Monticello chapter shows skills in multiple competitions

   The Monticello FFA Chapter had another successful year, with 3 top 10 Career Development Teams (CDE) along with Davin Wickman being recognized as the Iowa Star in Agri-Business with his lawn care business while Owen Thomas, Davin Wickman, Lydia Recker, Regan Schneiter, Grace Cooksley and Courtney Thies received their Iowa FFA Degrees.

   Our Ag Mechanics team brought home second place thanks to Owen Thomas, Landon Orcutt and Cooper Wickman. The Ag Mechanics team also received top welding and electrical teams.

   The Horse Judging team received seventh place overall at the state contest with Ava Capron, Will Wolken, Natalie Henderson and Hailey Henderson; while the Food Science team placed seventh at state with Kaden McAtee, Kayla King, Leah Koehler and Kendall Siebels.

   Members who participated at sub-district career events include: Davin Wickman competing in Job Interview receiving gold and second place, Kendall Siebels in Creed Speaking receiving gold, Claire Hogan receiving silver in Prepared Public Speaking, and Faith Hansen receiving gold in Extemporaneous Speaking. Our Conduct of Meetings team consisting of Ava Capron, Hailey Henderson, Haili Schlarman, Leah Koehler, Will Wolken, Alex Prull and Reed Brunscheen received gold and was the first place overall team.

   At the State FFA Convention, the Marketing Plan team of Kendra Jacobs, Alyssa Wickman and Natalie Henderson received a silver rating. The Poultry team including Kendall Siebels, Kaden McAtee and Logan Moestchen received bronze. Our Chapter Activity Exhibit was prepared by Courtney Thies, Reagan Schneiter and Brea Stahlberg which received a silver rating; while the farm business management team of Leah Koehler, Claire Hogan, Dawson Ricklefs and Cooper Wickman also received a silver rating. The Ag Biotech team consisting of Baylor Holub, Carter Martin and Keaton Hermsen received a bronze rating.

   Adele Hogan was recognized for being the Champion State Food Science CDE Individual in 2021. At National Convention, Adele Hogan and Marissa Recker received their American FFA Degrees. 

   The Livestock Judging team received fifth at the District competition with Dawson Ricklefs, Lydia Recker, Davin Wickman and Kole Weber. The other Livestock Judging team received eighth place with Claire Hogan, Leah Koehler and Halle Recker.

   Our state Nursery Landscape team received a silver rating with Tyler Soppe, Alex Prull, Brennan Bohlken and Royce Kiburz.

   We also collaborated with the Midland FFA Chapter in hosting the first ever M&M Ag Experience Day, in which Ag 1 students from both Monticello and Midland were able to immerse themselves in a day of learning from industry professionals about the agricultural opportunities and careers that are available.