State FFA is Rewarding Experience!
31 Leigh FFA members made their way to Lincoln on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, for the 96th Annual Nebraska State FFA Convention.
Throughout the convention, members competed in Leadership Development Events, Career Development Events, Proficiency Interviews, and attended sessions and workshops.
The events that members competed in on Wednesday are Agricultural Demonstration, Cooperative Speaking, Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Farm and Agribusiness Management, Junior Public Speaking, and a Proficiency Interview.
Members were busy going from event to event throughout the day but made time to attend the first general session of the convention, where they had the opportunity to listen to keynote speaker Danny Ziem, a leadership instructor who was in the active line of duty and uses his previous leadership skills to empower others.
On Thursday, members competed in Agriscience and Livestock Management. Members also enjoyed a team bonding outing to Sun Valley Lanes, where they enjoyed bowling, laser tag, and arcade games.
Leigh FFA was also honored at the second general session of the convention for their Connecting Chapters participation. Chapters that received this award had to complete training with their local county farm bureau, read a book to an elementary class and then donate the book to the classroom or library, lead an activity with an elementary class, and talk with a county farm bureau agent to receive this award.
On Thursday evening at the fourth general session of the convention, Kammy Held, a junior FFA member, received 3rd place in the Goat Production Proficiency award category over her Goat Production Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) at the state convention after completing an in-person interview on Wednesday afternoon.
Kammy’s SAE is in Goat Production where she works at Went Show Goats helping with vaccinations, kidding season, and daily chores.
Kammy describes receiving this award and her time at convention as, “I was so excited and thrilled that I got the opportunity to interview down at state for my proficiency. I was top three in the state going down to Lincoln, and ended up getting third. This was an unreal experience! I spent so much time putting work into my proficiency, so I thought it was very rewarding at the end. I couldn't have done this without the help from my great advisor, Mrs. Went. I can't wait to compete next year for my proficiency and hopefully come home with first place!”
On Friday, the last day of convention, members rounded out the convention by competing in Jr. Livestock Evaluation, and attending sessions and meals to recognize our members. Friday morning, Delanie Erwin (Cooperative Speaking—Gold Medalist), Hannah Martensen (Junior Public Speaking—Silver Medalist), and Sydney Messerlie (Junior Public Speaking—Bronze Medalist) attended a breakfast meal to receive their medals for competing in their respective contests. A lunch was held to recognize the competing team Leadership Development Events.
The Agriculture Demonstration team consisting of Carter Brabec, Delanie Erwin, Kammy Held, Brianne Kuhr, and Jared Olson received a gold rating for their demonstration on building a smooth wire electric fence. The Conduct of Chapter Meetings team consisting of Kaylee Brabec, Reann Bruhn, Reese Bruhn, Blake Loeske, Carmen Malena, and Hannah Martensen received a gold rating.
Later that afternoon, all Leigh FFA members made their way to Pinnacle Bank Arena to cheer on Leigh FFA’s five recipients of the Nebraska State FFA Degree. Seniors Nathan Bahns, James Grotelueschen, Dylan Higby, Jacob Martensen, and Jordan Noonan were able to walk the FFA stage to receive their Nebraska State FFA Degree, the highest degree a state association can bestow upon a member.
At the 96th Nebraska State FFA Convention, many Leigh FFA members were able to compete in competitions, attend sessions with guest speakers, and network with other FFA members across the state. Leigh FFA had one member who was able to be a part of the Nebraska State FFA Choir: Paige Kurpgeweit. Paige attended practices and sang at sessions throughout her time at state convention.
Two Leigh FFA members were nominated by the chapter to be delegates at the convention. Macy Clausen and Gracie Eisenmann were the delegates for Leigh FFA Chapter. They attended delegate functions, learned about leadership opportunities, and gave feedback on different ideas to incorporate into the state organization over the next few years. Below are the results from all of the competitions that the Leigh FFA Chapter competed in.
Carter Brabec, a junior and member of the Gold Ag Demo team, describes his time at the convention: “I had a great time at the State FFA Convention. I was able to attend sessions throughout my time in Lincoln. However, my favorite session was the one where John Cook talked to all of Nebraska FFA about trying new things. I was extremely impressed with our Agriculture Demonstration. We received a gold rating putting us in the top 25% of all the Agriculture Demonstrations!”
Jacob Martensen, a senior and State Degree Recipient, said, “I had a wonderful time at the convention. It was a great time going to sessions and PBA in the mornings and evenings. I did not compete in any competitions this year. My favorite part of state convention was the motivational speakers and John Cook’s speech. Receiving my State Degree at the end was a great way to wrap up state convention. What I've enjoyed at state convention the last few years is going to competitions, and meeting new people from different parts of the state.”
Results
Leadership Development Events
Agriculture Demonstration - Gold Medalist (Carter Brabec, Delanie Erwin, Kammy Held, Brianne Kuhr, & Jared Olson)
Cooperative Speaking - Gold Medalist (Delanie Erwin)
Conduct of Chapter Meetings - Gold Medalist (Kaylee Brabec, Reann Bruhn, Reese Bruhn, Blake Loeske, Carmen Malena, & Hannah Martensen)
Junior High Quizbowl - (Easton Brabec, Sadie Brabec, Averi Clausen, Wyatt Eisenmann, Gus Erwin, Layton Held, Kade Hoesley, Avery Kuester, Trent Olson, & Caleb Settje)
Junior Public Speaking - Silver (Hannah Martensen)
Junior Public Speaking - Bronze (Sydney Messerlie)
Career Development Events
Farm & Agribusiness Management - Blue Ribbon (Gracie Eisenmann, Luke Eisenmann, Brianne Kuhr, & Jordan Noonan)
Junior Livestock Evaluation - Blue Ribbon (Luke Eisenmann, Cody Jedlicka, Daphne Jedlicka, & Carmen Malena)
Proficiency Finalists
Goat Production - 3rd Place (Kammy Held)
State Degree Recipients
Nathan Bahns
James Grotelueschen
Dylan Higby
Jacob Martensen
Jordan Noonan
Other Competing Events
Agriscience (Grace Hansen, Rebecca Hastreiter, Daphne Jedlicka, & James Moore)
Livestock Management (Luke Eisenmann, Ava Kasik, Kyle McMullin, Karly Wendt, & Nevaeh Zulkoski)
Other Non-Competing Events
Choir (Paige Kurpgeweit)
Delegates (Macy Clausen & Gracie Eisenmann)