Category: Activities

On Sept 19, 2017 SCC in Milford hosted a college career construction day. Five Fairbury High School students traveled to SCC in Milford to visit the technical college. This has been a yearly event and students from many different schools show up to take part in a very unique experience. Students pre-register with the college and pick areas of technical education they wish to experience. This year Austin Massa, Brett Sutton, Julie Johnson, Cash Kroll, and Zach Siebe were the students that went.

Students from many area schools were divided up into around 27 groups of around 20 students each. Each group had an associate from the school who took students around the campus. This year Fairbury students witnessed a demonstration about the career of an electrical lineman. Students learned about the hazards of the job and safety associated with working high above the ground in all kinds of weather conditions. Pay for this position can become as high as $45.00 per hour. They also got to see the robotics lab, a hydraulics simulator where students built a working model of the hydraulics used in a typical forklift. The students had a plan and had to hook up the lines to make the controls more and pump fluid which lifted a 70 pound weight.

The Nebraska State Patrol was also on hand to show the students how to calculate loads of big semis using our road systems. Students had to use math equations to figure loads on different axles. Students also toured the Construction department where they practiced using Kreg Jigs to build face frames for cabinets, wire tieing of rebar by hand and with a new battery powered wire tying gun, using a laser level and transits to finds reference points, and they even trimmed out an actual window using a 12″ Dewalt power miter saw.

There were many other areas to see but time was a factor. All in all it was a good day, the weather was beautiful and the students got some good exposure to different careers. We plan on going again next year.

Fairbury Journal News Fairbury, Nebraska (September 13, 2017) This week around downtown you will notice students from FHS art classes painting symbols of #JeffPride on area businesses for Homecoming week. Each window is unique, featuring messages to get the community excited for this Friday’s homecoming.

Students in Mr. Scott’s Construction class had a lesson on using hammers correctly.  The students competed against each other to drive 5 nails into a 4 x 4 in the shortest time possible.  Students had to drive them accurately and without bending over the nails to win.  Safety was stressed as well as nails hit incorrectly can glance off and hit you.  The students are also making a set of sawhorses and plan on building a garage onto a house this fall.  If time permits, they may even be working on making some sheds as well.

Fairbury Journal News Fairbury, Nebraska (Aug 24, 2017)– Jefferson County farmer Tom Blobaum has won the opportunity to direct a $2,500 dollar donation from the America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, to the Fairbury FFA Chapter.
The Fairbury FFA Chapter will use the funds to help students pay for the state and national FFA conferences. They will also be using the funds to help students in their development of community service projects and their Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs.
“Everyday I am amazed at the support that our chapter receives from local farmers like Mr. Blobaum. Our FFA members are so appreciative of his kindness and generosity and will be putting these funds to good use as we continue building the next generation of agricultural leaders in our community and state,” said Thomas Dux, Fairbury FFA Advisor. 

The Fairbury FFA Chapter members attended the 2017 Nebraska FFA State Convention, April 6-8 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Events were held at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, hotels in Lincoln’s Haymarket, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus.  It was the 89th year for the Nebraska State FFA Convention and a memorable one for the Fairbury FFA Chapter as the Agricultural Biotechnology Team were named State Champions.  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.  Students were engaged in leadership workshops, competed 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 Biotechnology team that received a Purple Ribbon as a team and were Named State Champions.  The team consisted of Ashley Griffee who received a purple ribbon and was named the Individual State Champion, Taylor Runge who placed 5th and received a Purple Ribbon, Jordan Ruhnke who placed 6th received a Purple Ribbon, and Jared Engelman who received a Blue Ribbon.   

Agriscience team that received a Blue Ribbon as a team and consisted of Sara Huss who received a Blue Ribbon, Taylor Runge who received,  a Red Ribbon, Devin Wanamaker, and Bret Cole.  

The Agronomy team  received a Purple Ribbon as a team and consisted of Ashley Griffee who received a Purple Ribbon, Michaela Buchli who received a Blue Ribbon, Kaylee Sipek who received a Red Ribbon, and Delaney Miller.   

The Farm Management Team Received a Blue Ribbon as a team and consisted of Patrick Ondrak who received a Blue Ribbon, Bailey Taylor who received a Blue Ribbon, Madison Black, and Brent Hirsch.  

The Senior Livestock Evaluation Team consisted of Sara McCown who received a Blue Ribbon, Blake Bauer, Jordan Ruhnke, and Althea Esteller.  

The Meat Judging team consisted of Garret Ragland who received a Blue Ribbon, Zach Holes, Althea Esteller, and Jon Engelman.

The Natural Resources Team received a Red Ribbon and consisted of Jake Maschmann who received a blue ribbon, Brock Barton, and Trevin Arnold.  

The Welding team consisted of Brock Barton who competed in the Gas Metal Arc Welding event and received a white ribbon and Brandon Hinrichs who competed in the OxyAcetylene welding event.  

Michaela Buchli competed in the Junior Public Speaking Leadership Skills Event and received a Gold rating.  Come forward and receive your medal.

Carson Bohlmeyer, Patrick Ondrak, Blake Bauer, and Althea Esteller also received their State FFA Degrees.  This is the highest honor an FFA Member can receive at the state level.  

Fairbury Public Schools Superintendent Mr. Stephen Grizzle also received the Cornerstone Award.  This is awarded to school leaders who have a vision and support Career Education Programs within their school.    

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.  Congratulations to all of the Fairbury FFA members who received ribbons at the state convention.  

For the second year in a row, Fairbury Public Schools was awarded the 8th Grade Visit Grant through EducationQuest Foundation.  A $500 grant is awarded to participating schools to assist in funding a college visit to the school of their choice.  Fairbury Public Schools chose Southeast Community College for the second year partly due to proximity but also to get some exposure to a smaller college campus for their first visit.  The trip to SCC included information on financial aid, KnowHowToGo to College information, a campus tour of all the departments, as well as tour of the Ag Facility.  They were able to see how drones were used by the ag department as well as some real livestock.  It was a great experience for these students.