Waukon FFA competes in Sub-District and District Leadership Contests
Waukon FFA team named Reserve State Champion in Farm Business Management competition ... The 2023 Iowa FFA State Convention was held in Ames April 16-18. Nearly 6,000 FFA members attended the convention. The Waukon FFA chapter had one team of four members compete in the Farm Business Management career development contest, with teams from 102 chapters competing in that contest. The 381 individuals who competed took an objective test which had three sections: economic principles, records and analysis, and risk management. All team members worked together to solve a problem related to the 2023 Farm Bill. Waukon High School seniors (left to right in the photo above) Alaina Gebel, Elizabeth Fossum, Kiersten Gibbs and Cassidy Gibbs earned the honor of Reserve State Champion Farm Business Management team. Fossum placed sixth as an individual, with Gebel and Cassidy Gibbs placing 14th and 15th, respectively. Written by Alaina Gebel, Waukon FFA Chapter.
Waukon FFA Sub-District and District Contests competitors ... Left to right - Front row: John Marti, Caleb Helgerson, Owen Regan, Drake Hankes, Ethan Gibbs; Back row: Natalie Byrnes, Kendra Gibbs, Gracelyn Donahue, Ryan Kolsrud, Alaina Gebel, Sarah Stock, Olivia Marti. Submitted photo.
by Mallory Berns, Chapter Reporter
February 21 of this year, the FFA Northeast Iowa Sub-District contest was held in Elkader at Central Community High School. At this event, Waukon FFA had 13 members compete in seven different contests.
Natalie Byrnes participated in Ag Broadcasting. This event is intended to encourage an understanding and create an interest in the field of broadcast journalism. She received a Gold rating and advanced on to District competition.
Ethan Gibbs and Caleb Helgerson took part in the Chapter Program Contest. This event is designed to emphasize group activity and accomplishments, and to recognize acts of leadership, growing out of an organized program in schools and communities. They earned a Silver rating and advanced to the District contest.
Alaina Gebel competed in the Ag Sales contest and received a Gold rating and also advanced to the District contest. During the Ag Sales contest, FFA members learn to prepare developing skills and techniques important toward becoming successful salespersons of agricultural products.
Ryan Kolsrud was involved in a contest called Job Interview. This competition provides FFA members an opportunity to demonstrate their ability in completing a job application form, writing a letter of application, preparing a resumé, interviewing properly, answering questions clearly, and presenting the proper impression. He acquired a Silver rating on his event.
Ethan Palmer participated in the Extemporaneous Speaking contest and was awarded a Bronze rating. This contest is designed to encourage the development of FFA members in the ability to speak, to think and to answer questions readily before an audience.
Waukon FFA also had five members participate in Greenhand Quiz, including Kendra Gibbs, Drake Hankes, Taylor Jackson, John Marti and Owen Regan. Kendra Gibbs was awarded First Place, beating all of her competitors. Hankes, Jackson and Regan all received a Silver rating, with Marti placing second in the competition. Greenhand Quiz has up to 100 questions worth one point each and members are tested on their knowledge of FFA.
Very similar to Greenhand Quiz, Chapter Quiz is just a more advanced version of the Greenhand Quiz. Gracelyn Donahue and Lauryn Howard participated in this competition and both earned a Bronze rating.
March 11, the Northeast Iowa FFA District contest was held in Dyersville at Beckman Catholic High School. Waukon FFA had nine members compete in five different contests at this event. Drake Hankes, Owen Regan, Kendra Gibbs and John Marti all participated in Greenhand Quiz, with Regan and Hankes both obtaining a Silver rating. Kendra Gibbs again placed first and Marti placed second in the contest, with both receiving a Gold rating and both advancing to the State competition. Gracelyn Donahue also competed in Chapter Quiz and claimed a Bronze rating.
Olivia Marti was a contestant in the Chapter Website contest. This event is provided to encourage the development of a website to promote the local FFA chapter. It is designed to stimulate the technological implementation of computer skills and webpage design. She was awarded a Gold rating and also advanced to the State competition.
Ethan Gibbs and Caleb Helgerson took part in the Chapter Program competition and received a Bronze rating. The last contestant was Alaina Gebel, who competed in the Ag Sales competition and earned a Gold rating, being selected as an alternate to the State competition.
Throughout each competition, the members were all able to learn something new. It was great to see the members getting involved and trying new things.
