The Waupaca FFA earned a first place National Chapter Award at the Wisconsin FFA Convention, held June 10-13 in Madison.
Local FFA members earned first place in the Student Development and Community Development divisions, and third place in the Chapter Development division. Waupaca FFA Chaper will now advance to national competition.
The Wisconsin FFA recognized James Richmond, who recently retired from Waupaca high School as a technology education teacher, with the Distinguished Service Award. The award is given to individuals who have assisted FFA members.
Taylor Eilers, Larkin Hooker-Moericke, Erin Montgomery, Elisha Riley, Jensen Trinrud, and Chloe Hamm competed in the FFA Opening and Closing Ceremony contest for middle school students. These members earned first place out of nine teams. Students who participated in the contest were asked to memorize and recite the opening and closing ceremonies. Students were critiqued on their poise, confidence, and the exact repeating of each ceremony.
Ellyssa Grant, Morgan Orr, Austin Zempel, Caleb Hamm, Mikayla Martin, and Jessica Allen competed in the FFA Opening and Closing Ceremony contest for high school students and earned second place.
Morgan Orr, Mellissa Nelson, Ellyssa Grant, Mikayla Martin, Brianna Butzin, Jared Borntrager, and Austin Zempel competed in Parliamentary Procedure.
Jessica Allen, Brandon Engle, Mikayla Martin, Morgan Orr, Alta Littrel, Austin Bellile, Ellyssa Grant, Tony Austreng, Morgan Platta, Nichole Jacowski, Austin Zempel, and Dalton Stelzner received their Wisconsin FFA Degree.
Nicole Jacowski earned fourth place in the FFA Job Interview Contest at the state convention.
Morgan Eilers competed in the extemporaneous speaking contest.
Morgan Orr and Ellyssa Grant served as official chapter delegates.
Austin Zempel, Taylor Eilers, Erin Montgomery, Austin Bellile, Caleb Hamm, Ethan Riley, Larkin Hooker-Moericke, served on the Courtesy Corps during the convention. These members worked behind stage, assisted as ushers, took tickets for luncheons and helped with workshops.
Jessica Allen, Morgan Orr, and Natasha Hales assisted in the news room during the state convention. Members took pictures, proofed articles, and wrote news releases in the newsroom.
The Waupaca FFA Middle School Quiz Bowl team reached the finals. Erin Montgomery, Jenna Pagel, Larkin Hooker-Moericke and Taylor Eilers competed twice at the convention.
Six FFA members were recognized for earning first place with their proficiency applications. Tony Austreng earned top honors in the Wildlife Production and Management Proficiency area. Morgan Platta won Specialty Animal Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency. Kaley Cardinal earned first place in Small Animal Production and Care Entrepreneurship Proficiency area. Ashley Orr won the Sheep Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency area. Ben Nickel earned top honors in Grain Production Placement Award. Morgan Eilers was the state winner in the Beef Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency.
These members will compete on the regional level in July. If any the students are selected as one of four in the nation, they will complete at the National FFA Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky in October.
Students who earned state gold ratings include: Morgan Orr – 9th gold Agricultural Sales, Stephanie Johnson – 2nd gold Diversified Livestock, Avery Nowak – 5th gold Equine Science, Jason Cardinal – 2nd gold Poultry Production, and Morgan Eilers -3rd gold Diversified Livestock, 6th Sheep Production, and 2nd gold Agriculture Sales, Morgan Platta – 8th gold Small Animal Production and Care, Natasha Hales – 4th gold Wildlife Production and Management, Alta Littrel – 3rd gold Equine Science, Brandon Engel – 11th gold Poultry Production, Jessica Allen – 12th gold Small Animal Production and Care, Ethan Riley – 10th gold Dairy Production, Mikayla Martin – 9th gold Equine Science, Caleb Hamm – 17th gold Diversified Livestock, Ellyssa Grant – 16th gold Sheep Production. The proficiency application consists of eight pages, which is an overview of their knowledge, goals set and accomplished, competencies, and money earned and invested. Students also needed to incorporate six pictures with captions, a resume’, an inventory, a personal page and one recommendation.
Tony Austreng took third place in the Wisconsin Star in Agriscience competition. This award recognizes students who have created and developed their own science experiment, conducted research, and evaluated results using scientific data and technology.
Morgan Eilers earned the recognition of a Three Star Leader. This honor rated her as one of the best FFA members in Wisconsin during the 2012-2013 school year. The Three Star Leader Award recognizes a selected FFA member from a local chapter for being actively involved in chapter activities in National Chapter Student Development, Chapter Development, and Community Development division.
Natasha Hales helped kick-off the convention when she participated in the FFA Parade of Flags.
Austin Zempel, Jared Borntrager, Morgan Orr, Morgan Eilers, Jessica Allen, Caleb Hamm, Natasha Hales, Erin Montgomery, Taylor Eilers, Austin Bellie, Mikayla, Reid Ewing, Staurt Johnson, Nicole Jawkowski, Ethan Riley, and Ellyssa Grant participated in the Day of Service event. Members set up the Kids against Hunger projects, as well as worked at a local food pantry in Madison for four hours. The River Food Pantry serves about 600 families per week, going through over 25,000 pounds of food during the week.
Hannah Piencikowski is the Chapter Reporter for the Waupaca FFA