National FFA Week February 22-29, 2020
FFA MISSION FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
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To accomplish its mission, FFA:
• Develops competent and assertive agricultural leadership. • Increases awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being. • Strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work. • Promotes the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career. • Encourages achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs. • Encourages wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community. • Develops interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction. • Builds character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism. • Promotes cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people. • Promotes healthy lifestyles. • Encourages excellence in scholarship.
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FFA Special Edition - February 19, 2020 • Page 3
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Q&A’s from Albany/Avon officers starting on page 14
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Albany|Avon
The Albany/Avon FFA Chapter includes: (front row, from left) Bryce Frericks, Lucy Thelen, Makayla Gertken, Hannah Himsl, Alayna Kolb, Kallie Frericks, Hailey Frericks, Kalie Ritter, Selena Corona, Adrianna Salzer, Makayla Breth, Noah Hartung, Nate Rakotz; (second row) Cody Voigt, Ben Klasen, Kaci Ostendorf, Mya Rassier, Emily Breth, Myra Kotschevar, Leczi Fleischhacker, Veronica Maus, Lindsey Schwab, Grace Backes, Madison Stich, Lily Geise, Colton Klaphake, Jade Thompson, Oliver Berckes; (back row) Advisor Duane Lichy, Kristin Schwalbe, Avery Kompelien, Abe Hartung, Luke Sonnenberg, Luke Pachan, Mitchell Janssen, Austin Weber, Bethany Voigt, Advisor Amy Schneider.
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Belgrade|Brooten|Elrosa The BBE FFA chapter includes: (front row, from left) Hillary Prentice, Hannah Lien, Austin Klaphake, Nina Tensen, Tom Mastey, Joe Feldman; (second row) Olivia Thieschafer, Shelby Anderson, Maria Jackson, Elle Trowbridge, Tori Reed, Santos Sorenson, Jackie Lindsay, Nevada Feucht, Zach Radermacher, Evan Young, Tait Lindner; (third row) Annika Heieie, Isabella Graham, Tia Nelson, Nate Walstrom, Austin Walz, Logan Beecroft, Evan Jones, Dylan Kampsen, Nick Walstrom; (back row) Mason Commerford, Ethan Spanier, Teresa Heinze, Madison Strom, Abbey Schoumaker, David Dokken, Caleb Arceneau, Chris Imdieke.
The BBE FFA officers include: (front row, from left) Vice-President Nina Tensen, Treasurer Hannah Lien, Sentinel Hillary Prentice; (back row) Reporter Logan Beecroft, Secretary Joe Feldman, President Tom Mastey, Officer-at-Large Austin Klaphake.
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FFA Special Edition - February 19, 2020 • Page 5
PHOTO SUBMITTED Sauk Centre FFA Chapter members attended the National FFA Convention held Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 in Indianapolis. Pictured are (front) Vincent Marthaler; Back: Briana Middendorf, Julia Marthaler, April Marthaler, Sarah Middendorf, Alex Christen and Tyler Peters.
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SAUK CENTRE – In Indianapolis there is a large sign that speaks of the dedication of young people from all around the United States, those who are interested in a future tied to agriculture in its many forms and related fields. “There’s nothing better than seeing the national blue and corn gold ‘FFA Way’ sign,” Sarah Middendorf said Jan. 13 in the agriculture classroom at Sauk Centre Secondary School. Middendorf was referencing the moment when she and a group of students, along with their chapter advisor, saw the iconic
Today’s
seeds
symbol at the 2019 National FFA Convention Oct. 30 through Nov. 2. Heading up the trip was Tami Middendorf, a 2015 Sauk Centre High School and 2018 University of Minnesota graduate who began teaching in Sauk Centre in the fall of 2018. She teaches such classes as on-the-job training, careers, natural resource management, companion animals, animal science and food chemistry in addition to her role as the FFA advisor. On Jan. 13, Tami shared her national convention experiences
FFA way page 7
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FFA Special Edition - February 19, 2020 • Page 7
