Greetings from the Crofton FFA! As the school year flies by, many members have found themselves busy with one event or another. Since the last issue of the Crofton News last fall, we have taken part in many activities and competitions.

 

The District Leadership Skills Events were held in Verdigre on December 6th. Nearly 400 FFA members from ten schools competed in the competition. Crofton members who participated did very well.  Megan Schiferl qualified for state in Senior Public Speaking.  Cody Zavadil was selected as the alternate to state in Job Interview, and Mollie Wilken was an alternate to state in Creed Speaking. We had various other people compete in these competitions also. Both Senior Parliamentary Procedure teams received blue ribbons, and the Junior Parliamentary Procedure teams placed fifth out of fourteen teams. The junior high FFA members also competed in the Jr. High Quiz Bowl competition.  Members also delivered the fruit, which community members ordered to help fund our annual activities.  In addition, members delivered fruit plates to residents of Cottonwood Villa.

 

In January, members cleaned up trash along a 2-mile stretch of Highway 121 in the Adopt-a-Highway program. We try to do our part to keep Crofton beautiful and the environment healthy.  On January 25th, members competed in the District Livestock Selection contest at the Northeast Community College Agriculture Complex. In all, there were 382 FFA members representing 3 districts in the competition. We were eligible to enter two senior and two junior teams.  One senior and one junior team qualified for state in Livestock Selection. The Sr. Team consisted of Andy Dreesen, T. J. Harmelink, Danny Kohles, and Ben Mueller. The Jr. Team consisted of Dacey Braunsroth, Joslyn Foxhoven, Austin Mann, and Mollie Wilken.

 

February was a busy month for members. On the 12th Ben Mueller, Jared Mann, Cullen Kohles and Rachel Kleinschmit traveled to Verdigre for State FFA Degree interviews and testing.  The State FFA Degree is one of the highest honors the Nebraska FFA Association can bestow upon their members.   On February 20th, members attended a Career Development Event in-service at Northeast Community College. On February 18-25 members organized fun activities for the high school students to get involved in during National FFA Week. Activities included FFA trivia questions, leadership challenges, super FFA member contest, drive-your-tractor-to-school day and agriculture occupations dress-up day. Members also delivered cookies to the Crofton businesses, and provided breakfast to school faculty and staff. The District IV Agricultural Education Contests were held February 28th at Northeast Community College.

 

 

There are ten schools in District IV, and the top three teams-only one team per contest per school can qualify for state competition. Crofton had 12 teams entered for contests.  Out of the twelve, eight teams qualified for state competition!  The results were as follows: Agricultural Sales team placed 4th, Agriscience teams 1 and 2 placed first and second, Agronomic Resources team placed 1st, our Envirothon team placed 1st in our district and 4th in the Region, Farm Business Management placed 1st, Floriculture placed 1st, Food Science team placed 3rd, Livestock Management placed 1st, and Nursery and Landscape placed 2nd. All together the chapter brought home 6 trophies and several individual gold medals!

 

In March, members attended the Tri-State Old Iron Association meeting at Jodean’s in Yankton, SD. At this meeting the association made a donation to the Crofton FFA Chapter.  Our chapter will operate a concession stand for participants in the cross-country tractor drive in July. State FFA convention was held March 28-31 in Lincoln, NE.  At the convention members competed in contests, attended leadership workshops, award ceremonies, motivational speakers, and other fun activities. We had several teams do very well at state. The Natural Resources team of Rachel Kleinschmit, Danny Kohles, Jared Mann, and Cody Zavadil earned 2nd place.  The Farm Business Management team of Maddy Larson, T.J. Harmelink, Amanda Kube, and Deanna Potts received 3rd place.  The Livestock Management team of Ashton Arens, Ben Mueller, Lakyn Schmidt, Matt Schroeder, Alex Tramp, and Morgan Wilken earned 1st place in Swine Management and 3rd place in Beef Management. Megan Schiferl earned a gold medal in Senior Public Speaking. Jared Mann was a State Star Finalist in Agricultural Placement.  He also earned 3rd place in his State Proficiency for Beef Production Placement.  Tony Pier performed in the Nebraska State FFA Honor Choir.  All four members who had previously applied, interviewed and tested were awarded their State FFA Degrees. Crofton earned six plaques and nine medals!  Members and sponsors of the Crofton FFA had a very educational and fun experience at state convention.  Crofton members definitely exhibited their “Blue Jackets – Gold Standards”, which was this year’s convention theme.

 

Coming up May 7th, the chapter will be hosting the annual banquet and awards ceremony, along with the selection of the new chapter officers.  The 2007-2008 chapter officers will soon begin their new adventures of representing our chapter.  Good luck to all of them!  On behalf of all the members of the Crofton FFA Chapter, have a safe and great summer!