News Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Celebrates a Year of Success at 96th Annual Awards Banquet

By: Co-Reporter, Abby McKenna

The Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter held its 96th Annual Awards Banquet, bringing together 39 members and 119 guests to celebrate a year full of growth, leadership, and achievement. The evening began with a welcome from President Will McKenna, followed by an invocation from Officer-at-Large Cole Birker. Guests enjoyed a meal prepared by Merchant’s Grilling and Susan Meyer before the official program began. The banquet formally opened with traditional FFA Opening Ceremonies, followed by the recitation of the FFA Creed by Kendalyn Appleby. 

Throughout the evening, the chapter recognized the many supporters, volunteers, and community members who play a vital role in the success of the program. Special guests in attendance included Vinton-Shellsburg administration representative Christine McSweeney, Iowa FFA State Officer Andrew Pingenot, and Northeast District Officer Prestin Martin. The chapter proudly recognized major individual honors, including Andrew Pingenot as a State Officer Candidate and Elect and Ciara Dods as a Northeast District Officer Candidate and Elect. The Honorary FFA Degree, the chapter’s highest honor, was awarded to Matt Marovec, Charles Yedlik, and Tom and Eunice Pingenot for their outstanding support and dedication to the program. A highlight of the evening was senior recognition, honoring members for their years of dedication and leadership in the chapter. Seniors recognized included Ben McGowan, Andrew Allsup, Wes McKenna, Cooper McClintock, Ben Buhr, Braedon Hepker, and Will McKenna. Each senior was celebrated for their involvement and contributions, as well as the lasting impact they have made on the chapter. Members were also recognized for earning their State FFA Degrees, including Andrew Allsup, Ben Buhr, Ciara Dods, Braedon Hepker, Ali Lutz, Levi Lutz, Kirsten Pettit, and Raine Wheeler. Academic excellence was highlighted with Academic Achievement Awards presented to Ben McGowan and Ben Buhr, along with Chapter Scholar Awards recognizing top students in each grade. 

The chapter celebrated its success at the state level by earning a Supreme National Chapter Award Gold rating, advancing to national consideration. Numerous Career and Leadership Development Events were recognized, showcasing the wide range of opportunities members participated in this year. These included Floriculture, Food Science, Livestock Judging, Ag Mechanics, Meats Evaluation, Milk Quality & Products, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Soil Evaluation, Nursery Landscape, Veterinary Science, Agronomy, Kirkwood Landscape Challenge, Ag CSI, Extemporaneous Speaking, Prepared Public Speaking, Job Interview, Creed Speaking, Ag Broadcasting, Ag Sales, Parliamentary Procedure, Chapter Program of Activities, Ag Issues, Experience the Action, Chapter Website, Reporter’s Book, Secretary’s Book, Treasurer’s Book, Ag Communications, Chapter Display, Ag Biotechnology, Team Ag Sales, Poultry Evaluation, Farm Business Management, Greenhand Quiz, Chapter Quiz, and Agriscience Fair. 

Proficiency Awards highlighted outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects. Local achievements included Bridgette Castle in Agricultural Education, Kirsten Pettit in Small Animal Production and Care, Abby McKenna in Turf and Landscape Maintenance, Jameson Demuth in Equine Science Placement, Ben Buhr in Swine Production Entrepreneurship, William Kreutner in Beef Production, Ciara Dods in Agriscience Research, Kirsten Pettit in Veterinary Science, Bridgette Castle in Small Animal Production, Raine Wheeler in Agriculture Communications, Levi Lutz in Grain Production, and Braedon Hepker in Ag Mechanics Design and fabrication. At the state level, Abby McKenna received gold 2nd place in Turf and Landscape Maintenance, Jameson Demuth received 1st place gold in Equine Science Placement, and Ben Buhr received 1st place Swine Production. Both Demuth and Buhr will advance to the national level. 

We also highlighted Ben Buhr, who was a Star of Iowa in production finalist at the state level, and Abby McKenna, who was the Northeast Rising Star finalist. The Star Greenhand was presented to a first-year member who has shown outstanding involvement, leadership potential, and commitment to FFA. This year's star greenhand was Madeline Pingenot. The Star Chapter Farmer Award was presented to a member who has shown outstanding achievement through their SAE, leadership, and commitment to agricultural excellence which was awarded to Ben Buhr. The Star Placement Award is given to a member who has been in FFA for two or more years and earned their Chapter Degree in an Agricultural Placement area either paid or unpaid this year's recipient is Cooper McClintock. The outstanding classman awards were awarded to the member of each class that has shown the most involvement in our chapter based on merit points. Recipients are 6th grade Carly Kreutner, 7th grade Lloyd Dohrmann, 8th grade Wesley Lacey, freshman Wyatt Shaver, Sophomore Abby McKenna, Junior Ciara Dods, Senior Ben Buhr. Scholarship recipients included Will McKenna (Farmers Savings Bank & Trust and Advisors Scholarship) and Ben Buhr (Farmers Savings Bank & Trust and Ross & Shirley Wiley). The DeKalb Award went to Ben Buhr, Senior Service to Will McKenna, and SAE Award to Raine Wheeler.

The evening also featured a year-in-review slideshow created by Co-Reporter Bri Dulin, recognition of the middle school and high school officer teams, and a special parent recognition ceremony honoring the support systems behind each member. The banquet concluded with the installation of the 2026–2027 officer team: Ciara Dods (President), Levi Lutz (Vice President), Zoey McClintock (Secretary), Cole Birker (Treasurer), Abby McKenna and Raine Wheeler (Co-Reporters), Ali Lutz (Sentinel), and Madeline Pingenot (Officer-at-Large). 

Overall, the 96th Annual Awards Banquet was a celebration of dedication, leadership, and community support. The Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter looks forward to another successful year ahead as it continues to grow leaders, build communities, and strengthen agriculture.