FFA way from page 5 along with her sister, Briana, who is a junior this year and vice president of the chapter. Sarah, a senior who is also the president of the chapter, is Tami and Briana’s cousin, all hailing from large agricultural families. Also joining them on the trip were fellow Sauk Centre chapter members Alex Christen, Tyler Peters, siblings Vincent and Julia Marthaler and their cousin, April Marthaler. Tami agreed with Sarah that seeing FFA Way was special. “They have a whole street they call FFA Way and they have FFA banners that hang down and when it’s nice out they have a parade, which was unfortunately cancelled this year due to rain,” Tami said. “They have the FFA band and choir perform. Someone from each state goes through and carries the flag and they march into the stadium. They actually do that before the first opening session.” It was a busy four days, with various workshops and activities. “It was more speakers and not classrooms,” Briana said. “They tried keeping you involved the whole time. Most of the time [we were] doing an activity, and involved with people from the different states.” One such workshop involved something young people particularly enjoy – making amateur music videos with the TikTok app. “We each got a different piece of paper with
something on it and you had to make a TikTok that pertained to that or that you could tie into it,” Sarah said. “We did a sweep of the room and a sweep of the guys showing off their ties, and the girls their heels and scarves. The last one was the different states.” Those videos can later be used on social media to promote the chapter. During another session, people from each state were called out. Autograph books were given out along with the challenge for students to get a signature from someone in every state. “It’s kind of a competition; there’s no prize, but something they have the kids do to meet new people,” Tami said. The four-day schedule was jam-packed from beginning to end, with highlights being a Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo, concerts by Old Dominion and Brett Young, a talent competition and the American FFA Degree Ceremony, something Tami particularly enjoyed. The American Degree is the highest honor achievable in the FFA organization. “I like to see the American Degree recipients on the last day. They go through and award the top recipients in the U.S. and it’s cool because kids can see they can do it, too,” she said. “That is something I didn’t do and I regret it. The last year I could have achieved it was the first year I taught here.” Meanwhile, Sarah has her State Degree and is planning on getting the American Degree, while
Briana is planning for her State Degree. Each of the young women had their own takeaways on the national convention. “It’s definitely something you won’t forget,” Briana said. “It isn’t that expensive and you can do fundraising in advance. I have been on other trips and you don’t quite experience the same thing.” Sarah looked forward most to the people she would meet. “I went there to meet new people and see what they do in FFA, and what the different chapters do,” she said. “It’s crazy to see how many people are there and how many from each state. It’s a great experience. Even on our bus ride down there were people from towns only 10-30 minutes away and you never knew they existed but you spend 15 hours one way with them, you get to know them pretty well.” Tami looked forward to seeing the students benefit. “I like to see the kids have fun. I like to see them go to the workshops and ask them what they have learned,” she said. Each year, more than 30,000 FFA members gather to compete, make connections and explore possible future careers. Back home, those careers that might be discussed while bowling, having ice cream at a local shop or sitting around a bonfire – with friends they met on a bus to Indiana. That’s the FFA way.
PHOTO SUBMITTED Tyler Peters (from left), Vincent Marthaler, Alex Christen, Sarah Marthaler, April Marthaler, Julia Marthaler, Briana Middendorf and Tami Middendorf attend a rodeo event at the 2019 National FFA Convention held Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 in Indianapolis.
Celebrating area FFA students! Wishing all area FFA students a wonderful National FFA Week! CHS is a proud supporter of youth agriculture programs, including FFA. Visit our website to learn about project funding opportunities for your chapter. © 2020 CHS Inc.
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Melrose FFA members grow as leaders, build communities and strengthen agriculture. During FFA Week, we share stories of how our chapters, our members, our local agriculturists, and our supporters have impacted communities, agriculture, and FFA by living the FFA motto: Learning to Do. Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.
