Fruit Sale On Now!

Posted on October 16, 2013 by WCFFA

**UPDATE – the fruit sale has ended, thank for your support.

The West Central Fruit Sale is now on!  Choose from Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangeloes, D’Anjou Pears and 4 varieties of Apples.  We also feature cheese, sausage and 7 flavors of Butter Braid frozen pastry dough.  New this year is a Bavarian Cream Butter Braid with Chocolate Icing! All proceeds help the members of the West Central FFA Chapter to develop their potential for Premier Leadership, Personal Growth and Career Success. Please place your order by November 13, 2013.  Delivery will take place during the week of December 2, 2013.

Fruit

We are also providing the option to make a donation and become a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Forever Blue Sponsor of the West Central FFA Chapter.  Forever Blue Sponsors donate an FFA Jacket for a member.  Please find that option at the bottom of the form.

**UPDATE – the fruit sale has ended, thank for your support.

 

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Teams Advance to Nationals

Posted on September 5, 2013 by WCFFA

The West Central FFA Chapter will send members to Louisville, KY., as they vie for national honors in the areas of Agricultural Communications and Agricultural Issues.  Competitions will take place during the National FFA Convention October 29 – November 3, 2013.

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Ag Communications Team from left to right: Rachel Kapperman, Cassie Wilebski, Kaitlyn Schmeichel

FFA members who will represent the state and chapter in the Ag Communications CDE include Rachel Kapperman, Kaitlyn Schmeichel and Cassie Wilebski.  The event supports student development of sound communication principles to become strong assets to the agriculture industry in the future.

The Agricultural Communications CDE (Career Development Event) is one of 25 national CDEs, covering job skills in everything from communications to mechanics.  The three-member team is challenged in all areas of the agricultural communications field.  Participants attend a press conference, utilize information gathered in a team activity and complete individual practicums in design, electronic media and writing.  Students are also tested on editing and other communications skills.  CDEs help students develop the abilities to think critically, communicate clearly and perform effectively in a competitive job market.

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Members of the Ag Issues Team from left to right: Rachel Schartz, Jared Blume, Dean Knuth, Sara Waldner, Maty Skinner, Taylor Bergeson and Anthony Lueth
 

West Central FFA members will also represent the state in the National Ag Issues Forum. Members of the Ag Issues team include Taylor Bergeson, Jared Blume, Dean Knuth, Anthony Lueth, Rachel Schartz, Maty Skinner and Sara Waldner.  Event participants identify, research and present information on an agricultural issue relevant to their community, thus creating an inherent connection between the members and their presentation.  FFA members present on a current issue facing agriculture to local community groups prior to competing  at the national event.  In their presentation, members must address all sides of their issue allowing the audience to form their own opinions.

West Central FFA members earned their berth to the national competition by winning their respective state CDE during the 2012-13 school year. This is the first year that an Ag Issues team from West Central will compete on the national level.  The chapter has sent teams to the National Ag Communications CDE in 2006, 2009 and 2012. The Ag Issues and Communications teams are coached by West Central FFA Advisor and Agricultural Education Instructor Linda Petersen.

 

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Five Earn Highest Degree

Posted on September 4, 2013 by WCFFA

Shannon Miller, Joe Schartz, Riley Olson, Melinda Knuth and Connor Miles, members of the West Central FFA Chapter will be awarded the American FFA Degree during the 86th National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY in October. Earning the degree means they are among a select group of individuals to be recognized for years of academic and professional excellence.

The American FFA Degree is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an FFA member.  Roughly 3500 members will be awarded the degree during the National FFA Convention.  This represents one half of one percent of all members.  The American FFA recognizes demonstrated leadership ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs.  To be eligible, members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they start, own, or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise.  Recipients must also make it their mission to demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement.

Miller, Schartz, Olson, Knuth and Miles of approximately 3,500 members out of more than  540,379 FFA members to earn the degree.  The American FFA Degree recognition program is sponsored by Case IH, DTN, Farm Credit, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Syngenta.  Their FFA Advisor is Linda Petersen.

