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Brokaw FFA Members Excel at 91-Iowa State FFA Leadership Conference

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Brokaw FFA Members Excel at 91^st Iowa State FFA Leadership Conference

            Twenty-eight Brokaw FFA members of Clarinda along with advisor Andy Johnson, student teacher Nicole Craig, and chaperones Kasey Herzberg and Megan Wright, recently attended the 91^st Iowa State FFA Leadership Conference held April 15-16 at the Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa.  Members were involved in numerous activities throughout the convention that helped develop leadership and teamwork skills.

            Brokaw members attending competed in nine different Career Development Events at the conference.  The Parliamentary Procedure team, Ag Sales contestant, Chapter Program team, Extemporaneous Speaking contestant, and Conduct of Meetings team competed at the state level after moving on from the sub-district and district levels. The Parliamentary Procedure team, consisting of Lanie Garrett, Anna DeGroot, Kristen Smith, Shayla Harris, Jalyn Sharr, and alternates Tanley Bebout  and Madelyn Pulliam, received a Gold rating. The Conduct of Meetings team, consisting of Hailee Knight, Colbie Wilmes, Grant Jobe, Logan Green, Jason Wright, Aubrey Herzberg, and Jadyn Sunderman received a Gold rating and was named State Champion, qualifying the team for the national competition next fall at the Natioanl FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chapter Program team, consisting of Darah Gray, Taylor Wedemeyer, and Bryn Morgenstern, received a Gold rating and placed 3^rd.  Ethan Herzberg competed in the Extemporaneous Speaking event receiving a Gold rating and also placed 3^rd. Kari VanNostrand competed in the Public Speaking event and received a Bronze rating. Alana Stickler and Hailee Knight competed in the Greenhand Quiz contest, with both receiving a Silver rating.  Dalton Brown, Dagen Price, Cooper Williams, and Lane Mellencamp competed in the Farm Business Management event, earning a Bronze rating.  The chapter display earned a Gold rating and a top ten finish in the state.  Finally, our Ag Sales Team competed in the Ag Sales CDE, receiving a Gold rating and 16^th place out of 73 teams. The team consisted of Brett Robberts, Brady Williams, Ethan Fast, and Alex Baker. Taylor Wedemeyer and Darah Gray became the first three-time state place winners for the Brokaw FFA chapter in a state leadership speaking event.

            Lane Mellencamp and Dagen Price served as delegates for the business session held and also voted for next year’s state officers.  Jefferey Fidler participated in the State FFA Band as well.

            Brady Williams received a Gold rating in state competition for his proficiency award area that moved on to the state level from district competition.  The proficiency award program recognizes members for their outstanding SAE projects in over 40 different areas.  Brady was named State Champion in the Landscape Management proficiency area and his proficiency application will now move on to the national level.

            Five Brokaw members received their Iowa FFA Degree, which is the highest degree bestowed upon a member at the state level.  Those members were Dalton Brown, Bradlie Wilmes, Lane Mellencamp, Cooper Williams, and Ethan Herzberg.

The Brokaw Chapter was recognized as a Supreme National Chapter with a Gold rating and a twelfth place finish in the state in this award program.  The National Chapter Award program is based on activities conducted in the areas of Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture.  This marks the thirteenth year in a row that the Brokaw FFA Chapter has finished with a Gold rating in the National Chapter Award program with the application moving on to the national level.

            Other activities members were involved in included attending general sessions, where awards were handed out and speakers gave motivational and educational speeches to the members.  Speakers included Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, and keynote speaker Matt Stutzman, the “Armless Archer,” whose message included overcoming obstacles and persevering. Members also attended leadership workshops and the career show as well.