The Melrose FFA Chapter includes: (front row, from left) Grace Herdering, Emma Rohe, Dan Frericks, Drew Pundsack, Jaiden Smith, Olivia Harren, Lila Kimmes, Blaise Welle, Ivy Kalthoff; (second row) Maretta Van Beck, Ella Harren, Alyssa Scherping, Katie Rohe, Victoria Blonigen, Jessica Danzel, Natalie Wilerdering, Abigail Wilwerding, Katrina Price; (third row) Carter Roerick, Quentin Van Beck, Karlyann Boecker, Hunter Feldewerd, Brooks Holdvogt, Tanner Goebel, Trevor Blonigen, Bailey Van Havermaet, Blake Welle; (back row) Briana Maus, Amber Roerick, Casey Klein, Meghan Pundsack, April Rademacher, Erika Doetkott
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FFA Special Edition - February 19, 2020 • Page 11
Showing award-winning
goats
Klein uses FFA A skills to increase success with small herd by SARAH COLBURN | Staff Staff writer
NEW MUNICH – Seventeen-year-old Casey Klein has his own goat herd of more than a dozen goats in a little red barn in New Munich. Nubians, Oberhaslis and a Saanen. He cares for them with the support of his family. They’re not just livestock to the area teen; they each have a personality and a name and he knows each of their quirks. They’re also award-winning animals, earning Champion Nubian at the Minnesota State Fair for 4-H and Reserve Champion at the Stearns County Fair. “Sometimes their sassy attitude gets in the way but I just love them,” Klein said. “They just want to be around you.” Klein is also a member of the Melrose FFA Chapter and his work with the organization has helped him stay on top of the medical needs of his animals and has taught him leadership and responsibility. Not only has the now senior served as an FFA officer since the ninth grade, he also worked in the Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair. He applied to the volunteer job through FFA and had the opportunity to visit one-on-one with veterinarians. He learned not only about the birthing process but about animal nutrition and complications. At school, through his FFA advisors, he’s furthered his animal nutrition knowledge and even learned how to give injections. Many of those skills come in handy in his work with his goat herd. As Klein moves about the barn doing chores, his herd follows. They know where he is, they watch him, waiting for his affection and jostling each other to get just a little closer to his hand for a quick pet or a rub. Every morning he wakes, heads to the barn, feeds the goats, gives them a pat and heads to school. He returns from school, has a snack, goes to work on a nearby dairy farm and then returns home to
Goats page 2
PHOTO BY SARAH COLBURN OLBURN Casey Klein walks his goat, Percy, outside the barn Jan. 6 on his family’s farm near ear New Munich. Percy’s one of Klein’s mostt loving goats and is always up for extra attention. ntion.
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FFA Special Edition - February 19, 2020 • Page 13
Goats from page 11 PHOTOS BY SARAH COLBURN Casey Klein laughs as his goat, Taki, approaches looking for attention.
spend some more time with the goats, feeding them, bedding them and checking them out. For reproduction, the goats are bred naturally without the use of artificial insemination. Currently, 10 of his 13 goats are pregnant, each expecting twins this March and April. Kidding season is his favorite time of the year. “When you walk in the barn and see its little head peek out with its floppy ears,” he said. “Or, you get to see that animal be born, you get to see life.” When the kids are newborns, Klein will be in the barn feeding four times a day for the first two weeks and then three times a day for the weeks after that. He gets support from his parents and his brother, though Klein is the one responsible for ensuring the animals are properly cared for. Klein takes extra steps to participate in their care because he shows his goats in local and state competitions. Most of his herd is registered and he feeds the kids himself to ensure the mammary systems of his goats remain intact for judging. To train for judging, Klein works with the animals, leading them on a training collar and encouraging them to stand for competition. Judges look not only at the body of the animal but at the traits for the breed, for example long, pendulous ears on Nubians. Klein leases his goats to 4-H students for showing and judging. Additionally, he focuses on genetics in his herd, looking at the history of the animal’s lineage and choosing traits he’d like them to have. The first two goats that began his herd he purchased from a farm in Foley. “You can’t just have two; it’s just multiplied from there,” he said. The money he earns at the dairy farm and occasional lifeguarding during the summer months goes back into the goats. His parents do assist with feed or hay when he needs it. Klein’s mom grew up on a farm and has always been comfortable around animals. His dad, he said, loves the kids and bottle feeds the babies who occasionally nibble on his beard. Klein learned to care for his goats with the help of skills he learned from his mother and his aunt and uncle who farmed goats for 18 years. He has also taken some of the skills he’s learned at competition and on the dairy farm and adapted them to his herd. “You learn from them,” he said. Klein takes a lot of pride in his goats and said though having his own herd is a challenge, he has a lot of support and the end result is well worth it. FFA has been worth it as well. “You have so many opportunities to learn through FFA,” Klein said. “You can put all the (information) together and it will help you through the rest of your life.”
Desiree poses for a close-up while having a little snack.
Snow (left), Ethel (right) and Titan (top center) mill about the barn, looking over the fence and out to the yard beyond.
