On April 19th, 2015 the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter members drove to Ames, Iowa for Iowa FFA State Convention. This year, 36 FFA members went along with 6 chaperones.

            FFA members enjoyed dinner with National Officer, Steven McBride, at Hickory Park on the 19th then enjoyed the rest of the night at the hotel that they stayed at.

            On Monday and Tuesday the members went to State Convention, which was held at Iowa State University. Many members competed in different events and did very well at them. This year the events included:

Ag Communications- Jessica Alderson, Sarah Siglin, and Keri Webster, Gold-5th place with Sarah Siglin placing 1st in Design

Biotechnology- Conner Miracle, Kylie Miracle, Emily Reisch, and Riley Ries, Silver with the team placing first on the General Knowledge Test and Kylie Miracle getting 1st place individually for the General Knowledge Test

Farm Business Management: Logan Holst, Riley Ries, Keaton Robb, Drew Wiley, Gold

Poultry- Deion Dulin, Colton Evans, Logan Grabin, Wes Haefner, and Jacob Long, Silver

Reporter’s Scrapbook- Jessica Alderson and Katie Isbell, Gold-3rd place

Team Ag Sales- Ben Eden, John Eden, and Steven Henry, Bronze

            The members who participated in these events did amazing and really showed off the hard work that they put into each of their CDEs.

            Another group of members put a lot of hard work and time into a different part of State Convention. Alyssa Bunge, Amanda Burkey, Shania Heckman, Brittani Kimm, Sadie Novotny, and Melody Sedlecek performed in the State Choir in front of all of the members and guests that attended State Convention.

            Not only did we have members participate in CDEs and in State Choir, we also had many members receiving their Iowa Degrees. The members that received the highest degree that the state can award include Jessica Alderson, Amanda Burkey, Cole Emrich, Katie Isbell, Daisy Johnson, Sadie Novotny, Emily Reisch, Meranda Sanders, Sydney Walker, and Keri Webster. These members put a lot of hard work and dedication into their SAE so that they could receive this great honor.

            Overall, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter members had an awesome time at State Convention, competing in their CDEs, singing for the State Choir, receiving their Iowa Degrees, and helping feed starving children by doing Meals for the Heartland.  The chapter is so proud of all of the accomplishments that the members received at the state level, including the W.H.O Public Relations Award and the Supreme National Chapter Award, in which the chapter placed 3rd in the state, receiving a gold and advancing to the National level.

            Congratulations to all of the members and to the chapter for working so hard and achieving goals!

Co-Reporter

Jessica Alderson