Creston FFA was recognized at the 2017 South Central FFA District Convention as being an outstanding FFA Chapter in the state of Iowa. The chapter was recognized with the Supreme National Chapter Award and will advance to the national selection process to be recognized at the National FFA Convention in the fall. Receiving such an honor is a testament to the chapter’s hard work in ensuring all the crucial parts of a successful program of activities are met in the areas of student, chapter and community development.
Many individual members and teams received honors at district convention, including seeing two leadership contests advance to state completion. The Creston FFA parliamentary procedures team, consisting of Macy Evans, Mattie Wheeler, Morgan Shawler, Logan Pettit and Taylor Sorrells, earned a gold rating and will compete at the state contest in April. The FFA agriculture issues and perceptions team, consisting of Will Gordon, Ian Burns, Hailey Walter, Allivea Skarda, Laura Weis, Danika Schultes and Hank Looney, earned a silver rating and will compete at state convention. Tristan Travis advanced from the sub-district level to districts with his prepared public speech titled, “Stand Up for Agriculture.” Travis earned a silver rating.
Creston FFA member and sophomore Devon Buls was honored by being elected to the 2017-18 South Central District officer team as vice president. Buls and six other members from the area will lead FFA in conferences, camps, career development events and much more. Buls’ first duty as the South Central District FFA vice president is to serve on the courtesy corp during the 2017 Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference.
Additional individual recognition included the Iowa FFA Academic Achievement Award. This award is presented to senior FFA members that are current members, have been a member for two or more years, and have maintained a 3.5 GPA during their high school careers. This year’s Creston FFA Iowa Academic Achievement recipients are Evans, Pettit, Shawler and Wheeler.
Many of the FFA members participated at the sub-district level in leadership events. Results from the 2017 sub district contest include Travis – prepare public speaking (gold advanced), Kayla Luther – job interview (silver), Maisy Franklin – creed speaking (silver), Looney – individual ag sales (silver), Buls – ag broadcasting, Evans, Pettit, Shawler, Sorrells and Wheeler – parliamentary procedures (gold advance), Schultes, Kaylyn McClellan, Brayton Chesnut, Skarda, Gavin Gillam, Eli Hartman and Ellie Starlin – conduct of meetings team (silver) and Alexis Baker, Cali Foglesong, Looney and Travis – chapter quiz (fourth place).