News : Supreme Champs: VS FFA wins first at Iowa Convention

The VS FFA has been named the Supreme Chapter in the State of Iowa, and will be honored at the National FFA Convention in the fall.

Below is a summary of the state convention:

On April 17th, 2016 the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter members geared up for a trip to Ames to go to the 88th Iowa FFA Convention! The Chapter Exhibit team left early to set up their exhibit in the Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University. All of the other members left on the bus a little later and drove straight to Perfect Games for laser tag, bowling, arcade games, and pizza. After Perfect Games the members went to the hotel and spent time with each other swimming, socializing, and playing games. After staying up well past room checks, the members decided to go to sleep because they would have to be up early the next morning.

April 18th-19th was the actual State FFA Convention with many CDEs and workshops for the members to partake in, along with members being able to package meals for people in Haiti and in America through Meals From The Heartland. This year 33 members participated in many events, which read as followed:

Chapter Exhibit: Tailynn Tharp, Erin Cantrell, Sydney Walker, Katie Isbell, Ben Eden, Jakob Long, and Daisy Johnson- Gold, first place

Team Ag Sales: Kenyatta Yarbrough, Brianna Lundvall, Logan Grabin, and Morgan White- Bronze

Biotechnology: Keri Webster, Ethan Horak, Olivia Walker, and Alyssa Bunge- Silver

Farm Business Management: Drew Wiley, Kayla Schneider, Jessica Alderson, and Logan Holst- Silver

Chapter Website: Sarah Siglin-Silver

Reporter’s Scrapbook: Jessica Alderson and Keri Webster- Gold

Greenhand Quiz- Shelby McDonald and Grant Ries- Silver

Poultry Judging: Wes Haefner, Isaac Wiley, Amanda Burkey, and Eric Henkle- Silver

FFA Idol: Morgan Schaapveld and Lane Rowe

Band: Brock Ortner

Proficiency- Katie Isbell (in Ag Ed)- Gold, first place- advanced to Nationals

The chapter also received many awards, including the WHO Public Relations Award (Gold)), the Supreme National Chapter Award (Gold, first place, advanced to Nationals), Community Development Award (Gold, area winner- agricultural promotion), Ambassador Award, and the SAE Ag Ed Publicity Award (Gold).

Besides having members participate in CDEs, play in FFA Band, and compete in FFA Idol, the chapter gained four new Iowa FFA Degree Members; Ben Eden, Cassie Kenney, Sarah Siglin, and Drew Wiley. Katie Isbell also signed a Letter of Intent for Ag Ed at Iowa State.

Everyone did a fantastic job with their competitions and the chapter was proud to bring home so many plaques and awards! It was a good three days, filled with bonding, learning, and expanding each members horizons.

-Jessica Alderson

VS FFA Co-Reporter