 

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Nine to be awarded state’s highest honor

Posted on March 12, 2013 by WCFFA

Nine WCFFA members will be awarded the State FFA Degree.  The State Degree is the highest award that can be bestowed upon a member at the state level.  Those earning the degree are Nick Catrett, Kassie Boysen, Jorry Lammers, Kailey Kuhnert, Matt VanDerWerff, Maty Skinner, Anthony Even, Anthony Lueth and Angelo Barbaruolo.  The Degree will be awarded during the South Dakota State FFA Convention this coming April on the campus of SDSU.

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2012 State Leadership CDE Results

Posted on January 7, 2013 by WCFFA

The South Dakota FFA Association hosted 446 FFA members from across South Dakota at the 2012 State FFA Leadership Career Development Events (CDE) on Dec. 2-3 in Pierre, S.D. These FFA members advanced to the state level competition by placing first or second at their district competitions. At the State Leadership Career Development Events, members and chapters were recognized for their success in 10 leadership areas. Winning teams and individuals advance to compete in their Career Development Event areas at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky next fall. South Dakota State Senate Democratic Leader Jason Frerichs addressed FFA members at the awards luncheon Monday afternoon. Frerichs shared the importance of agriculture and encouraged FFA members to be advocates for the industry.

Job Interview challenges FFA members to complete a job application, write a letter of application, participate in an actual interview and compose a follow-up letter.  Rachel Schartz placed second.

In Ag Issues, a team of 3-7 students discuss the pros and cons of a major agricultural issue facing their area.  The team from West Central captured first place and will advance to national competition with their issue “Should federal school lunch regulations be repealed?”  Team members are Maty Skinner, Anthony Lueth, Taylor Bergeson, Jared Blume, Dean Knuth, Rachel Schartz and Sara Waldner.

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The West Central FFA Chapter is composed of students enrolled in an Agricultural Science Class and is advised by Linda Petersen.  The chapter was well represented by 16 members competing int he State Leadership CDEs.

 

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Rachel Schartz wins the BIG Idea Competition

Posted on January 7, 2013 by WCFFA

The 6th Annual BIG Idea Competition was a BIG success with 207 entries involving 299 students from 30 schools. The event wrapped up Thursday, December 6th, on the campus of Northern State University and the winners were determined from among the eight final entries with over $5,000 in cash and scholarships awarded.

Rachel Schartz from West Central High School took first place with Canning Coaches.  Her prizes included a $1,000 cash prize from Absolutely!Aberdeen, a $1,000 scholarship to  NSU, and a $1,000 scholarship to Presentation College. Second place went to Austin Lentsch of Pierre T.F. Riggs High School for AJ’s Cakery Bakery with a prize of $500 cash, $500 Presentation College scholarship and $500 NSU scholarship. The $250 third place prize went to Alexander Thomason of Sioux Falls Washington High School for Braced With Style.

The final event required finalists to make a 1 minute elevator pitch and a 5 minute presentation on their idea for the three final judges.  After the presentations, all participants were invited to a panel discussion with Nathan Gellhaus of Angelhaus Regional Basic Care Center and Cory Geffre of Common Success.  They spoke about all aspects of being an entrepreneur.  Each panelist shared their achievements and struggles in starting and owning their own business, and offered advice for those who might one day want to turn their BIG Idea into reality.

This year’s BIG Idea competition also included an honorable mention award for those applicants who scored within 10% of the finalists. Students and West Central FFA members enrolled in the Agricultural Leadership class submitted entries for the BIG Idea as a course requirement, Sara Waldner and Lauren Dolly were among the honorable mention award winners.  The West Central FFA Chapter is advised by Linda Petersen.

The BIG Idea Competition encourages students to consider new ideas and opportunities that can be implemented locally and to support them in creating an entrepreneurial view of their future.    The competition is coordinated by the Small Business Development Center, funded by Absolutely!Aberdeen with support from the Aberdeen Development Corporation and area sponsors.

