Author: Karen Dux

The Fairbury FFA Chapter members attended the 2016 Nebraska FFA State Convention, April 6-8 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chapter members attending the convention were Tyler Heidemann, Nathaniel Stapaules, Dylan Au, Cody Huss, Blake Bauer, Patrick Ondrak, Jon Engelman, Michaela Buchli, Tori Likens, Kaylee Sipek, Delaney Miller, Natalie Stapaules, Ryan Umland, Garret Ragland, Althea Esteller, Tony Grummert, Jake Maschmann, Jesse Graves, Paige Livingston, Evie Schwab, Shavara Kroeker, Jordan Ruhnke, Sarah McCown, Carson Bohlmeyer, Brock Barton, Madison Black, Trevin Likens, Brandon Reese, Miranda Heidemann

Nebraska FFA members and chapters were honored for their accomplishments at the 88th annual State FFA Convention. Events were held at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, hotels in Lincoln’s Haymarket, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus.

FFA members, advisors and guests supported chapters and award recipients. Attendees had the opportunity to listen to motivational speakers and retiring state officer addresses during convention sessions. They were engaged in leadership workshops, watched students compete in Leadership Skills Events and attended the annual Career Fair. Students also participated in the State Career Development Events on UNL‘s East Campus.  

Individual award winners for the Fairbury FFA Chapter include the Agricultural Sales team consisting of Ryan Umland, Garret Ragland, Althea Esteller, and Natalie Stapaules received a white ribbon as a team while Natalie received a white ribbon individually.  The Agriscience team consisted of Delaney Miller, Kaylee Sipek, Tori Likens, and Michaela buchli.  Tori received a blue ribbon and Michaela received a red ribbon.  The Agronomy team consisting of Blake Bauer, Cody Huss, John Engelman,  and Patrick Ondrak received a blue ribbon as a team.  Cody received a blue ribbon, John received a blue ribbon and Patrick received a white ribbon individually.  The Natural Resources team consisting of Tyler Heidemann, Carson Bohlmeyer, Nathaniel Stapaules, and Brock Barton received a blue ribbon as a team and placed in the top 20.  Carson received a purple ribbon, Nathaniel received a blue ribbon, and Brock received a red ribbon.  The Welding team consisted of Dylan Au competing in the Gas Metal Arc Welding event, Tony Grummer competing in the OxyAcetylene welding event, and Tyler Heidemann competed in the Shielded Metal Arc Welding event.  Tyler received a white ribbon.  The Vet Science team consisted of Ryan Umland, Natalie Stapaules, Patrick Ondrak, and Sarah McCown.  The Floriculture team consisted of Evie Schwab, Paige Livingston, Shavara Kroeker, and Jordan Ruhnke.  The Meat Judging team consisted of Jesse Graves, Tony Grummert, Brock Barton, and Jake Maschmann.  The Farm Management team consisted of Trevin Likens, Madison Black, Brandon Reese, and Miranda Heidemann.  Garret Ragland competed in the Job Interview Leadership Skills Event and received a silver rating.   

The Fairbury FFA chapter also had three members who received their State FFA Degrees and were chosen to sing in the State FFA Choir.  Those members receiving their State FFA Degrees were Trevin Likens, Tyler Heidemann, and Cody Huss.  Those members singing in the State FFA Choir were Ryan Umland, Madison Black, and Garret Ragland.     

The Fairbury FFA Chapter had a great time at state convention and will be looking to keep building in their experiences and contest results for next year.  

Mrs. Winter’s 7th grade science class has been learning about body systems and the major organs of each and their roles and tasks in the body. The students are amazed to learn how impressive their bodily functions are! As a culmination of our body systems unit, students had to apply what they learned to a real organism. Some students dissected down the fetal pig specimens. Mrs. Winter labeled major organs and the students had to identify and answer questions about them in a lab practical. Pigs are a great mammalian model organism to show students what their organs look like and how they function in their bodies.

The Nebraska State FFA Convention was held in Lincoln, Nebraska April 6-8th.  Thomas Dux, Ag science teacher for Fairbury Public Schools, addressed students and parents during the TAGGED to TEACH AG Address.

 “The National Teach Ag Campaign is designed to raise awareness of the need for more agriculture teachers, retain current agriculture teachers and encourage others to become agriculture teachers while celebrating the positive contributions agriculture teachers make in their schools and communities.” 

Video link: http://livestream.com/Inspirmedia/FFA/videos/118621282

The Energizers club is excited to announce that we applied and received a Region V grant to sponsor hands-on activities in smoking-prevention classes for our elementary school students. This week, a group of junior high and high school students went down to Jefferson and provided engaging smoking-prevention classes for all 4th grade students. The students got to see firsthand the negative effects that smoking has on the body, compared smoker and non-smoker lungs, saw how smoking affects a growing fetus and learned facts about the hazards of smoking. The 4th grade students had a blast! We thank our secondary Energizers students for the time and effort that they dedicated in service to our younger students’ healthy development.