Skillful seniors guide Monticello chapter

A strong senior class has led the Monticello FFA Chapter with each member’s skill and knowledge.
Among this year’s chapter seniors:
Name: Marissa Recker.
Offices held: President, Secretary, Historian.
Parents/Guardians: Cory and Emily Recker.
Home town: Hopkinton.
SAE project: Outdoor Recreation.
FFA activities: Ag Biotechnology, Food Science and Technology, Nursery Landscape, Livestock Judging, District Floriculture, Iowa Degree, Legislative Symposium, Washington Leadership Conference, FFA Volleyball, Feed the Farmers.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Starting Feed the Farmers in 2017, and successfully delivering meals even though it was raining all day.
Future plans: Attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha to pursue a degree in architectural engineering.
Name: Caleb Hogan.
Office held: Vice President (two years).
Parents/Guardians: Dominic and Karen Hogan.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: Manage a 2,400-head hog barn.
FFA activities: FFA Fall Festivals, FFA Banquets, Fruit Sales, Hay and Grain Show, Beasts of the East Hog Show, County Fair and State Fair Exhibitor, State and National Convention, Sub-Districts, Livestock Judging, Greenhand, Chapter and State Degrees; Districts, Greenhand Quiz, Feed the Farmers, Northeast Sub-District Livestock Judging.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Receiving third gold at State for Swine Placement Proficiency.
Future plans: Going to Kirkwood Community College to major in ag business, then transfer to Iowa State to get my bachelor’s degree.
Name: Gavin Cooper.
Office held: Sentinel.
Parents/Guardians: Brian and Becky Cooper.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: SGR Farms and SGR Plumbing and Heating.
FFA activities: Ag Sales, Parliamentary Procedure, Ag Mechanics, FFA Volleyball, National Convention, FFA Officer, Ag Business Management.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Going to National Convention with friends and waiting for the girls to get to the car every morning.
Future plans: Attend Iowa State University to major in animal science and minor in genetics. Plans are to eventually become a bovine nutritionist and embryologist.
Name: Chloe Gray.
Office held: Co-Reporter.
Parents/Guardians: Kevin and Diane Gray.
Home town: Monticello.
FFA activities: State FFA Band, State Convention, 212 Conference, District Contest, Washington Leadership Conference, Subdistricts, FFA Volleyball, Feed the Farmers.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Washington Leadership Conference.
Future plans: Double major in marketing and journalism at the University of Oregon.
Name: Sophie Gray.
Office held: Reporter and Historian.
Parents/Guardians: Kevin and Diane Gray.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: Religious education teacher, Karde’s 151, The Cone Shoppe, FFA wreaths.
FFA activities: FFA Volleyball, 212 Conference, Washington Leadership Conference, Feed the Farmers, Nursery and Landscape Skills Event, Conduct of Meetings, Chapter Officer Leadership Training, FFA Olympics.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Washington Leadership Conference.
Future plans: Attend the University of Oregon to major in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and minor in international studies.
Name: John Welter.
Office held: Reporter.
Parents/Guardians: Ron and Lori Welter.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: Landscaping and hired hand for local grain farmer.
FFA activities: Volleyball, State Convention, National Convention, Districts, Ag Mechanics.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Obtaining skills through agriculture can help anyone be a better person.
Future plans: Attend Kirkwood, majoring in business management.
Name: Tom Dirks.
Parents/Guardians: Dennis and Michelle Dirks.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: Working on the family farm.
Future plans: Attend Kirkwood Community College for advanced welding technologies.
Name: Lydia Franzenburg
Parents/Guardians: Stan and Molly Franzenburg.
Home town: Monticello.
FFA activities: FFA Volleyball, National Convention sophomore year.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Attend Mount Mercy University to study nursing and play golf.
Name: Aspen Gillmore.
Parents/Guardians: Kurt and Tammy Gillmore.
Home town: Monticello.
FFA activities: National Convention, District CDEs, Fall Fest Activities, FFA Banquets.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Going to National Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. with Marissa, Sydney, Megan, Lydia, Gavin and Avery.
Name: Cayce Gudenkauf.
Parents/Guardians: Angie Eggiman and Dustin Gudenkauf.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: Gardening in the summer, raise three rabbits year-round.
FFA activities: State Convention.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: 2016-17 State Convention.
Future plans: X-Ray technician.
Name: Sydney Hansen.
Parents/Guardians: Jason Hansen and Kim Kray.
Home town: Monticello.
FFA activities: Group CDEs (ETA and Quizzes), FFA Volleyball, National Convention.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Getting a gold rating at Districts for ETA, and National Convention.
Future plans: Attend Kirkwood Community College for a year and transfer to Allen College in Waterloo to receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Name: Jaelynn Kraus.
Parents/Guardians: Don and Nikki Kraus.
Home town: Monticello.
FFA activities: State FFA Horse CDE, Feed the Farmers.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: My group receiving top 10 both years for horse judging.
Future plans: Attend Kirkwood Community College and transfer to UNI to major in elementary education and minor in special education.
Name: Jordan Lorenzen.
Parents/Guardians: Matthew and Robin Lorenzen.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: Monticello Jellystone and McOtto’s.
FFA activities: National Convention, State Convention, Freshman Creed Speaking, Biotechnology, State CDE, Food Science State CDE, District Floriculture CDE, FFA Volleyball.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Winning first overall individual in the Biotechnology CDE freshman year.
Future plans: Attend Wartburg to major in biology and minor in psychology and leadership.
Name: Avery Martensen.
Parents/Guardians: Jason and Pam Martensen.
Home town: Onslow.
SAE project: Ag Construction and Maintenance.
FFA activities: National Convention, Ag Mechanics, FFA Volleyball, State Convention.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Playing MLB against Mr. Schmitt in the hotel room at State Convention.
Future plans: Attend Hawkeye Community College to study criminal justice and run track. After Hawkeye I plan on enlisting in the Navy.
Name: Lake Stahlberg.
Parents/Guardians: Mark and Becky Stahlberg.
Home town: Monticello.
FFA activities: Sub-district Trapshoot, District Convention.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Winning the Trapshoot at the Monticello Conservation League.
Future plans: Attend Kirkwood Community College to earn a degree in welding and CNC machining.
Name: Austin Timm.
Parents/Guardians: John and Joanne Timm.
Home town: Monticello.
SAE project: Beef.
FFA activities: Iowa Degree, Chapter Award, Greenhand Award, Livestock Judging, Ag Mechanics, Beef Production Efficiency, showed breeding beef at the Iowa State Fair.
Most memorable FFA activity or accomplishment: Receiving my Iowa Degree.
Future plans: Attend Kirkwood Community College for diesel ag mechanics.