Crofton FFA Highlights
Crofton FFA Chapter
By Sara Kohles, Crofton FFA Chapter Reporter
The past months have flown by for the Crofton FFA chapter since our last article in the Heartland Express and have managed to complete several projects. The summer found members busy with many activities. In May, the newly elected officers attending Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT), in which they learned about their many responsibilities. At the very beginning of July, ten eighth through tenth grade members attended the Pursuing Excellence and Knowledge (PEAK) Conference. In mid-July, our chapter President and Advisor attended the Washington Leadership Conference, which is held in Washington, D.C. July also found the other officers hosting a concession stand for the Old Iron Association annual tractor ride, in which over 200 tractors and operators stopped in Crofton for refreshments. August brought about the Knox County Fair and over 20 members exhibited their projects that they had worked so diligently on.
By then, it was back to school! We launched the school year with a pool party with a Hawaiian theme and a cookout meeting that helped our members get to know each other and have fun. This is our second year having a pool party and once again everyone enjoyed swimming after a long day of school. Then in September we had a cookout by the lake. To end the night we always have a scavenger hunt and the members have to find the officers and answer FFA trivia questions. Both events helped kick off our new school year and obtain new members.
Then our chapter went into full swing with fundraisers and community service activities in October. We had our annual tailgate fundraiser during the homecoming football game. Unfortunately, the weather was cold and wet that night, but our split-the-pot and food stand fundraisers at a volleyball game compensated for the tailgate. The proceeds went to help ten Crofton members who attended the 2009 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 20th-24th.
It wasn’t the first time for many of the travelers who attended the National Convention, yet they were still in awe at the 50,000 blue jackets walking down “FFA Way”. The group was kept busy with many activities each day. Their favorite parts of the Convention were listening to the main speaker Mike Rowe, touring the Blue Springs Caverns, walking around the world’s largest Agricultural Career Fair, watching the Parliamentary Procedure Finals, and attending the Bulls and Broncs Rodeo. They also attended the workshop “Making the Most of Little Things” that taught them how the little insignificant things in life add up to be the most important. An additional highlight was that Austin Mann, who had earned first place at the 2009 State FFA Convention with his Beef Production Placement proficiency, earned a silver ranking. We are very proud of his accomplishment! Everyone came back with plenty of exciting stories as well as many new friends from across the country.
Early in the school year, our chapter secretary, Amy Krepel and Mrs. Mann, our Advisor worked on a grant application. The grants are offered each year by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority and are slated to help chapters with the purchase of various technology and/or projects. We received word in October that Crofton was one of the chapters selected to receive a $1,000 grant to purchase a chapter camera and accessories. Since we have been using an old camera for the past several years, we look forward to capturing images of our members taking part in the many activities throughout the remainder of the year. We feel very fortunate to have been selected since it is a very competitive grant process!
One of our chapter goals this year is to expand our community service activities. We started out by cleaning up a two-mile stretch of highway next to our high school. The volunteers found some interesting items among the mundane bottles and cans. The activity not only helps clean the community but it also serves as an important lesson to our members about not littering. Our chapter also conducts seatbelt checks at sporting events to help raise awareness about seatbelt safety. So far the results have been very promising, but we still would like to stress the importance of wearing a seatbelt. Not only is it a law but it also saves lives! Another event that the members look forward to is the making and delivery of the fruit plates to residents at the Cottonwood Villa. We had many members involved again this y ear and we hope that all residents enjoyed the fruit and the visit.
When November rolled around, we started our annual Fruit Sales Fundraiser. Most members went above and beyond what they are required to sell and competed to raise the most funds. Our community is always excited to order their fruit for the holiday season. The fundraiser is always a success because of our amazing community that is always supporting us.
This year our chapter will host the District Leadership Skills Events competition. Originally, it was supposed to be held in December, but due to poor weather conditions it was postponed until January 4th. Ten chapters from northeast Nebraska, including nearly 350 members, will compete for a chance to go to the state competition in April. Most of the competitions are speaking events such as extemporaneous speaking and creed speaking. One of the most competitive events at LSEs includes the Parliamentary Procedure Team Demonstration. Last year our senior team won districts and earned gold in Lincoln. We have also had very good luck with our members in speaking events, and we hope to have many of them qualify for state this year.
Our next competition will be District Livestock Judging on January 28th at Northeast Community College Agriculture Complex in Norfolk. Hopefully this time the weather will not interfere. After Judging and Career Development Events in March, it will not be long until State Convention in Lincoln. For most members it is the highlight of the FFA year. Not only do members get out of school for a few days, but they also meet other Nebraska FFA members, listen to inspirational speakers, and compete in various FFA events. It is something everyone in our chapter is looking forward to.
Our members have been keeping active and excited for FFA activities. So far it has been an exciting year for our chapter with plenty more to come before the end of the year.
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