Nelson Milner: Balancing the Blue Jacket

Nelson Milner in full firefighting gear during the Cadet Explorer Fire School at the Illinois Fire Service Institute.

Balancing school, work and extracurricular activities can be challenging. Staunton FFA Chapter Sentinel Nelson Milner from Illinois manages a busy schedule while staying active in FFA and balancing many other responsibilities. Through hard work, leadership and determination, Milner continues to represent what it means to shine, both in and out of the blue jacket.

Inspired to Join FFA

Milner was inspired to join FFA by family members who had been involved in the organization before him. Seeing the opportunities and activities available through FFA encouraged him to become a member.

“I was inspired to join FFA by my family that had been in it, and all the fun activities the chapter held,” Milner says. “The friends and memories I’ve made over the years are what keep me involved.”

Since joining, Milner has stayed active in the chapter, and he continues to take part in many different events and opportunities.

Leadership in the Chapter

As his chapter’s sentinel, Milner helps support chapter activities and ensures meetings and events run smoothly. Serving as an officer has also given him the opportunity to take on more responsibility and help guide younger members in the chapter.

Along with his officer role, Milner has competed on several varsity judging teams in different career development events over the past few years. These competitions have helped him gain valuable knowledge while also building teamwork and leadership skills.

Milner competed in Section 15 horse judging with his FFA chapter.

Balancing Life Outside of FFA

While FFA is a big part of his life, Milner is involved in many other activities as well. Outside of school and FFA, he enjoys spending time with family, playing football and participating in trap shooting.

Milner also stays busy with work. He runs his own lawn care company and works on two different farms. Additionally, he volunteers with two local fire departments and helps serve his community.

A busy day for Milner often begins early in the morning, with work before school, and continues after school, with more work, FFA activities or fire department training.

Managing a Busy Schedule

With so many responsibilities, learning how to manage time has become important for Milner. When events overlap, he looks at his schedule and decides what is most important at the time.

“One of the hardest parts is when multiple important events or meetings happen at the same time,” Milner says. “When that happens, I talk with my advisors and figure out which one I should attend.”

By communicating with his advisors, Milner works to stay responsible while keeping up with all of his commitments.

Growing Through FFA

FFA has helped Milner grow in many ways. Through leadership events, officer training and other opportunities, he has developed stronger communication, leadership and interview skills. One experience that had a big impact on him was attending the Ground Zero leadership conference at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

“My Ground Zero experience had a huge impact on me in leadership, friendship and communication,” Milner says. “I still keep the papers from that event and look over them from time to time.”

Pride in the Blue Jacket

For Milner, the blue jacket represents pride, honor and tradition. Wearing it reminds him of the members who came before him, and the legacy they created within the organization.

“When I put on the blue jacket, I think about the past members who wore it and the pride they had in representing FFA,” Milner says. It also reminds him of the family members who were involved in FFA before him and the example they set.

Milner at his chapter banquet.

Advice for Other Members

Balancing multiple activities can be difficult, but “don’t feel like you have to do everything perfectly,” Milner says. “Just focus on doing your best and learning from the experiences.”

Through dedication, leadership and hard work, Milner continues to show what it means to shine, both in and out of the blue jacket.