Hello Oregon FFA! I am coming to you from Portugal, which I believe is the best place to send my final blog post as the Oregon FFA State Treasurer!

One of my favorite days of the year is Valentine’s Day. This is not because I get chocolates or flowers, but because it is the one of the only days out of the year that I am guaranteed to pick out what restaurant my family eats at for the night. Without fail, every single Valentine’s Day for the past 12 years I have got to pick out where we eat. You might be wondering why that is. On February 14th, 2012 I legally changed my last name to Seaholm. I was six years old, and I had just officially gained the father that I didn’t know at the time I needed. That was the day that I was legally adopted by my dad.

Since I can remember, my dad Erik-though not related to me by blood-has always been my Dad. He was the one that took me to school, held me while I cried, and taught me the importance of being someone who stays and works for what they want. Without him, I can confidently say that I would not be in the position that I am in today, but one of the biggest lessons that my dad taught me was the importance of asking nothing in return. When we do things for others, it is most likely in hopes that they will return your favor, even if we don’t want to admit that to ourselves. Throughout my life, my dad worked tirelessly everyday to make a living for his family, and on top of it came home and ran our farm into the late hours of the night. Each night when he came into the house, he did not ask us to be grateful or for praise. Now take a moment to think about it: who in your life does things for you and asks for nothing in return?

Dad, you are one of my biggest inspirations. Although I have never said it, and sometimes I fail to show it, you have never stopped loving me and treating me as your own from the first day that we have met. Thank you for never letting me question or doubt your love for me and your commitment to our family. Thank you for living for the family around you, and asking nothing in return. I couldn’t end off my year of service without highlighting the very person that taught me the meaning of the word service.

All my love,

Vivian Seaholm

2024-2025 Oregon FFA State Treasurer