Chapter Visits in High Gear

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

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Inside Story 2

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B U S I N E S S N A M E

Northwest News

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2 P A G E 1

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

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Iowa FFA Association

Northwest Iowa FFA @NWiaFFA www.iowaffa.com

Content -Chapter Visits -District Officer Application -Q&A with Dist. Officers -District Bowling Fun Day -Alta-Aurelia Pancakes! -Okoboji Stays Active -CC/E Starts PALS -CC/E places 2nd in IRFA -HMS “Adopts a Family” -Alta-Aurelia in Community -Running for State Office?

“When I became a district officer, I really didn’t know what I was getting in to. I

thought I would maybe get to travel and learn some things about agriculture and

local chapters. I had no idea! Being a district officer is much more than I expected.

I had many opportunities to travel and learn, but the most rewarding part of being

a district officer is getting to meet other students. I have met so many students that

have changed my life, even if they don’t realize it. It is a very amazing experience

being a district officer, and I would recommend it to anyone if you have just a lit-

tle bit of interest.” –Josh Earll, Northwest District Treasurer

District officer applications and guidelines can be found at www.iowaffa.com! If

you have any questions, feel free to contact us today! Step up and be a servant

leader for the largest, youth lead organization in the world!

~The FFA makes a

positive differ-

ence in the lives

of students by

developing their

potential for

premier leader-

ship, personal

growth and career

success through

agricultural

education.~

District Officer Applications Due Feb. 14

Tis’ the season for district and state officers to come to

your school! Since the end of December, officers have

conducted a chapter visits at over a dozen different

schools in Northwest Iowa! For those who don’t know

what a chapter visit is, here is a brief explanation. A chap-

ter visit is an opportunity for several state and district offi-

cers to come to your school and host an interactive work-

shop for each of your agricultural education classes. If

possible, they also like to visit with school administration

and your chapter officer team. The content gone over dur-

ing the chapter visit varies, so it can easily be customized

to whatever you would like covered! Topics that have

been done in the past include: Ag Issues, FFA Opportuni-

ties, SAE's, CDE's, Leadership, Time-Management, Com-

munication, Motivation, etc. To ‘book’ your chapter visit,

simply contact your Northwest state vice president, Steven

by e-mailing him at sbrockshus@iowaffa.com. We look

forward to coming to your school in the near future!

“I enjoyed FFA Of-

ficers at Sioux Cen-

tral. Great mes-

sage. Keep it up!”

- Melanie Bloom, Sioux

Central FFA Advisor

“Great energy and

FFA members are

excited about op-

portunities!” - Betsy

Schoelerman, HMS/CC-E

FFA Advisor

Check out the North-

west District Website

to see what chapters

have been visited!

Change your icon yel-

low by booking your

chapter visit today!

P A G E 2

Q: How did you become involved in the FFA?

Steven: I grew up on a 5th generation dairy farm and joined because of the strong

values I witnessed firsthand from agriculturists like my grandparents. I wanted to

stand up in the tough times and push through, just like them.

Josh: I feel like I have been in FFA since I was five. I got involved with FFA be-

cause my dad was the advisor but I never had thought I would gain so much as I

have.

Caroline: I joined for the jacket. I used sneak in to my parents’ bedroom and put

on my mom’s FFA jacket. My first jacket arrived just in time for sub-district

creed speaking. It may have been a chapter jacket, and three sizes too big, but I

was proud to wear it!

N O R T H W E S T N E W S

Getting to Know the Northwest District Officers

Q: What have you learned from the FFA?

Cassie: I have the life skills, lessons and friendships that prove the FFA mission. I

have sharpened speaking skills and have made connections with agriculturists

from across the nation.

Shelby: I have gained knowledge in leadership skills, social skills, and memories

to last a lifetime.

Marshall: Through my SAE I have gained a better understanding of responsibility

and knowledge of agriculture.

