FFA Week: Monticello FFA recaps ‘another successful year’

The Monticello FFA Chapter had another successful year with members earning their Iowa FFA Degrees, participating in sub-district career events, district events and participating in many other activities and events.
There were seven members that received their Iowa FFA Degrees last spring. They include Porter Campbell, Hailey Henderson, Natlie Henderson, Keegan McElmeel, Halle Recker, Lilly Stoll and Lane Weber.

Another big accomplishment was Porter Campbell being elected to serve on the Northeast FFA District Officer Team.

There were 11 members that participated at sub-district career events.

Emily Leytem participated in creed speaking receiving a gold rating, Blaine Benter received a silver rating in radio broadcasting, Leah Koehler participated in job interview and received a gold rating, Sawyer Adams, Lauren Brunscheen, Kylee McElmeel, Eli Moestchen, Drew Ricklefs, Owen Steger and Peytin Schultz participated in conduct of meeting and earned a gold rating and Lilly Stoll earned a silver rating in sales.

Eight members participated in District events in Waterloo last spring as well. 

Sawyer Adams, Lauren Brunscheen, Kylee McElmeel, Eli Moestchen, Drew Ricklefs, Owen Steger and Peytin Schultz participated in conduct of meeting, receiving a silver rating. 

At the State FFA Convention, Alyssa Wickman and Haili Schlarmann received a gold rating with our chapter activity display. Porter Campbell, Lilly Stoll, Drew Ricklefs and Lane Weber participated in ag sales and received a silver rating, as did the ag biotech team consisting of Lizzy Eilers, Emily Leytem, Kylee McElmeel and Peytin Schultz. The farm business management team of Blaine Benter, Antonio Lagunes and Jacksen Telleen also received a silver rating. Lauren Brunscheen participated in the greenhand quiz and received a silver rating.

We also collaborated with the Midland and Cascade FFA Chapter’s in hosting the fourth annual MMC Ag Experience Day. Over 90 Ag 1 students from Monticello, Midland and Cascade were able to immerse themselves in a day of learning from industry professionals. Students learned about the agricultural opportunities and careers that are available, ranging from newer technology to the basics of tractor operation.

The Monticello FFA Chapter and the Monticello National Honor Society (NHS) collaborate to continue to manage a garden to produce over 700 pounds of food that is donated to the Monticello Food Pantry to help those that are in need. 

Students worked to make this garden succeed during greenhouse class and out of school times. 

Our FFA members show their support to our local farmers by coming in out of school hours in the Spring and Fall to prepare and deliver meals to help show our support for all they do, for not only us, but everyone. 

We are also very fortunate to have a partnership with the Monticello MainStreet Organization. Our students who take greenhouse class come together and design flower pot arrangements, which are then placed around town to help beautify our community.

Proceeds from the sales of our crop production lab supported chapter activities and service projects that the Monticello FFA Chapter performs, such as our Kindergarten “Friendsgiving,” in which we spoke to them about where their Thanksgiving meal comes from and then shared a meal with them. We also present a “Build a Burger” program to the fourth-grade students to show them how far many of the ingredients that they would use to make a cheeseburger would travel through our food system before the final consumer. 

We also had the opportunity to join in the fun of Treats on the Street this year, presenting our ‘not-so-haunted livestock trailer.’ Kids of all ages had the opportunity to interact with several animals and take a picture with our ‘ghost horse.’ 

Our ag business class got to learn about marketing in depth and they then used that knowledge in a real-life aspect that they can relate to the farm by studying the markets and developing a marketing plan for the grain that was produced.

This year’s Monticello FFA officers are Drew Ricklefs, President, Emily Leytem, Vice President, Lauren Brunscheen, Vice President, Sydney Sparks, Secretary, Owen Steger, Treasurer, Reagan Stoll, Sentinel, Kylee McElmeel, Reporter and Ella Giegerich, Reporter. Kayla Arduser and Peytin Schultz each serve as Second Vice Presidents.

– Kylee McElmeel and Ella Giegerich,

Reporters