WARSAW — On Monday, May 8, Warsaw FFA and Tom Farms hosted National FFA Southern Region Vice President DeShawn Blanding. Blanding visited Warsaw Community High School during student resource time and sixth period to share his knowledge on leadership and values.

Blanding began his talk with students by explaining the TV show The Price is Right. He posted several items on the board and had the students gather the right price for the items. Then he put the word “life” on the board. He had the students gather prices for a life. The reaction of the students was the same; all answers were revolving around one word…priceless.

DeShawn explained to the students that leadership is like planting a seed. You plant your values in the soil and watch them grow. As your life grows, so does the seed. When a seed grows, it grows roots. Your roots of the seed are like the values in your life; they keep us stable. Without our values in life, we would not be who we are today.

DeShawn talked about how, if the values in your life change, so does the outcome. If the roots of the seed go another direction, then the outcome of the plant will change. If the plant becomes sick through the roots, the rest of the plant will also become unhealthy. Blanding advised students to make sure to live out their values to the potential they deserve because the outcome will be thriving. He noted a person cannot replace their life, but you can replace material items. Blanding concluded by encouraging students to prepare a path for others to follow behind.