Caroline: FFA supporters have taught me that failure is okay if I can learn from it

and make myself better. Name: Caroline

Knoblock

Position: Northwest

District Secretary

Home Chapter:

Hartley Melvin Sanborn

FFA Chapter

Name: Cassie Galm

Position: Northwest

District Vice President

Home Chapter:

Spencer FFA Chapter

Name: Marshall Eddy

Position: Northwest

District Sentinel

Home Chapter: Sibley

- Ocheyedan FFA

Chapter

District Fun Day Bowling!

On January 14th, FFA members from around the

district gathered at Cherokee Bowl. Advisors and

members got to meet new people, make new

friends and have some fun. Thank you to everyone

who attended to make this event a great opportu-

nity! Continue to have a fun year!

P A G E 3 N O R T H W E S T N E W S

Name: Steven Brock-

shus

Position: Northwest

State Vice President

Home Chapter:

Sibley – Ocheyedan

FFA Chapter

Name: Josh Earll

Position: Northwest

District Treasurer

Home Chapter:

Sibley – Ocheyedan

FFA Chapter

Name: Shelby Lap-

pegard

Position: Northwest

District Reporter

Home Chapter: Es-

therville FFA

Q: What is one challenge you have for FFA members in the

Northwest District?

Marshall: The opportunities the FFA gives you can take you a lot of places in

life so I encourage you to get out there and explore!

Cassie: I found the truth in the FFA mission statement and always hold it close

to my heart while being a loud, proud supporter of the FFA and agriculture.

Will you do the same?

Josh: Getting involved as a NW District Officer was something I never would

have thought of doing when I came into high school. I challenge you to do

something you didn’t think was possible.

Caroline: I want to thank those who have supported me the most throughout

this last year as a district officer: my parents, my advisor, my district advisor,

my district officer team and most of all the members in the Northwest district.

Give thanks to those who have helped you become the person you are today.

Shelby: Be an outstanding member, and share your leadership skills with other

members!

Steven: The FFA has changed and impacted my life and I want to give back by

impacting the members and forging the path for the future of agriculture. I’m

striving to make a difference. What will you do?

Q: What has been your biggest highlight serving as at 2011-2012

district officer?

Josh: It has been a great opportunity because I get to be involved with so many

great people! Getting to know members from all over have been my favorite

part.

Caroline: I have enjoyed traveling around the district with other district officers

and meeting FFA members.

Marshall: I have connected with others all over the state and have acquired

many new leadership and communication skills.

Shelby: Being a district officer has made many highlights of my year, meeting

new people has really impacted my life and introduced me to a whole new

Alta-Aurelia to host Pancake Breakfast!

The Alta-Aurelia chapter will hold a pancake breakfast on Sunday, February 19

at the Alta Community Center to raise funds for Senior Scholarships. Help Sup-

port the Alta-Aurelia FFA chapter!

Okoboji FFA is Active in Community

P A G E 4

Clay Central/Everly Starts A New Program The Clay Central/ Everly Ag Education Department and FFA Chapter started a PALS

program this school year. Students in Ag Science at the high school have teamed up with

second grade students to teach about agriculture. The PALS Program is also being used

by three students as part of an SAE project on educating

elementary aged youth about agriculture.

PALS agriculture activities conducted so far include a

“garden in a bottle” in September, learning about and

carving pumpkins in October, taste-testing six different

types of corn products and creating a Indian corn craft in

November, and gaining knowledge about how Christmas

trees are grown in December. PALS also communicate bi-

weekly via handwritten letters. Our FFA Chapter was also

able to secure donations from three local businesses to

provide PALS t-shirts to each PAL. Everyone tries to

wear their PALS shirt when we meet each month.

The CC/E FFA members and Ag Science students are

really enjoying teaching the second graders about agricul-

ture and spending time with them each month. They also

enjoy communicating with them via written letters. FFA

member and PAL, Blair Montgomery stated, “It is really

neat to be able to share the importance of agriculture with

our PALS. I like doing activities with them each month.”

