Author, speaker, and life coach Brad Lomenick sits down to discuss life strategies like the &quot;who factor&quot; people in life that encourage, equip, and empower.  Be a positive catalyst in an organization and the importance of being humble, hungry, and full of hustle.We explore how gratitude beats entitlement, why access plus hustle changes careers, and how H3—humility, hunger, hustle—becomes a durable edge for students, educators, and leaders in agriculture. Brad shares the “who factor,” feedback loops, and the art of creating mile markers that last. • gratitude as a leader’s temperature setter • entitlement contrasted with service and hospitality • R2A2 framework for turning ideas into action • Brad’s journey, mentors, and the who factor • building networks and using access without entitlement • curiosity as a core leadership habit • H3 framework: humility, hunger, hustle in balance • rhythms that prevent burnout and enable generosity • agriculture’s future: tech, relationships, communication • feedback loops and practical self-awareness • memory moments and creating mile markers for others Go out and do something great for somebody. You might just plant that tree under whose shade you may never see Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

<description>&lt;p&gt;Author, speaker, and life coach Brad Lomenick sits down to discuss life strategies like the &amp;quot;who factor&amp;quot; people in life that encourage, equip, and empower.  Be a positive catalyst in an organization and the importance of being humble, hungry, and full of hustle.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We explore how gratitude beats entitlement, why access plus hustle changes careers, and how H3—humility, hunger, hustle—becomes a durable edge for students, educators, and leaders in agriculture. Brad shares the “who factor,” feedback loops, and the art of creating mile markers that last.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;• gratitude as a leader’s temperature setter&lt;br/&gt;• entitlement contrasted with service and hospitality&lt;br/&gt;• R2A2 framework for turning ideas into action&lt;br/&gt;• Brad’s journey, mentors, and the who factor&lt;br/&gt;• building networks and using access without entitlement&lt;br/&gt;• curiosity as a core leadership habit&lt;br/&gt;• H3 framework: humility, hunger, hustle in balance&lt;br/&gt;• rhythms that prevent burnout and enable generosity&lt;br/&gt;• agriculture’s future: tech, relationships, communication&lt;br/&gt;• feedback loops and practical self-awareness&lt;br/&gt;• memory moments and creating mile markers for others&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Go out and do something great for somebody. You might just plant that tree under whose shade you may never see&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Author, speaker, and life coach Brad Lomenick sits down to discuss life strategies like the "who factor" people in life that encourage, equip, and empower.  Be a positive catalyst in an organization and the importance of being humble, hungry, and full of hustle. We explore how gratitude beats entitlement, why access plus hustle changes careers, and how H3—humility, hunger, hustle—becomes a durable edge for students, educators, and leaders in agriculture. Brad shares the “who factor,” fee...

"Who Factor"

On this episode of the Growing Our Future podcast, we have the chance to sit down with Kerri LeDoux, Executive Director of the Live Like Johnny Organization and mother to the late Johnny Callan.  Kerri shares a heartfelt testimony of Johnny&apos;s life and the example he led.  She shares his desire to help others and how the FFA became the vehicle for him to live his brand.   At the time Johnny was a Ford Leadership Scholar and President of the Area IV FFA Association, Tyler Koch was the Leadership Development Coordinator.  He shares the following about Johnny, &quot;Johnny Callan wore the blue jacket like so many before him, and set the gold standard for genuinely selfless service like no other.&quot;  He went on to say, &quot;In my office at the Buzbee Law Firm I keep two photos, one of my daughter Meadow, and the other is of Johnny’s Dock. Johnny’s dock is my daily reminder to try and live, work, serve, and love like Johnny, so that my daughter just might live like Johnny too.&quot; You&apos;ll enjoy this story of Johnny and how we too can &quot;live our brand&quot; to make a meaningful impact on our community. Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

