News : VS FFA Chapter Recognized in the top 1.5% of the nation's 9,407 chapters

Vinton-Shellsburg's FFA group has been very active in the community and in their organization. Representatives of the group spoke to the Vinton Kiwanis Club at their noon meeting in November. Present to share were Will McKenna, FFA President, Sophia Newton, FFA Secretary, Cole Birker, Officer-at-large and Bri Dulin, Co-Reporter. The group was accompanied by Loiuse Flemming, a co-advisor.

Will began by sharing their activities including their fruit sale fundraiser selling $30,000 in fruit to the community. Bri talked about their national convention where the group spent five days. They spent the time at the expo and attended several sessions. Part of the convention included election national officers which the group were able to see.

Bri talked about a session that she attended called, "Be Kind to Your Mind," with the emphasis on being kind to yourself. She shared some of the upcoming events including the lock-in filled with games and activities for the group. There will also be a Pizza Ranch fundraiser.

Cole shared a bit about the alumni group, which can include any adults who want to simply support the organization. The Alumni help with things like putting up the lights and roping around the area for Christmas. They also help with contest preparation. The group prepares now for the season that begins in January. The Alumni will be presented the FFA Showcase and the Alumni help to judge the entries and decide what moves on to the next level of competition.

Sophie explained that while the FFA is a national organization, the Vinton Chapeter is small in comparison while the organization is divided up by districts and states. There are chapters in each state as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Agriculture, leadership and personal growth are the key focuses. The "Future Farmers of America" was changed to the National FFA organization to expand it to include everyone.

The group's focus on leadership skills includes hands-on projects, contests and community service projects. They help at the fair, and Party in the Park, Boomtown and wherever they are needed. The group helps with public speaking, career development, livestock judging and expand into livestock experiences.

FFA helps in schooling, careers and life.

Louise Fleming added that at the convention, there were over 70,000 people present. She shared that the group received a three star rating, which is the highest rating. The group had submitted a 36-page application which talked about their goals and activities. The application is submitted to the state, and Vinton-Shellburg was in the top 9th out of around 250 chapters. Efforts, goals and activities drove the group to the top. The judging focuses on community education to service. The three star rating, puts Vinton Shellsburg's chapter in the top 1.5% of all of the nation of 9,407 chapters.

She explained that this number not only reflects the chapter but the community as well and all of the efforts poured into the chapter.

The local group does not charge membership fees to be involved opening it to everyone. Each one who completes the VoAg is technically a member, while all may not be active, she said that participation rates are in the 60-70% by the end of the year which include attending one meeting and two other events. Will said that there is around 160 members with about 70-80 active members. He shared that one student who had moved here from California to rural Iowa was now in college taking agriculture courses.

The group answered questions about some of their activities. Will explained that they have a metal and wood shop in their new building as well as the Animal Learning Lab that was added around 2016. The students choose an animal that they've never worked with before. For 30 days they are responsible to care for the animal. Will explained that because he comes from an ag background, he had to choose a guinea pig as a new animal one year and this year there is a chameleon in the lab. 

The building is also used for the fruit sales distribution and other activities. He also mentioned the greenhouse that was added at about the same time and they hold a spring sale to teach management skills in that area as well. The students learn about tempterature, sunlight vs. shade and how to care for the plants. 

To end the program, they shared their motto: Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve.