below zero some winters, we see alittle bit of everything! Though, I do have to admit, the weather in Kansas isa bit more temperamental.

“Have you been to Forks?” (Like Twilights Forks)

No! Forks is an eight and half hour drive, including a ferryride. But I know someone who grew up there and they also have an FFA chapter!

“So, you aren’t used to small towns and this muchagriculture?”

Wrong! I grew up in a small town, on a wheat farm (thatoften gets gasps). And wheat isn’t the only thing produced in Washington; it isthe 2^nd most agriculturally diverse state, behind California. Thestate produces over 320 different agricultural products! Needless to say, ifyou take a drive across the state you can roll through the fields of wheat,pass by the pastures of cattle, see the famous grapes of the Columbia Valley,eat an apple fresh off a tree, pick some cherries for a pie, try some cheese,fresh from a dairy, eat fresh sea food on a harbor, pick up some logs to builda log home, and so much more! The diversity of Washington’s agriculture isamazing!

Coming to Kansas has taught me a lot about stereo typesrelated to the places people are from. I challenge you that the next time youmeet someone from a place you have never been, to take the time to understandwhat the place they are from is really like, before you assume it is like what you’veseen the movies and on the news!

-Paige

The Girl from Washington

2012-01-23T21:44:00.002-06:00

A hop, skip and a jump away is where I am from home. I wasborn and raised in Pullman, WA and now I am a freshman at Kansas StateUniversity. I grew up in the heart of the Palouse, home of the Cougs, alongsidethe rolling fields of wheat on my family’s farm. A few quick facts about me:

I have lived with my parents and brothers (Roband Jeremy), in the same house since I was born. (It is over 100 years old!)

I have 15 first cousins on my dad’s side of thefamily and 13 on my mom’s.
My family raises wheat, dry peas and garbanzobeans. We also have a small herd of cattle.

I am duel majoring Agricultural Communications & Journalism and Marketing.
As of now after college I want to work in publicrelations or marketing for an agriculturally based company.
I am allergic to cow’s milk, so that means Ican’t eat anything with dairy in it.
FFA, enough said.
I am Wildcat and a Cougar, meaning I bleedpurple and crimson (where I am from that isn't allowed).
Member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority!
I make and sell necklaces
I love Crayola Color Crayons and coloring books :)
The thingsI love most are God, my family, my friends, andagriculture.

You’re probably wondering the mostasked question of me in the past six months, why K-State? That answer is simpleand complex. For the complex version, I grew up in a college town, whereWashington State University (the land-grant university in Washington) islocated. I always knew that I needed to go out and experience some place new,but it wasn’t until I took a year off before college, and traveled aroundWashington and the country serving as an FFA state officer, that I realized Iwas ready to take that step for college. I had previously visited KSU as asenior in high school and after my visit it continued to come up in researchand conversation. I realized I wanted and needed to be a part of the College ofAgriculture at K-State so I applied, got accepted, paid a down payment, and therest is history! The short answer is who wouldn’t want to be a Wildcat?

Being a part of production agriculture since the day I wasborn, has taught me a lot about where my food comes from. My background on thefarm has made me want to continue to be involved and work in the industry. AlthoughI don’t plan on returning to my family’s farm full time, I would like to returnhome during our yearly harvest to continue to contribute to both my family’sfarm and production agriculture.

Through this blog I hope to share my experiences as a college student in agriculture!

-Paige

Kansas Girl

2012-01-23T21:41:00.016-06:00

Hey guys, I'm Kassie...I'm a small town Kansas girl who loves family, country music, cooking, K-State, God, and especially agriculture! With a big family it seems that there is always something going on at the Curran household. Although hectic at times (almost all the time) I love our crazy, busy, hard-working, lifestyle at home in southeast Kansas. I have 2 younger sisters, 2 younger brothers, and 2 very amazing parents :) We also have 3 horses, 4 cows (1 fall calf), a bucket calf, a goat, about 20 chickens, a dog, 6 cats, and an occasional beaver or raccoon that my brothers catch. Maybe we should start a petting zoo, thoughts?? Regardless of the numbers or variety of animals, agriculture has been a huge part of my life ever since I can remember...My 3rd birthday present was a horse ("Daisy Mae"). However, we found out later that day I was allergic to horses. :( My dad is an agriculture education teacher and my grandpa owns and operates the family cattle ranch that began in 1868. Whether I was doing chores, fixing fence, or shoveling rocks I have learned many life lessons because of my upbringing in agriculture and I wouldn't trade that for anything!!! There is lots to know about me but I'll get you started with a few fun facts...

Grew up near Sedan, KS then moved to nearby Girard, KS the summer before my senior year of high school
Born a K-State Wildcat!!! I am majoring in Food Science & Industry with a minor in Agricultural Economics and an emphasis in Meat Science
I have had both of my parents as teachers…My dad was my ag teacher for most of high school until we moved to Girard then I got Mr. Boultinghouse too!
Served as Kansas FFA Vice President in 2010-2011
12 year member of 4-H…Sedan Willing Workers and the Hepler Hustlers
Showed meat goats and my Black Angus heifer named “Willa”
I love to cook!!
My all time favorite show is One Tree Hill---have seen all 176 episodes of the 9 seasons so far. My sister and I started watching in high school and got our whole family hooked. When we go home for breaks, we spend hours watching old episodes on DVD :)
Riding bikes is a favorite pastime of mine
I Love Beef! and promoting beef to consumers too!
I’m a music lover…Taylor Swift, George Strait, Eli Young Band…lots of country, red dirt, oldies, and anything but rap or Garth Brooks :)

Summer is my favorite time of year--I love the lake and concerts!!

Most of all, I love God, my family, and my friends

I hope you will get to know both Paige and I through our blog as we share our thoughts on life, agriculture, college, and whatever else comes into our wondering minds.

Stay tuned,
Kassie

Washington to Kansas

2012-01-18T22:11:00.000-06:00

We guess you could say it all started in the summer of 2010, when the two of us met in Washington DC. We were both there as state FFA officers, for the State Presidents Conference. A few months later we met again at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, again a few months later in Argentina and have been friends ever since. We are now both students at Kansas State University in the College of Agriculture.

State President's Conference, Washington DC Summer 2010

International Leadership Seminar for State Officers

Argentina January 2011

Though the two of us grew up in completely different parts of the country, and are in different areas of study, both of our lives have been and continue to be rooted in agriculture. Together we have decided to share our experiences, both different and similar, as college students passionate about making a difference in agriculture through this blog. We plan to take turns sharing our thoughts, experiences and whatever comes to our minds.

From Pullman, WA and Girard, KS, we are Paige and Kassie.