<description>&lt;p&gt;On this episode of the Growing Our Future podcast, we have the chance to sit down with Kerri LeDoux, Executive Director of the Live Like Johnny Organization and mother to the late Johnny Callan.  Kerri shares a heartfelt testimony of Johnny&amp;apos;s life and the example he led.  She shares his desire to help others and how the FFA became the vehicle for him to live his brand.  &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;At the time Johnny was a Ford Leadership Scholar and President of the Area IV FFA Association, Tyler Koch was the Leadership Development Coordinator.  He shares the following about Johnny, &amp;quot;Johnny Callan wore the blue jacket like so many before him, and set the gold standard for genuinely selfless service like no other.&amp;quot;  He went on to say, &amp;quot;In my office at the Buzbee Law Firm I keep two photos, one of my daughter Meadow, and the other is of Johnny’s Dock. Johnny’s dock is my daily reminder to try and live, work, serve, and love like Johnny, so that my daughter just might live like Johnny too.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;You&amp;apos;ll enjoy this story of Johnny and how we too can &amp;quot;live our brand&amp;quot; to make a meaningful impact on our community.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org&lt;/p&gt;</description>

On this episode of the Growing Our Future podcast, we have the chance to sit down with Kerri LeDoux, Executive Director of the Live Like Johnny Organization and mother to the late Johnny Callan.  Kerri shares a heartfelt testimony of Johnny's life and the example he led.  She shares his desire to help others and how the FFA became the vehicle for him to live his brand.    At the time Johnny was a Ford Leadership Scholar and President of the Area IV FFA Association, Tyler Koch w...

Meaningful Impact by Living Your Brand

On this episode of Growing Our Future, host Aaron Alejandro welcomes Lorie Vincent, Founder &amp; President of ACCELERATION by Design LLC. Lorie shares her inspiring journey from the Texas Panhandle to national leadership, her mission to empower rural communities, and why gratitude, collaboration, and bold vision are essential to growth. 🎥 In the video, Lorie shares her journey from growing up in the Texas Panhandle to leading efforts that empower rural communities nationwide.💡 What you’ll learn:<ul><li>Why gratitude is the foundation for building strong communities</li><li>How listening and collaboration spark real change</li><li>Why honoring heritage and thinking boldly can shape a thriving future</li></ul>Her story is proof that when we plant seeds of greatness in our lives and communities, the harvest can impact generations.Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

<description>&lt;p&gt;On this episode of &lt;em&gt;Growing Our Future&lt;/em&gt;, host &lt;b&gt;Aaron Alejandro&lt;/b&gt; welcomes &lt;b&gt;Lorie Vincent&lt;/b&gt;, Founder &amp;amp; President of &lt;em&gt;ACCELERATION by Design LLC&lt;/em&gt;. Lorie shares her inspiring journey from the Texas Panhandle to national leadership, her mission to empower rural communities, and why gratitude, collaboration, and bold vision are essential to growth. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎥 In the video, Lorie shares her journey from growing up in the Texas Panhandle to leading efforts that empower rural communities nationwide.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;💡 What you’ll learn:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why gratitude is the foundation for building strong communities&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How listening and collaboration spark real change&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why honoring heritage and thinking boldly can shape a thriving future&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Her story is proof that when we plant seeds of greatness in our lives and communities, the harvest can impact generations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org&lt;/p&gt;</description>

On this episode of Growing Our Future, host Aaron Alejandro welcomes Lorie Vincent, Founder &amp; President of ACCELERATION by Design LLC. Lorie shares her inspiring journey from the Texas Panhandle to national leadership, her mission to empower rural communities, and why gratitude, collaboration, and bold vision are essential to growth.  🎥 In the video, Lorie shares her journey from growing up in the Texas Panhandle to leading efforts that empower rural communities nationwide. 💡 What yo...

