FFA members from across the state competed and were honored for their accomplishments at the 87th Nebraska State FFA Convention held April 8-10, 2015. The convention was held at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the hotels in Lincoln’s Haymarket, and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln East Campus.
Just fewer than 4,000 Nebraska FFA students attended the convention, the largest State Convention attendance in the history of the organization. The Pinnacle Bank Arena is a pretty big upgrade from past years’ conventions held at Pershing Auditorium, but with the yearly increases in FFA membership and the growing number of schools offering Agriculture Education and FFA, Pinnacle Bank is a perfect location. Fifteen schools in the state want to offer programs beginning in the fall of 2015, which would be a 10 percent increase in the number of schools. Nebraska currently has 157 schools offering the programs. As for the Elgin FFA, well they are competing quite nicely with those 156 other chapters in the state. Three members of the Elgin FFA Chapter returned home champions in their proficiency area last week during the 2015 Nebraska State FFA Convention.
Trey Baum, a junior, was the Beef Entrepreneurship State Champion. Trent Bauer, a senior, was Small Animal Care and Management Entrepreneurship Champion and NECC freshman Brandon Funk was the Grain Placement State Champion. Their applications will advance to nationals for review in hopes of placing during the National FFA Convention next October in Louisville, KY. Justin Funk, a sophomore, was the third overall individual in Diversified Crop Placement.
State FFA Degrees were awarded to: Jon Meis, Morgan Childers, Baylie Schiltmeyer, Christian Dunn, Ethan Fischer, Tanner Welding and Trent Bauer
Leadership Skills Events (LSE’s):?Marie Meis made finals in a group of 24 and was State Runner-Up in Creed Speaking. Karissa Dicke made finals in a group of 24 and was State Runner-Up in Cooperative Speaking. Both girls are alternates to the National FFA Convention and received a cash prize.
Career Development Events (CDE’s):?Natural Resources- Dylan Widger, Zoey Bergman, Elianne Heilhecker, Kalin Henn – 17th place team; Elianne earned a purple ribbon.?Welding – Andrew Fangman was 6th overall in MIG welding and received a purple.?Farm Business Management- Kyle Heithoff earned a blue ribbon.?Agronomy- Seth Schumacher and Tanner W. both received a blue ribbon. ?Agriscience- Lydia Behnk, Cole Preister, Calli Krebs and Liam Heithoff were the 11th place team out of 107 teams. Calli received a purple ribbon while Lydia and Liam both received blue ribbons.
The Elgin FFA Chapter will be celebrating the year’s accomplishments during their annual banquet on Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the EPS gym. Parents of FFA members, incoming freshmen and supporters will be receiving a letter in the mail about the banquet.
At the end of the banquet the new Chapter Officers will be announced and the chapter will have potted flowers for sale that were grown in their greenhouse.
With good food, highlights of the year and guest speaker Paige Dexter, the banquet will be a fantastic time!
