MV chapter members reach their potential

     The Maquoketa Valley FFA Chapter excelled in many events and activities during 2016.

     A capsule look:

February

     The Northeast District FFA held its review night in Monticello at Monticello Community Schools. During review night junior and senior members that have earned or invested $1,000 in their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects were recognized. Members from Maquoketa Valley submitted Iowa FFA Degree applications for review and as a result, 16 members will receive the highest degree that the state can bestow upon them at the state FFA Convention in April:

     Maquoketa Valley's Andrew Palmersheim submitted an application in the SAE area of Beef Production Entrepreneurship, for which he owns his own livestock. Andrew won the Northeast District Contest and received a Gold medal. As did Dylan Salow in the area of Agricultural Design and Fabrication receiving Gold and advanced to state. Kaleb Kruse participated in the area of Dairy Entrepreneurship earning a Gold and advancing to state.

     At the state proficiency judging on Feb. 18, Kaleb Kruse and Andrew Palmersheim were named state winners and Dylan Salow finished in third place.

March

     District FFA convention was held at Midland High School at Wyoming on March 17.

     In the category of Chapter Quiz, the MV team of Amanda Engelken, Josie Young and Kristi Goedken earned a gold and finished as district champions. Individually, Engelken finished third and Young, eighth. Rejji Smith earned a silver, and Cole Kruse and Seth Deutmeyer earned a bronze. In the Greenhand Quiz, Zach Lansing and Maddie Lahr earned silvers while Justin Wessels, Nathan Weber and Jake Recker earned bronzes. Amanda Fortman earned a gold alternate to state for public speaking. Shelby Westhoff earned a silver in creed speaking. Kaleb Kruse earned a silver in extemporaneous speaking, and he passed off his district FFA officer position.

     On March 30, Katelyn Goldsmith, Mason Burlage, Abby Gravel, Justin Wessel, Jackie Ehrlich and Shelby Westhoff participated in State FFA AgriScience Fair in Ames. They were named the top Science school in Iowa, and all students earned gold medals with Goldsmith, Burlage and Ehrlich earning national bids.

     A large crowd of 330 people gathered at the Maquoketa Valley High School gym on Tuesday, March 28 to celebrate the accomplishments of the Maquoketa Valley FFA over the past year.

April

     On Sunday April 17, 35 students from the Maquoketa Valley FFA Chapter traveled by bus to the State Leadership Conference in Ames. The Maquoketa Valley FFA chapter brought 40 students who competed in eight different events to the 88th annual Iowa FFA state convention. Nine members received their FFA Iowa Degree, the second highest award achievable by an FFA member. Members receiving their Iowa Degrees include: Jacob Bonert, Jenna Bonert, Amanda Fortman, Kristi Goedken, Emily Krapfl, Colton Nefzger, Trent Westhoff, Jay Wessels and Angie Wilson.

     Then on April 28, members traveled to Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar for District Ag Mechanics contest with 28 teams competing. The team of seniors Kalvin Orcutt, Andrew Palmersheim, Alex Richter and Ryan Goedken earned first place. The team of Garrett Hogan, Andy O’Connell, Kaleb Kruse and Kyle Richter finished fourth. Individually, Orcutt placed second; Hogan, fourth; Palmersheim, fifth; Alex Richter, seventh; and Goedken, ninth.

Summer

     The Wildcat FFA members were on the prowl in the summer of 2016.

     Josie Young and Amanda Engelken spent a week in the nation’s capital as part of the Washington Leadership Conference.

     The Maquoketa Valley FFA chapter had a very eventful summer. Over 60 members participated in the Delaware County Fair, and many continued onto the state fair. At the state fair Katelyn Goldsmith was named Iowa Dairy Princess. Meanwhile Josie Young competed in the state fair queen pageant. Cole Kruse and Heath Gibbs were recognized in the parade of champions with Junior Champion Guernsey and Junior Champion Milking Shorthorn, respectively. Other state fair results: In the FFA breeding beef division Gabriela Guetzko’s shorthorn heifer received a purple. In the photography division, MV’s chapter was fifth place.

     At the state fair dairy show, Maquoketa Valley was named the Supreme Dairy chapter after a exciting show day for Kaleb Kruse, Cole Kruse, Madi Gibbs and Heath Gibbs. Kaleb was the champion FFA showman and Cole and Madi received FFA belt buckles. Madi was the top Senior showman in the Holstein breed and Cole was the Intermediate Reserve Champion Holstein Showman.

     Also, the Milk Quality team placed first in the state and continued on to nationals. Placings included: Amanda Engelken (first individual), Josie Young (third individual), Amanda Fortman (fifth individual), and Shelby Westhoff (eighth individual). They were the top team in the written test and milk fat. In early August, the chapter competed in Northeast District Meats and Milk Quality. The Milk Quality teams were district champions and Reserve. Champion team members were Amanda Fortman first individual, Josie Young second individual, Amanda Engelken third individual, Shelby Westhoff fourth individual.

October

     The National FFA Convention was held in Indianapolis, Ind. in October.

     Katelyn Goldsmith was named to the top three finalists in the area of animal science at the National Agriscience banquet. She later was named second in the nation for her research and received a Gold. Jackie Ehrlich was named sixth place Gold in Food Processing and Mason Burlage received a silver in Plant Science. The milk quality team of Shelby Westhoff, Josie Young, Amanda Engelken and Amanda Fortman earned an 11th place gold finish at the national competition. The Milk Quality team of Amanda Fortman (Gold), Amanda Engelken (Gold and third place overall on the test), Shelby Westhoff (Silver), Josie Young (Silver) and the team garnered 11^th place. Six members received the Golden Key of the American FFA Degree. Members were Jenna Beitz, Emily O’Connell, Clay Willenbring, Kody Orcutt, Matthew Lansing and Dylan Salow.

December

     On Dec. 7, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Beef Extravaganza took place on the Iowa State University campus, and 22 teams competed.  The scholarship event, which is for students interested in cattle and beef production, involved 70 high school students from around Iowa. They competed for cash scholarship awards for the top four teams that totaled $7,650. Students were challenged at 10 different stations to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. Maquoketa Valley students Grace Willenborg and Justin Wessel represented the chapter winning the Credit & Finance division.