FFA Career Development Events (CDEs) are always a great way for AgEd students to display their knowledge and talents learned in the classroom as well as from work or home experiences.
Elgin FFA members have been very successful in these competitive events for many years sending numerous members to the state FFA convention in April.
Elgin competes amongst the District X schools including; Ainsworth, Ord, West Holt, Rock County, Keya Paha, Stuart, Wheeler Central, Neligh/Oakdale, O’Neill, Boyd County, Loup County, Burwell, Chambers and Sargent.
Each CDE is composed of a four member team, except for a few that may have up to five members on the team. For the majority of the contests the district can send the top 25 percent of teams onto state, other contests allow only the top two teams to advance to state.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, Elgin FFA saw a majority of its members earn a trip to the state convention. Results were:
Agriscience: First Place Team. Kirsten Krebs first place individual. Theanna Dunn, Alyssa Burenheide and Ally Selting all placed in the top 15. The agriscience contest at the state level will consist of not only a written exam but a lab practical involving plant systems and will take place later in the afternoon on April 4th of state convention.
Agriculture Mechanics & Technology: First Place Team. Kyle Schumacher was first overall in the structural division and Blake Hupp was second in the energy systems. Other members of the team were Cole Preister and RJ Leirman.
Their contest at state will take place at Pinnacle Bank Arena mid morning on April 4 of state convention.
Floriculture: First Place Team. All members placed in the top 10 individually. Nicki Payne, Heather Bauer, Grace Henn and Lizzy Mlnarik. The floriculture contest at state happens the second afternoon of state convention on UNL’s East Campus. The team members this year ID different types of plants and flowers, ID pests and nutrient deficiencies. The team will also have a lab where they will have to prepare an arrangement of some kind with a pricing sheet.
Ag Biotechnololgy: Second Place Team. Hunter Reestman tied for third place, Lauren Seier placed eighth overall. Other team members, Lydia Behnk and Ally Wemhoff were in the top 15. The Biotechnology contest will happen on East Campus of UNL mid morning April 5 of state convention.
Livestock Management: Third Place Team. Members are: Lauren Seier, Calli Krebs, Marie Meis, Faith Kinney and Haley Zegers. The girls prepared well and earned the right to compete at a very high level in the Animal Science Complex on UNL’s East Campus the Thursday morning of state convention.
Poultry Management: First Place Team (Tied): Same individuals as the Livestock Management Team. They will compete Friday, April 6 in the Animal Science Complex.
Farm Business Management: Third Place Team. Kyle Schumacher was the 4th overall individual while Lydia Behnk was 5th. This team will test on the evening of April 4 on UNL’s East Campus.
Welding: Fifth place team. Members include Kyle Schumacher (O/A), Thomas Morrow (MIG) and Blake Hupp (ARC). This team just made the cutoff to compete at the state level. The FFA welding contest is hosted by Southeast Community College located on the East edge of Lincoln and will take place April 5.
Nursery Landscape Team: Third Place Team. Members are Kira Widger, Taralyn Baum, Ally Selting and Kirsten Krebs. This team did excellent, but missed the cutoff of qualifying for state by a couple of points. State only allows each district to send the top two teams on.
Other contests that will take place in Lincoln that will have Elgin FFA members competing in are Agronomy ( Joey Getzfred, Harlie Bode, Matthew Starman and Marissa Preister) and Natural Resources (Hayes Miller, Brea Carr, Kayce Kallhoff and Kaylee Martinsen).
State Convention will take place in Lincoln April 4–6. It’s a long three days consisting of not only competitions, but sessions, awards programs, recognition programs, banquets, workshops, speakers and more.
And besides the above mentioned students competing in those particular contests, many will also be competing in speaking contests, state chorus, gaining recognition for their SAE’s and earning their State Degrees.
It’s wonderful that so many of the students in Elgin and surrounding communities will have the opportunity to attend such a dynamic and educational convention.