Great History to Greater Opportunities

Aaron Alejandro sits down with Kat Villarreal, an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor in South Texas, to trace her journey from a non-farm kid to building a thriving IDEA Public Schools FFA program (now ~350 members). Kat shares how mentorship, grit, and student leadership took her chapter from zero to state-level achievements. What You’ll Learn • Three leadership skills Kat drills into students: confidence, responsibility, vulnerability • How to build a program from scratch in an urban, non-traditional ag setting • Why mentorship and access (college visits, contests, public speaking) unlock opportunity • Practical ways FFA shapes real-world skills: handshakes, advocacy, communication, teamwork • The mindset that it’s “okay to win”—and how to earn it Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org

<description>&lt;p&gt;Aaron Alejandro sits down with Kat Villarreal, an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor in South Texas, to trace her journey from a non-farm kid to building a thriving IDEA Public Schools FFA program (now ~350 members). Kat shares how mentorship, grit, and student leadership took her chapter from zero to state-level achievements.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;What You’ll Learn&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;• Three leadership skills Kat drills into students: confidence, responsibility, vulnerability&lt;br/&gt;• How to build a program from scratch in an urban, non-traditional ag setting&lt;br/&gt;• Why mentorship and access (college visits, contests, public speaking) unlock opportunity&lt;br/&gt;• Practical ways FFA shapes real-world skills: handshakes, advocacy, communication, teamwork&lt;br/&gt;• The mindset that it’s “okay to win”—and how to earn it&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Learn more at MyTexasFFA.org&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Aaron Alejandro sits down with Kat Villarreal, an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor in South Texas, to trace her journey from a non-farm kid to building a thriving IDEA Public Schools FFA program (now ~350 members). Kat shares how mentorship, grit, and student leadership took her chapter from zero to state-level achievements.  What You’ll Learn  • Three leadership skills Kat drills into students: confidence, responsibility, vulnerability • How to build a program from scratch in an ...

Don't Be Scared to Try

🎙️ On this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, host Arron Alejandro sits down with Melissa Rosenbusch-Spicer, a lifelong educator and champion of agricultural science. 🌱👩‍🏫 Melissa shares her journey from growing up in a family of ag teachers to shaping lives as a 29-year ag educator, and now carrying her passion into her work with Bloom for Good.✨ What you’ll learn:<ul><li>Why faith, family, and purpose are the foundation of lasting leadership.</li><li>How agricultural education builds life skills that go far beyond the classroom.</li><li>The leadership traits every student—and professional—should practice: communication, work ethic, dependability, and compassion.</li></ul>💡 Melissa’s mission is clear: to pour into the next generation so they can grow their future with confidence, character, and heart.👉 Tune in to be inspired by the power of ag education and the mentors who make it possible.Learn more at <a href='http://mytexasffa.org/'>MyTexasFFA.org</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;🎙️ &lt;b&gt;On this episode of the &lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Growing Our Future Podcast&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, host &lt;b&gt;Arron Alejandro&lt;/b&gt; sits down with &lt;b&gt;Melissa Rosenbusch-Spicer&lt;/b&gt;, a lifelong educator and champion of agricultural science. 🌱&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;👩‍🏫 Melissa shares her journey from growing up in a family of ag teachers to shaping lives as a 29-year ag educator, and now carrying her passion into her work with Bloom for Good.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;✨ &lt;b&gt;What you’ll learn:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why faith, family, and purpose are the foundation of lasting leadership.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How agricultural education builds life skills that go far beyond the classroom.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The leadership traits every student—and professional—should practice: communication, work ethic, dependability, and compassion.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;💡 Melissa’s mission is clear: to pour into the next generation so they can grow their future with confidence, character, and heart.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;👉 Tune in to be inspired by the power of ag education and the mentors who make it possible.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more at &lt;a href='http://mytexasffa.org/'&gt;MyTexasFFA.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

🎙️ On this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, host Arron Alejandro sits down with Melissa Rosenbusch-Spicer, a lifelong educator and champion of agricultural science. 🌱 👩‍🏫 Melissa shares her journey from growing up in a family of ag teachers to shaping lives as a 29-year ag educator, and now carrying her passion into her work with Bloom for Good. ✨ What you’ll learn: Why faith, family, and purpose are the foundation of lasting leadership.How agricultural education builds life skills ...

Grow Good

Hosted by Aaron Alejandro, the Growing Our Future podcast is focused on strengthening agricultural science education in America so that students can develop their potential for personal growth, career success and leadership in a global marketplace. This show is sponsored by the Texas FFA Foundation. Learn more at https://mytexasffa.org/

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