Yet, I get nervous introducing myself to the pig farmer.
What’s up with that?
Please share your stories of meeting the icons of FIRST.
Perhaps the reason, is that the Pig Farmer produces something very useful, and is likely to have a no-nonsense, plain-spoken personality that focuses in public and in private on results rather than on slogans and empty platitudes?
Meeting the icons of FIRST = “Busy” and “They put their pants (or pantsuits) on one leg at a time.”
I met Dean because my friend speed-walked through the pits, pulled my arm, and yelled “DEAN KAMEN’S HERE!” in my face while (safely) dragging me out of the pits so that we could get a picture with him. He signed my safety captain button 
…after he gave us an elevator speech about the alumni tracking site.
I met FiM president François Castaing because he came by my pit. He found our minibot very cool, and our minibot team had the time of their lives explaining exactly how it worked. He and a VIP spent a while in/by our pit, and “busy” is not a word that I would use to describe their schedule.
I met Dave Lavery because I turned around after a match at IRI and he was talking to my roommate. Talk about unexpected.
I’m going to stop there, since at this point it turns into personal icons, and there aren’t really any exciting stories there. I wish I could have met Woodie or any of the celebrities (wil.i.am, Morgan Freeman) in St. Louis this year, but it just didn’t happen.
Are you talking about Andy Baker? 
He is one of the coolest mentors you will meet in FIRST. I am glad I took the initiative to speak to him in person 8 years ago. Nervousness and shyness is something one has to overcome over time. They are human; not only they will engage into a conversation with you, every single time you speak to them, you will learn something new.
Jack,
It could be that you don’t care if you ever see the kings in the future but you seriously care about seeing Andy in the future. A one time encounter is much different than a multi-year relationship. It carries a lot more investment.