Sandy Creek FFA members hit the ground running in January. FFA members traveled to the Aurora Youth Leadership Center for our district’s Leadership Skills Events competition. Erika Harms and Emmet Caldwell placed first and second respectively in the Creed division. Kaydee Caldwell placed first in Senior Public Speaking and Jordon Harms placed first in Cooperative Speaking. The Agriculture Demonstration team of Ryan Pavelka, Natasha Anderson and Matt Rohrer placed fourth while Caleb Schlick, Trevor DeVries, Brady Shipley and Brett Peshek placed second. The individuals and teams which placed first and second went on to compete at the State Competitions.
In February, the FFA chapter had an eventful National FFA week by hosting activities such as teacher appreciation, petting zoo and planting tomato plants with the elementary, Ag Olympics and topped off the week by attending the Made for Excellence and Advanced Leadership Development Conferences in Kearney. The chapter also had four members apply and interview for their State FFA Degrees. Jared Taylor, Quentin Skarin, Jordon Harms and Brett Peshek all successfully met the obligations of the degree and received their degrees at the State FFA Convention.
In March, FFA members geared up for District 6 Career Development Events. Sandy Creek members participated in Ag Sales, Agriscience, Livestock Management and Ag Welding competitions. The Ag Sales, Agriscience and Livestock Management Teams all placed first in their competitions and the Ag Welding team placed sixth. FFA members also helped out the SC FFA Alumni group in March by providing labor during the Alumni Consignment Auction held in Fairfield. The alumni group hosted the auction for the second year to help raise funds for FFA members.
At the end of March, 25 FFA members traveled to Lincoln for the State FFA Convention. These members qualified in a minimum of one event. The Livestock Management Team of Brady Shipley, Brett Peshek, Trevor DeVries, Jared Taylor, Chase Murman and Brianna Walker placed second overall with plaques earned in Beef- 3rd, Dairy-1st, Sheep-2nd and Poultry-1st. The team will travel to Indianapolis this fall to complete in the Poultry Evaluation CDE competition representing Nebraska. The Agriscience Team of Erika Harms, Colton Shuck, Ryan Pavelka and Natasha Anderson placed 1st with Ryan Pavelka winning top individual and Natasha Anderson placing as third high individual. The Agriculture Sales Team of Kaydee Caldwell, Quentin Skarin, Jordon Harms and Scott Hild placed first and will compete in the National Competition this fall in Indianapolis representing Nebraska. Kaydee Caldwell received 9th high individual and Quentin Skarin placed 7th high individual. In the area of public speaking, Erika Harms received a silver medal in Creed Speaking and Emmet Caldwel received a gold medal in Creed Speaking. Kaydee Caldwell received a silver medal in Senior Public Speaking and Jordon Harms also received a silver in Cooperative Speaking. The Ag Demonstration Team of Caleb Schlick, Trevor DeVries, Brady Shipley and Brett Peshek received a bronze plaque. Lastly, the chapter received a silver rating on the Superior National Chapter Award as well as received the Govenor’s Excellence Award.
Chapter members are rounding out their year by preparing the produce garden and growing geraniums as well as hanging baskets for their annual plant sale. The Sandy Creek chapter will have 200 geraniums in red, white and hot pink for sale at the end of April as well as beautiful and full hanging baskets. Members will also complete the installation of their new hoop house and transplant started vegetable plants into the ground by mid April. The chapter will be selling fresh produce again this summer at the Hastings Farmers Market. Produce will include lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, sweet corn, radishes, potatoes, cut flowers, onions and beets.