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Members advance to state level competition

Posted on November 26, 2012 by WCFFA

The West Central FFA Chapter was well represented at the District 7 Leadership CDEs held recently.  Members may advance to state level competition by placing in the top three individuals or top two teams at the nine school competition.  16 members will represent the Chapter and District in Pierre for the State Leadership CDEs in early December.

District CDE results are as follows:

Ag Issues – 1st place – team of Maty Skinner, Anthony Lueth, Taylor Bergeson, Sara Waldner, Rachel Schartz, Dean Knuth and Jared Blume

Market Plan – 1st place- team of – Rachel Schartz, Dean Knuth and Jared Blume

Ag Sales – 2nd place – team of – Ashlynn Henning, Cody Farmer, Layne Krier and Noah Larson

Prepared Speaking – 2nd place -Jorry Lammers and 1st place -Liz Renner

Extemp Speaking – 2nd place -Amber Weber

Job Interview – 2nd place -Maty Skinner and 1st place – Rachel Schartz

Ag Broadcasting – 2nd place -Sara Waldner

Creed Speaking – 1st place – Kaitlyn Schmeichel and 3rd place – Miranda Sundermann

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Members Hone Leadership Skills at JackRabbit Leadership

Posted on November 13, 2012 by WCFFA

West Central FFA Members are gearing up for Leadership Career Development Events (CDEs).  They recently competed at the JackRabbit Invitational in Brookings.  The event helps members to prepare for their state qualifying events at the district level.

Teams competing include Market Plan – Dean Knuth, Rachel Schartz and Jared Blume. Ag Sales – Ashlynn Henning, Cody Farmer, Layne Krier and Noah Larson.  Ag Issues – Rachel Schartz, Taylor Bergeson, Jared Blume, Maty Skinner, Dean Knuth, Anthony Lueth and Sara Waldner.

Individuals competed as follows; in Prepared Public Speaking – Jorry Lammers and Liz Renner.  Extemporaneous Speaking – Amber Weber.  Ag Broadcasting – Sara Waldner and Bailey Huls.  Creed Speaking – Miranda Sundermann and Kaitlyn Schmeichel. Job Interview – Jorry Lammers, Maty Skinner and Rachel Schartz.

The District VII FFA Leadership CDEs will be held November 13, 2012 at West Central. The top two teams and top three individuals in each CDE will advance to the state competition.

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Ag Communications Team is Gold at Nationals!

Posted on November 13, 2012 by WCFFA

Pictured left to right: Rachel Schartz, Melinda Knuth and Liz Renner 
 

Members of the West Central FFA Chapter were one of 30 teams that participated in the National FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event (CDE).  The event was held in conjunction with the 85th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.  The team of Melinda Knuth, Liz Renner and Rachel Schartz ranked  among the top teams in the nation earning a Gold Emblem award and placing 9th over all. The team earned a berth in the national event after winning the state competition in April during the South Dakota State FFA Convention.

The team was recognized for excellence in the team presentation category by placing second in the nation after presenting in the final four round.  Each team member completed an editing exercise as well as a communications test.  Individual practicums which members participated in included web design, news writing and electronic media.  The team was also scored on the media plan that they prepared to lay out the planned publication materials and activities for a community hunger fighting initiative.

Renner, Knuth and Schartz were each awarded individual Silver medals in the event which was sponsored by Bader and Rutter, Dish Network and Osborn & Barr as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.  The team is advised and coached by Linda Petersen, West Central FFA Advisor and Agricultural Education Instructor.

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Video Views = Scholarship Money!

Posted on November 5, 2012 by WCFFA

West Central FFA members have two videos in the top 10 for the annual SD Soybean Video Contest.  This year’s theme is the fact that 98% of farms in America are family owned.  The contest ends on November 15, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Central time.  Please help us  by viewing our videos frequently between now and the deadline.

The first video was submitted by Liz Renner and Rachel Schartz.

We Built This country on Family Farms from sdsoybean on Vimeo.

The second video is brought to you by Jorry Lammers, Megan Dolly and Eric Wolfe.

A Word from Grandma from sdsoybean on Vimeo.

Thanks for viewing our videos!

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