Sterling’s FFA Officers have started off the 2024-2025 school year keeping busy with State convention, chapter meetings, fundraisers and much more that will be coming in the next few months.
The officer team consists of Grace Wetzell, Chapter President; Landon Kukowski, Vice President; Madison Stern, Secretary; Juliet Funderburg, Reporter; Dani Slonneger, Treasure; and KadieLynn Nelson, Sentinel. Chapter advisors Megan Stanley and Taylor Irvin help guide the officer team. The officers and advisors plan everything the chapter does, including fundraisers, career development events, chapter meetings, and more.
Irvin explained, “My favorite part of the officer team is how unique and different each personality is- it really makes for some fun meetings! I see that you all work hard and invest in the future of our chapter.”
Students all have different reasons as to why they joined FFA. Maybe the student has a farm background, or maybe they’re a city kid that wants to go into an agricultural related career. Everyone is welcomed in the FFA program here at Sterling High School. As a symbol of faith, honor, and pride, the FFA members wear the FFA blue jacket.
Wetzell said, “To me the jacket symbolizes the growing future of the agriculture industry and it acts as a gateway for every student to experience all the different opportunities and achievements FFA can bring you.”
Kukowski added, “To me the jacket is a symbol of our dedication and pride in the American agriculture produced in our country and our town.”
Sterling’s FFA has many fun events they do over the school year and National Convention is one that is coming up soon on October 23-25. Students from around 50 states and islands all come together in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Students will listen to keynote speakers, talk to people from all 50 states, experience the shopping mall and expo center, and a concert and rodeo.
FFA isn’t just about traveling to big events but practicing skills and competing against other FFA members.
Land use was Sterling’s most recent career development event, where students looked at certain things in the soil like slope of the land, drainage, landform, and limiting layers. All of these factors could help them figure out if they could build a house or if the land could be more useful for farming purposes, Sterling’s team placed third overall.
The most well-known event is at the end of the year in May. Farmapalooza is where students show off their supervised agricultural experience or what they like to do. Sterling FFA has had taxidermy, farm equipment, farm animals, food trucks,and alot more in years past. This day in May is a day to show off students’ accomplishments,outside of FFA and school.
FFA officers and advisors stay busy throughout the year. Students go from chapter meetings to facilitation of the activity boxes made at said chapter meeting, but they still know how to have fun beyond the busy months.
