FFA Week: Midland FFA recaps year of events, activities and ‘unforgettable memories’

Midland FFA has had the opportunity to participate in and host a number of activities this past year. Members have learned many new things, met new people and made unforgettable memories. 

One of our member’s favorite events is State Convention in April. We took a number of members to compete, as well as supported four of our members as they walked across stage to receive their state degrees. 

The officer team went on a three-day retreat and did various teamwork activities that forced them to work together, talk about the year and planned activities for the chapter. The team made countless memories that they will forever cherish. 

Every year, in partnership with the Midland Spanish Club and the Zion American Lutheran confirmation group, students go on a ski trip at Sundown Mountain Resort. Whether they went straight down the slopes, or took their sweet time, everyone had a great night. 

The Midland FFA Chapter is involved in many activities that impact the community. 

Every year, we host highway clean-up. This is an event where members gather and walk down a two-mile portion of Highway 64. They clean up trash they find along the way, once in the spring and once in the fall. 

The Midland FFA Chapter does a fundraiser every year where they make and sell wreaths to the community. This helps with the purchase of greenhand jackets and supports our town’s identity as the Christmas City.

In December, Midland FFA gathered a number of high demand items to send to the four local food pantries (Wyoming, Lost Nation, Oxford Junction and Olin).

The majority of these items included long lasting foods, as well as some cleaning supplies, puzzles, coloring books, etc. These items were available for individuals and families over the holiday season. The chapter also orders extra fruit from the fruit sale fundraiser to donate to the food pantries. 

During the peak of harvest season, Midland FFA hosts an event called Feed a Farmer. Partnered with the Jones County Pork Producers, 100 meals were made and passed out to local farmers while they work in the fields.

For five years now, Midland FFA has hosted a fun run to kick off homecoming week and help gather the community. This year was a color run. 

There was a large number of members, students and community members that attended. Everyone had a great time ending the route covered with different colors. 

Toward the end of summer, we hosted a back-to-school fishing tournament at the Anamosa State Park. There were various awards passed out, including biggest and smallest fish and most and least number of fish. As the night went on, we also added some personalized awards, such as biggest turtle caught, and the most trees caught.

The Chapter Leadership and Development class was in contact with the elementary teachers to do elementary visits. Four officers and one active member spent half of the day at the elementary school working with the first and second grade classes. 

They did many activities, played games, worked on reading and math and helped the kids write letters for veterans.

Midland FFA’s yearly degree banquet was held at the Calkins Barn in Wyoming. Members who received their discovery, green-hand and chapter degrees were recognized. Afterwards, members and families were able to celebrate with a treat from Delaney’s ice cream truck. 

Midland FFA’s biggest banquet of the year is scheduled for March 30 at the Midland Middle/High School. This year’s chapter banquet theme is, “Our Greatest Hits.”

This is a time to recap on the whole year and all the members accomplishments, recognize our biggest supporters and hold an auction, which is one of the chapters largest fundraisers. 

The chapter also hosted an annual FFA volleyball tournament for the local FFA chapters in the sub-district. Many teams from different schools came to compete. Sportsmanship awards were handed out, as well as the traveling trophy for the champions. The trophy stayed at Midland again for the third year in a row. 

We also offered a bowling tournament for our member and traveled to Legacy Lanes in Monticello for an afternoon of bowling fun.

A number of members attended and many received fun certificates such as highest score, lowest score, 

most strikes and most gutter balls.

This year was Midland FFA’s fourth year doing an ag explore day for our freshman students.

In partnership with the Monticello and Cascade FFA chapters, there were a variety of stations for students to go around and learn about various agriculture careers and FFA events. From flowers, to drone fertilization and vet science, to meeting with the district FFA officers, there was something to entertain everyone.

2025-26 Midland FFA Roster

Eighth-grade: Ryan Baas, Ike Boge, Austin Campbell, Kimberly Campos, Maci Chelf, Sean Christiansen, Bailie Feddersen, Aiden Meyer, Quinn Hansen, Coco Hayden, Dawsyn Heinrich, Hope Holtapp, Velocity Johnson, Jemma Minor, Rodney Nissen, Brayden Werden

Freshmen: Austin Bassett, Alyssa Cruise, Colt Doll, BayLee Feckers, Izzie Feckers, Izzie Franzen, Kora Gile, Brooklynn Hamilton, Diezel Long, Katelyn Thein, Carter Otte, Dawson Rockwell, Alexander Smith-Williams, Wyatt Schoenherr

Sophomores: Ashlyn Bassett, Corbyn Brodersen, Hadley Dosland, Kolton Duffy, Cael Eckhardt, Jacob Eckhardt, Avery Edwards, Ava Fagan, Gage Gile, Ella Graham, Landri Hansen, Kylie LaFella, Landon Moore, Josie Petersen, Lucas Ricklefs, Aspen Rushford, Kameron Sagers, Kameron Smith, Milee Streets, Maddi Sweet, Elizabeth Zaehringer

Juniors: Dane Ballou, Masyn Brodersen, Calysta Bousselot, Raiden Cruise, Addison Miller, Max Moore, Thomas Peasley, Marques Terry, Carter Willms 

Seniors: Theo Baumer, Diaz Beltran, Issac Beranek, Jayden Dirks, Nathan Dunfee, Wyatt Christiansen, Shyla Curran, McKenna Doll, Gabbie Franzen, Collin Hacke, Anthony Harrington, Emmi Huston, Sophia Hunter, AJ Soper, Nevaeh Wagner, Keegan Weirup, Nolan Zaehringer

Graduated: Hannah FIshwild, Olivia Paulsen, Jayson Ruley, Jayde Martin, Morgan Hollingshead

– Sophia Hunter, Reporter