Chapter seniors lead, plan for future in challenging times

     FFA chapters across the state of Iowa have faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19 in the past year. Fortunately, the Monticello chapter has six qualified, experienced seniors to guide the chapter through the tough times.

     Here’s a capsule look at Monticello’s six FFA seniors.

     Name: Hannah Ahlrichs.

     Offices held during FFA career: Reporter and Newsletter.

     Parents/Guardians: Roberta and Brian Ahlrichs. 

     Hometown: Monticello.

     Year in school: Senior.

     SAE Project: Helping with the family farm.

     FFA Activities: Public Speaking.

     Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Winning first in districts for Public Speaking. 

     Future plans: Go to the University of Iowa to study speech and hearing sciences.

     Name: Josie Brady.

     Offices held during FFA career: Reporter.

     Parents/Guardians: Cami and Matt Brady.

     Hometown: Center Junction.

     SAE Project: Gardening.

     FFA Activities: Feed the Farmers, State Food Science and Technology CDE, Fall Fest, Amplify.

     Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Selling over 3,000 worth of FFA fruit.

     Future plans: Attending Kirkwood Community College to get a degree in environmental science.

     Name: DeLainy Fellinger.

     Offices held during FFA career: Sentinel and Vice President.

     Parents/Guardians: Tim and Carrie Fellinger. 

     Hometown: Monticello.

     SAE Project: Working with my heifers and pig, and working at the Century House. 

     FFA Activities: Floriculture, Chapter Test, Feed the Farmers, and voting for new members at State Convention.

     Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Getting my Iowa Degree.

     Future plans: Attend Kirkwood for ag science. Some occupations I am thinking about pursuing are an ag teacher, animal nutritionist, or vet tech.

     Name: Adele Hogan.

     Offices held during FFA career: Secretary, President and Vice President.

     Parents/Guardians: Dominic and Karen Hogan.

     Hometown: Monticello.

     SAE Project: PrairieMoon on Main and Hogan Trucking.

     FFA Activities: Greenhand Fire-up, National Convention, Creed Speaking and Sub-Districts, Chapter Display at State Convention, FFA State Chorus at State Convention, Washington Leadership Conference, Iowa State Fair, State Officer Delegate, Feed the Farmers.

     Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Attending the Washington Leadership Conference in 2019. I enjoyed learning about leadership, giving back to those in need, making new friends from different states, touring Washington, D.C.; and making many memories. 

     Future plans: I am looking forward to attending Iowa State University, majoring in food science.

     Name: Karli Recker.

     Offices held during FFA career: Secretary and President.

     Parents/Guardians: Cory and Emily Recker. 

     Hometown: Monticello.

     SAE Project: Showing sheep and working at Family Chiropractic.

     FFA Activities: State and National Convention, Ag Broadcastin, Floriculture, Ag Communications, Feed the Farmers, Greenhand Fire-up.

     Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Winning State Ag Broadcasting my sophomore year.

     Future plans: To attend Kirkwood Community College for one year and then transfer to Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines for its accelerated BSN program.

     Name: Kacie Rickels.

     Parents/Guardians: Todd and Lisa Rickels.

     Hometown: Monticello.

     SAE Project: Helping around the family farm.

     FFA Activities: Showing beef cattle.

     Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Greenhand Fire-up, or winning the county fair breeding heifer show in 2017 and 2019.

     Future plans: Attend the University of Northern Iowa for accounting.