The Lexington FFA Chapter

The Lexington FFA Chapter has hit the ground running this year with their new advisor, Whitney Davis. “This has been a very exciting and busy year for the Lexington FFA Chapter. We are celebrating our 75th Anniversary and doing it in a big way” said Advisor, Whitney Davis. The chapter started off their summer by helping with the local rodeo by parking cars, next hosting the annual petting zoo at the Dawson County Fair, and finishing their summer with an Officer Retreat.  Officers for the 2011-2012 school year include: Harrison Racek (President), Skyler Speer (secretary), Kody Kenton (Vice President), Terri Ansbach (Treasurer), Austin Roemmich (Reporter), Seth Kopf (Sentinel), Hugo Tobias (Student Advisor), Darcy Benjamin (Historian), and Ryan Reynolds (Chaplin). Junior Officers were elected on November 23rd, those officers include: Ross Rogers (President), Haley Rogers (Secretary), Eduardo Tecla (Vice President), Daniel Lopez (Treasurer), and Jose Tecla (Reporter).

“What is the groups pleasure?” said the President of the Lexington FFA Parliamentary Procedure team as they began. The team members consisted of Makenzie Hammond (President), Ross Rogers (Vice President), Erik Lemus (Secretary), Garrett Hill (Reporter), Haley Rogers (Treasurer), Eduardo Tecla (Parliamentarian), and Natalie Derrick (Sentinel). With faces flushed with red almost like they were painted. “We thought they were going to struggle, but they pulled through.” Ross Rogers. Few problems were made, and as it went on they became relaxed. Their faces came back to normal colors again. And they flew through the procedure like they could do it in their sleep.
Standing in front of two judges, sweat beading on his eyebrows, Avion Reed looked frightened from being alone like he was deserted on an island. But somewhere deep down inside you knew he could do it. As the speech went on you could hear his voice start to calm down and relax. The words flowed out so smooth it was like he knew it by heart and read it like a poet. His speech over Taxidermy ended just barely making time. When the questions came he knocked them dead.

 

Sub Districts

Sub Districts was held at Cambridge High School on November 21st at 7pm. The Parlimentary Procedure team and Avion Reed with his Natural Resource speech received bronze medals.  They did extremely well for being their first time competing in any FFA event. There were ten schools and over 230 students participating.  Standing with their heads held high with the utmost sophistication they showed that Lexington could do it to. Go Lexington FFA members!

IMPACT Workshop

IMPACT workshop is an annual workshop, run by the Nebraska State Officers, for ninth through twelth grade students. The IMPACT workshop was held at the NCTA Campus. The workshop brought about 250 FFA members from different districts. The purpose of IMPACT was for students to work on their leadership skills and make new friends. The whole group was split into several smaller groups where the state officers came and taught a different session about leadership and skill building activities. There were eight members from the Lexington FFA chapter that attended the workshop. Members have said they enjoyed making new friends and talking to different people from the chapters. IMPACT was a success and was a great way for members to bond and learn new leadership skills.

Labor Auction

The Lexington FFA Chapter hosted their annual Labor Auction on August 23rd 2011 in the high school cafeteria. We had an amazing turn out from all the local farmers, ranchers, and a few local businesses. Our chapter auctioned off 33 FFA members and advisor Ms. Davis. This was a great experience for our members to gain work experience and build relations with local farmers and ranchers. Our chapter raised around $5,400. The proceeds will go to funding chapter events on a local, district, state level, and national level. This event kicked off the celebration of our 75th year anniversary. To celebrate the chapter has purchased a Traeger Lil’ Texas Elite Grill and $200 of beef to raffle off. The raffle ends December 20, 2011.

 

Greenhouse

In the middle of September we began a long journey toward fixing your greenhouse. We received a grant that allowed us to raise our greenhouse four feet and made renovations to it. The students are working hard toward the completion of our greenhouse at this point in time. We have completed the raising process and now are working on re-leveling our floors with sand. We would also like to thank the Lexington Public School’s maintenance personnel in helping with getting our heat and electricity up and running, and they are currently working on cleaning up the outside of the greenhouse.  The things we have left to do consist of laying the ground cover, assembling our benches, and then we have to get our cooling and fertilizing system up and running. We expect to be planting in about late January and will be having an open house in early spring. We are currently working with CFI on getting community gardens up and running by the end of the school year. We hope that our help with the community gardens will help with the education of elementary students and help to bring our community together.
Land Judging

On October 5, 2011, Ms. Davis’s agriculture classes went to Alma for the Land Judging competition.  There were four sites that the students needed to judge; the students were also split into teams of four.  There was an adult division as well for the teachers.  We spent about two hours judging the land, which was new to most of us.  “We go out to a pasture and determine if the soil is good for planting crops on and the different characteristics of the soil in the pasture” Sophomore, Eduardo Tecla.

Mini Peak

This year our Lexington FFA chapter was able to participate in Broken Bows Mini Peak. Those who were able to go learned a lot from the speakers and leaders that were hosting the leadership camp. Activities that were part of the camp included informational games, bowling, speeches, and other fun activities. Many of the FFA students agreed that Mini peak was very informational, and something that they would like to do of their own in their chapter. The Mini Peak was a fun, and great experience that they would want to go back and enjoy. Those who went to the retreat were, Ross Rogers, Haley Rogers, Elliot Maguire, Jose Tecla, Jacob Mustard, Daniel Lopez, Darby Sarnes, and Avion Reed.

Husker Harvest Days

Husker Harvest Days (HHD) in Grand Island was a very fun learning experience. There were about 30 kids from the Lexington FFA that participated. We started the day off by doing a UNL scavenger hunt. In the hunt we had to locate different businesses and ask them about their company and what they do. Students learned several things at HHD. “My favorite part about HHD was getting out of school and getting to eat the Philly steak sandwiches for lunch” says Lexington FFA member Austin Roemmich.

Science Fair

In September, Lexington students were able to participate in an Ag. Science Day at the Dawson County Fairgrounds, hosted by Dawson County Extension. Those who were able to go to Lexington’s Ag. Science field day, agreed that it was both fun and educational.  “I believe everyone enjoyed going to learn in a fun way. There were many topics we learned about such as horses, internal structure of cattle, the structure of waterways and diversions etc, different types of soils and some college opportunities. I think that going to the field day was very educational for me “ Jessica Rodriguez.