Brokaw FFA Members Excel at 94th Iowa State FFA Leadership Conference
Twenty-seven high school and seventeen middle school Brokaw FFA members of Clarinda along with advisors Andy Johnson, Emma Cutler, and Logan Henry, and chaperones Megan Wright and Jen Comer, recently attended the 94thIowa State FFA Leadership Conference held April 11-12 at the Iowa State University 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 thirteen different Career Development Events or Leadership Development Events at the conference. The Parliamentary Procedure team, Creed Speaking contestant, Chapter Website contestant, Extemporaneous Speaking contestant, Public Speaking contestant, Ag Sales contestant, and Ag Impact team competed at the state level after moving on from the sub-district and district levels. The Parliamentary Procedure team, consisting of Grant Barr, Amelia Hesse, Presley Jobe, Dalton Wright, and Bailey Nordyke received a Gold rating and was named State Runner-Up. The Ag Impact team, consisting of Elle Nothwehr, Lexi Clark, Mataya Eighmy, Rylee Pulliam, Stevie Wilmes, and Adysen Hester received a Silver rating and 4th place in the state. Our Creed Speaker, Kaylee Smith, received a Gold rating. Jason Wright competed in the Extemporaneous Speaking event and received a Silver rating. Phoebe Garrett competed in the Public Speaking event and received a Gold rating. Brooklyn Harris competed in the Chapter Website event, receiving a Gold rating. Colby Carlson competed in the Ag Sales competition, receiving a Gold rating and 3rd place in the state. Callie King and Riley Nothwehr competed in the Greenhand Quiz contest, with both receiving a Silver rating. Adam Johnson, Nathan King, Owen Johnson, and Brevin Coston competed in the Farm Business Management event, earning a Gold rating. McKenna Yearington, Jordyn McQueen, and Chloe Strait competed in the Marketing Plan CDE, earning a Silver rating. The chapter display, completed by Paige McCoy and Brodie Miller, earned a Gold rating. Our Ag Sales Team competed in the Ag Sales CDE, receiving a Gold rating and 10th place out of 79 teams. The team consisted of Allyson Johnson, Colbie Wilmes, Jadyn Sunderman, and Quinn Durfey. The chapter scrapbook, submitted by Allyson Johnson and Phoebe Garrett, received a Silver rating.
Aly Meier and Brooke Meyer served as delegates for the business session held and voted for next year’s state officers.
Jason Wright and Colby Carlson completed proficiency award applications in two different areas. Colby’s Turfgrass Management proficiency received a Gold rating and 2nd place in the state, and Jason’s Beef Production proficiency received a Silver rating. The proficiency award program recognizes members for their outstanding SAE projects in over 40 different areas.
Five Brokaw members received their Iowa FFA Degree, which is the highest degree bestowed upon a member at the state level. Those members were Adam Johnson, Allyson Johnson, Phoebe Garrett, Brevin Coston, and Owen Johnson.
Phoebe Garrett served on the Courtesy Corps as part of her duties as a member of the Southwest District FFA Officer team.
The Brokaw Chapter was recognized as a Supreme National Chapter with a Gold rating and a thirteenth-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 sixteenth 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.
Seventeen middle school Brokaw FFA members participated in a middle school leadership workshop conducted by visiting state FFA officers. The workshop focused on communication skills, setting and reaching goals, and supporting others. Brokaw FFA middle school members attending included: Rylee Pulliam, Mataya Eighmy, Adysen Hester, Stevie Wilmes, Elle Nothwehr, Lexi Clark, Hannah Comer, Addison Dow, Jalon Olson, Jayka Mark, Taylor Rasmussen, Gabby Derry, Katelyn Darrah, Richlyn Muff, Elaina Hesse, AJ Woods, Blakely Ridnour, and Haidyn Garrett.
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, along with Adam Gregg, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. Former Iowa FFA member and news anchor of KCCI 8 News This Morning, Eric Hanson, was the keynote speaker. Members also participated in the Meals from the Heartland program, in which members packaged 864 meals, and attended leadership workshops and the career show as well.
Captions for pictures:
Pic 1168: Colby Carlson placed 3rd in the Ag Sales Event and 2nd in the Turfgrass Management Proficiency award area.
Pic 1059: Brokaw members receiving their Iowa FFA Degrees were, left to right: Owen Johnson, Allyson Johnson, Phoebe Garrett, Brevin Coston, and Adam Johnson.
Pic 1163: Brokaw members placing 2nd in the Parliamentary Procedure event were, left to right: Dalton Wright, Bailey Nordyke, Presley Jobe, Amelia Hesse, and Grant Barr.