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FFA Special Edition - February 19, 2020 • Page 15
NATIONAL FFA WEEK F E B R U A R Y
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ALBANY FFA OFFICERS A TEAM EFFORT SELENA CORONA
Grade 11 Parents: Kelly Corona & Ross Lemke How long have you been in FFA, and why did you join? Two years. I have always had an interest in the organization, and my friend informed me about the horse judging CDE. I thought that CDE was just perfect for me because I love horses, and have had experience with them all my life. What officer position do you hold? Historian is my current position, and the first I have held. What are your responsibilities? Collecting records or pictures of events and accomplishments that have occurred within the year, then compiling them into our chapter scrapbook at the end of the year. What projects/competitions have you been involved in? Crops, Horse Judging, Parliamentary Procedure and Extemporaneous speaking. How has FFA helped you to become the person you are today? FFA has shown me how important agriculture really is to our community, and how easy it is to contribute my help to our agricultural community. FFA has inspired me to never stop striving for my goals, and has also given me the skills I need to continue working towards these goals. What do you enjoy the most about FFA? Meeting new people and gaining more skills through CDEs and LDEs. I love the events that are put on by our organization and how easy it is to meet new people. What are your post-high school plans? I plan on attending The University of Minnesota Twin Cities to go for my Bachelor of Science degree in pre-veterinary science and then go to veterinary school. Once I graduate from vet school I plan on going into a mixed practice with mainly large animals, located somewhere in Stearns County.
MAKAYLA BRETH Grade 12 Parents: Jerry & Tammy Breth How long have you been in FFA, and why did you join? I have been in FFA since my freshman year. I was inspired by my older brother and sister
to join. What officer position do you hold? During my junior year, I proudly served as the chapter’s Historian, and this year I was given the opportunity to serve as the chapter’s Vice President. What are your responsibilities? As Historian, 2018-19, it was my responsibility to organize the chapter scrapbook. Every event and competition that happened from April 2018 to April 2019 was covered in the book. In April, when the scrapbook is completed, it gets entered into a contest with other scrapbooks from different chapters in our region. Albany is part of Region 3. Right now as Vice President, it is my responsibility to overlook the work of each committee. When a committee is made, the chair and the members set a date to meet. My job is to make sure they are accomplishing their task in a timely manner, without stepping on their toes. What projects/competitions have you been involved in? I have competed in three different Career Development Events (CDEs): Nursery and Landscape for two years, Milk Quality, Meats, and one Leadership Development Event (LDE) Parliamentary Procedure, and this year I am competing in Discussion Meet and Agricultural Mechanics. How has FFA helped you to become the person you are today? Before I joined FFA I was a very shy and quiet person. FFA has helped me talk to people, from people my age to adults I don’t know. There are many opportunities FFA has given me, and FFA has expanded my horizons more than what I’ll ever be consciously aware of. What do you enjoy the most about FFA? I enjoy people’s excitement, about FFA and agriculture as a whole. Selling FFA fruit is one of my favorite times because I get to go talk to so many people, and everyone who buys is always happy. Not only that but also the staff and students at Albany. When we are planning an event the staff is more than happy when we need their help. For example, I am planning the third annual breakout rooms, and we need rooms to host them in. I talked to the teachers and all of them were filled with excitement and willingness to help me. One teacher even told me it now gives her a reason to organize
her room. The students get involved with our activities, and for some, they look forward to them. Over the years that I have been in FFA, I have seen the community, FFA members, students and staff come together to create wonderful things. I could not thank everyone enough. What are your post-high school plans? As of now, I am undecided what I want to do, so instead of going to college next year, I am going to enter different careers in fields of agriculture.
HANNAH HIMSL
Grade 12 Parents: Frank & Karla Himsl How long have you been in FFA, and why did you join? Four years; I joined because it was something I wanted to do, plus, many of my friends were in it. What officer position do you hold? I currently hold the Secretary position, and I previously held the Sentinel position What are your responsibilities? I keep an accurate record of all meetings. I keep member attendance records and I strive to keep members involved and informed. What projects/competitions have you been involved in? I’ve competed in Parliamentary Procedure, Horse, and Nursery and Landscaping. I also participated in a few committees in our chapter. How has FFA helped you to become the person you are today? FFA has taught me to be a better leader by allowing me to hold an officer position. It also has taught me communication and teamwork through my CDEs (Career Development Events) and LDEs (Leadership Development Events). What do you enjoy the most about FFA? FFA has brought many new friends and connections into my life that I will forever be grateful for. What are your post-high school plans? After graduation, I will be attending a private four-year college working to obtain my Pre-Med degree and from there, continue my education at medical school to obtain my medical degree and license in pediatric care.
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FFA Special Edition - February 19, 2020 • Page 16
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