N O R T H W E S T N E W S

The Okoboji FFA delivered 350

sacks of fruit to the elderly of Milford

during the holiday season. Sacks of

fruit consisted of two grapefruit, two

oranges and two apples. They had

FFA interviews with KICD radio;

Dakota Kraninger is in the process of

being interview in the

picture with Troy

(Picture directly right).

The district officers

came and spoke to the

morning Ag classes and

did several fun activi-

ties during their time at

the high school. Also, over Christmas

break the FFA chapter held their

Christmas party by going bowling in

Spirit Lake.

Download your very own “I Be-

lieve” Computer Wallpaper to-

day from www.iowaffa.com!

Download your “I Be-

lieve” iPod/Cell Phone

Background today from

www.iowaffa.com!

P A G E 5

Schedule of Events

January 31– Rock Valley

Chapter Visit

February 4– Iowa FFA Degree

& District Proficiency

Award Judging

January 31– Rock Valley

Chapter Visit

February 10– Sioux Central

Banquet

February 14– District Officer

Applications DUE

February 14– District Nomi-

nating Committee Applica-

tions DUE

February 17– OA-BCIG “I AM

AG” Middle School Day

February 19-25– National FFA

Week!!!

February 20– District Officer

Interviews (Sioux Rapids)

February 21– NE Sub-District

February 21– NW Sub-District

February 23– SE Sub-District

February 24– SW Sub-District

March 3– District Convention

N O R T H W E S T N E W S

HMS FFA Members "Adopt-A-Family" for the Holidays

Northwest Iowa FFA @NWiaFFA www.iowaffa.com

Recently, the

Iowa Renew-

able Fuels

Association

sponsored

their 2nd

Annual Fuel

the Future

high school renewable fuels video contest. A

video, submitted by CC/E FFA members,

titled "Ethanol for the Economy," won sec-

ond place in the contest. Clay Central/Everly

FFA sophomores Gabby Huss, Rebecca

White and Blair Montgomery produced, nar-

rated and starred in the winning entry. As the

second place winner of the contest, Huss,

White and Montgomery earned a $600 prize

and had their video featured at the 6th An-

nual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on Janu-

ary 24th.

CC/E FFA Members place 2nd in IRFA video contest

The holiday season is a time for helping out

those that are less fortunate. Members of the

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn FFA Chapter were

able to help make Christmas brighter for two

families in O'Brien County by participating in

the Adopt-A-Family Program through Upper

Des Moines. Chapter members enjoyed shop-

ping for toys and clothing for the families as

well as wrapping the numerous gifts. The chap-

ter was also able to donate leftover FFA fruit to

the two families.

Thank you to eve-

ryone for your con-

tinued support of

today’s youth.

Your passion for

the FFA is what

keeps us going!

Thinking about running for State FFA Office? Check out this blog:

www.nwiowaffa.blogspot.com.

Check out the CC/E’s video at http://goo.gl/tOr1g!

Alta-Aurelia FFA in the Community The Alta-Aurelia FFA Chapter had a very successful Fruit Sales

Campaign and thanks the community for their support. The chapter

donated fruit to The Lord’s Cupboard, Upper Des Moines, Well

Life-Alta, Care Center Aurelia, Summit Church Food Pantry and

the Storm Lake Methodist Church Food Pan-

try. They also showed appreciation for their

support by giving fruit to Hultren Imp.Vetter

Imp. and the Co-op in Alta. Pictured below is

Marcus Hinkeldey delivering fruit to the CO-

OP manager. The tractor restoration course is

underway. The five students pictured are in

the process of restoring a 1937 John Deere B. A power point will be

prepared at the conclusion of the course. Pictures are taken at each

step of the process. The students are Blake Surhr,

Zach Dreyer, Ben Sand, Cody Cameron and Mracus Hinkeldey.