By Taylor Hornickel, Reporter
The District Leadership Skills Events competition was held at the S-E-M High School on Wednesday, December 7th. This LSE competition gives FFA members the opportunity to compete, while at the same time enhancing leadership skills such as public speaking and job interview. Each member has the option to participate in a maximum of one team and one individual competition. Numerous members of the Ord FFA Chapter competed in these events. Competing in the Junior High Quiz Bowl were: Stephanie Vavra, Cody Proskocil, Robbie Peterson, Vanessa Ference, Cade Svoboda, Tanner Knight, Cassidy Gydesen, Cora Svoboda, and Allie Welniak. In the Natural Resources Speaking, Amanda Shepperd received a blue. Jordyn Knight was awarded the second place purple in Cooperative Speaking and earned the right to compete at the state level. Andi Shellhase received a red in the Junior Public Speaking. Johnny Ference received a blue in Senior Public Speaking. Dusty Staab and Taylor Hornickel both were awarded blues in Extemporaneous Speaking. In Employment Skills, Cody Drudik received a blue, with Dylan Miller recieveing second purple and the right to compete at the state level. Sydney Boden received a blue and Kenzie Drudik was alternate to state in the Creed Speaking. The Junior Parliamentary Procedure team of Quinton Miller, Cali Psota, Kenzie Drudik, Sydney Boden, Clinton O’neel, Megan Davis, and Nolan Grint received a red. In Agriculture Demonstration, the team of Macon Petska, Grant Welniak, Grant Gydesen, Brennan Lech, and Clint Kruml received a red. The Senior Parliamentary Procedure team of Johnny Ference, Taylor Hornickel, Dylan Miller, Dusty Staab, Cody Drudik, and Cole Svoboda were awarded the second purple and will compete at the state level. All state LSE events will take place during the Nebraska State FFA Convention, which will be held in Lincoln during the last week of March.
Eleven members of the Ord FFA Chapter, along with Mr. Bredthauer and Mrs. Kruml, attended this year’s National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado on January 12-15. These students included: Grady Gydesen, Austin Ries, Amanda Shepperd, Grant Gydesen, Cody Drudik, Jordyn Knight, Taylor Hornickel, Dylan Miller, Sydney Boden, Grant Welniak, and Clint Kruml. They spent their time exploring the stock show and watching livestock shows, sales, and various other events. In addition, they also enjoyed watching a rodeo, touring a welding factory, and taking a trip to the mountains. On January 16th, eight Ord FFA freshmen received the Chapter Degree. This is the highest degree a chapter can bestow on its’ members. Quinton Miller, Jason Johnson, Brennan Lech, Grant Welniak, Sydney Boden, Nolan Grint, Clinton O’Neel, and Clint Kruml earned this degree by meeting minimum qualifications as well as demonstrating increasing leadership skills. This degree makes them eligible to run for a chapter office.
District FFA Career Development Events, also known as CDEs, were held February 13th at Central Community College in Grand Island. This event had many different contests for students to compete in that strengthened skills in different agricultural career fields. A welding team consists of a MIG welder, and O-A welder, and an ARC welder. The welding team of Johnny Ference, Jason Felton, and Cody Krikac brought home first place in each category as well as the top team award. The floriculture team included Cali Psota, Andi Shellhase, Megan Davis, and Kenzie Drudik. The agronomy team was made up of Amanda Shepperd, Taylor Hornickel, Grady Gydesen, and Austin Ries with Taylor winning a purple individual ribbon. Livestock Management is a team event that tests students’ knowledge of beef, sheep, swine, horses, dairy, and poultry. The team of Dylan Miller, Dusty Staab, Jordyn Knight, Taylor Hornickel, Sydney Kruml, and Cody Drudik won second. The meats judging team included Kurtis Dawson, Brittney Bruha, and Amanda Shepperd. In the agriscience team of Nolan Grint, Clint Kruml, Brennan Lech, Clinton O’Neel, and Grant Welniak, Clinton received a white individual ribbon and Nolan recieved a red individual ribbon. The farm management team included Logan Buettgen back, Sydney Kruml, Sydney McKenney, and Cole Svoboda. The state competitions will be held at the Nebraska State FFA Convention in Lincoln the end of March.
