Sandy Creek FFA has had a tremendous year of activities and student accomplishments thus far. A big THANK YOU to the community for their continuing support. Our year started off with four community service projects including the Deweese Tractor Pull, Old Trusty Days, group leaders for the Earth Jamboree and soil testing for the city of Edgar.

 

The chapter also applied for and received a NIFA grant award for $2,500.00 to spend on Hydroponics equipment. The chapter will use the grant equipment to begin a year round vegetable production project beginning with lettuce and tomatoes.

In October, 14 students attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The Poultry team received a bronze team award. Preston Hild represented his chapter and state by singing in the National FFA Choir for the second year in a row. While attending this conference, students experienced motivational speakers and leadership workshops from individuals all over our country. Another highlight of this trip was the chance to see Taylor Swift in concert and attend the PBR championship.

In addition to the fall activities, the chapter competed in the district 8 livestock judging competition qualifying both senior and junior livestock judging teams for the state competition in April. Senior team members who have qualified are Ian Rothell, Blake Kenley, Ethan Lang and Matraca Meyer. Junior team members are Jared Taylor, Jordon Harms, Josh Lowery and Levi Schlick.

Sandy Creek FFA members have continued with the momentum from the fall and carried it into the winter months by performing well at the Leadership Skills Events. Morgan Meyer, Morgan Shuck, Derek Hansen, Preston Hild and Kayla Lahndorf competed in Senior Parli Pro and received a 4th place for district 8.

 

Morgan Shuck also competed in the Cooperative’s public speaking competition and received a State Alternate finish of 2nd place. Katlin Lang and Katie Benton competed in the Agriculture Demonstration contest and are also State Alternates placing 3rd in district competition. Jordon Harms competed in Creed speaking and received a blue ribbon while Ethan Lang competed in Job Interview and placed 7th in competition. 

FFA members have just finished up a busy National FFA Week in February by hosting a multitude of activities on campus. To celebrate the sixth year of being a chapter, officers created a National FFA Week t-shirt with the top six reasons to be in Sandy Creek FFA and wore these shirts throughout the week. On Tuesday, Feb 24th, the chapter hosted a snack lounge to thank the teachers for their hard work. All teachers received an FFA water bottle filled with goodies as a token of appreciation. 

FFA members also hosted an Ag Olympics and coloring competition for the elementary students. Students led such games as a wheelbarrow race, marshmallow toss, egg finder and sunflower spitting contest. Members rounded out their week of activities by attending the Made for Excellence and Advanced Leadership Development Conferences held in Kearney.

Students are looking to finishing out the year strong by competing in several areas in the upcoming Career Development Events at Hastings CCC campus and attending the State FFA Convention in April. We wish a good luck to those students competing in these activities.