The Stanton FFA Chapter has had a good year. This past summer the chapter took part in the Stanton 4th of July Celebration along with the Stanton County Fair. Several Students also represented the chapter well at the State Fair in Grand Island. During the Fall the chapter took part in Dairy Judging along with Land Judging and they also attended IMPACT Leadership Conference. In November the chapter sold fruit to the community along with attended District 3 Leadership Skills Events. The chapter had a good showing at all of the contests during the fall. Kelcey Huntley won the Senior Division at Dairy Judging.
This winter, the Stanton FFA chapter has participated in many activities. In January, several chapter members took part in District 3 Livestock Judging contest where they evaluated cattle, sheep, and hog in both the market and breeding aspects. The following students participated in Junior and Senior Livestock Judging contest in Norfolk. The junior team consisted of Rachel Shafer, Braska Patterson, Courtney Schellpeper, and Ben Novotny. The senior team consisted of Dexter Patterson, Eric McCarthy, Beth Kethcart, and Kelcey Huntley.
In February, students throughout the school participated in National FFA week. On Sunday the chapter teamed up with the Stanton FFA Alumni to kick-off the week with their annual FFA Pancake Feed which was held at the VFW in Stanton. On Monday, students wore boots and hats to school, Tuesday was drive your tractor to school day in which eight students drove their tractors to school. There was anything from old an old Farmall to Oliver’s to John Deere to New Holland’s. On Wednesday, the members held a pancake feed at school for the teacher’s showing the appreciation the chapter has for what they do. Thursday was camouflage day with Friday as Official Dress day. The chapter held a coloring contest with the elementary students and the top 3 students in each grade receiving a prize. The members also had CDE contest where members participated in the following contests: Ag sales, Agriscience, Floriculture, Welding, and Livestock Management. The following students participated in CDE contest. Sam Oestreich, Rachel Shafer, Braska Patterson, Courtney Schellpeper, Julia Brandl, Shannon Pestel, Sydney Schellpeper, Kylea Pestel, Justin Bowers, Eric McCarthy, Ben Novotny, Dexter Patterson, Dan Hekrdle, and Cole Beyke. Both the welding and Ag sales, along with three proficiencies made by Beth Kethcart qualified for state. The proficiencies that qualified were Equine Science, Beef Production, and Diversified Livestock Production, and they were all entrepreneurship. The remaining contests missed qualifying for state by only a few points. During US92’s ST. Jude’s Radio-a-thon the chapter stopped by the studio and made a donation to help out!
State FFA convention is the next event that some members of the chapter will attend will be state convention at the end of March. A total of 18 students will represent Stanton down in Lincoln. These members will take part in Welding, Ag Sales, and Ag Issues contests. They are able to attend Leadership Seminars, listen to guest speakers, attend a career fair, and tour UNL campus.
