Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Holdrege FFA Members have had a very busy and successful first semester. The school year started with the First Annual Kick-off Picnic. Students and parents in grades 9-12 interested in FFA were invited to attend the meeting with other FFA members at North Park with hot dogs and burgers served by the FFA Parents and Sponsors. Paige Abrahamson, Nathan Kruetzer, Matt Kruetzer, and Alec Frisell also represented the Holdrege FFA Chapter at the Nebraska State Fair with their market beef and hogs. Each of the members received placing no lower than blue ribbon levels. The chapter continued with the Test Your Well Night and Watermelon Feed at the Phelps County Fair. Five FFA members served over 22 watermelons and tested 15 water samples for nitrates during the one night event.

Thirty-six member of the Ag I and Ag II classes attended Husker Harvest Days, where they completed a scavenger hunt of Agribusiness areas and interviewed show exhibitors about various careers in agriculture. September 19th saw the chapter host the ninth annual Farm Safety Camp for Phelps County first graders. Chapter members presented students with safety stations covering large machinery safety, ATV safety, household look-alikes, grain bin safety, small and large animal safety, tractor and mower safety and a presentation from the Phelps County Sheriffs Department. In all over 130 students from Loomis, Bertrand, Phelps County R-7 and R-4 schools, and Holdrege City Schools attended to Safety Camp. The FFA Chapter would like to thank all of the area business sponsors who donated to the sponsorship of the event this year. 

In October 11 members attended Impact Leadership Workshops in Hastings and worked with the Nebraska State FFA Officers in Leadership Development Skills and Leadership activities. Nine members also competed in the Southwest Area Land Judging Contest in McCook in October 11th.  Members earning ribbons that day were Mike Anderson; blue, Lincoln Pearson; red, and Paige Abrahamson; white. 

National FFA Convention, Blue Jacket, Bright Futures - Five chapter members attended the 80th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis IN, October 23rd-26th. The five members attended several convention sessions featuring speaker Rick Rigsby and Chad Hymas, and listened to the retiring address of Western Region Vice President, Janette Barnard. They also participated in leadership workshops and the National Talent Show, Extreme Bull Riding Competition and toured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Holdrege FFA members Pat Ackerman and Justin Vanosek were awarded their American FFA Degree along with over 3,000 other recipients. Members who attended National Convention were Paige Abrahamson, Marisa Wolfe, Zach Grove, Bekah Kinnaman, and Alec Frisell.

Members were also busy with Chapter Fruit Sales in late October and November and are currently preparing for the District 8 Livestock Contest on November 7th.