The Mid-Prairie FFA Chapter had 14 members who attended the Made for Excellence conference in Boone November 13-14.

Members are conducting fruit sales through Friday, November 19. Pick-up dates are December 6 and 7.

Members Matt Stutzman, Mike Norman, Kally Boehmer and Josh Allen placed 10th (from a field of 30 teams) at the District Soils Judging Contest at Muscatine Community College October 5.

There were 20 members who attended the Greenhand Fireup September 28 where Greenhand members learned about SEA projects, goal setting, opportunities in FFA and official dress. Several older members attended and assisted with the sessions.

Michael Huston planned the Fireup as part of his district officer duties. Mike Norman was elected sub-district secretary and Kally Boehmer, sub-district reporter.

Farm Progress

The chapter presented information about the dangers of grain dust explosions and flowing grain, as well as safe grain handling methods during the Farm Progress Show at Amana.

The presentation was the same one they had done at the Iowa State Fair where members won a lst place in the Agricultural Demonstrations competition.

Visitors to the Farm Progress show had an opportunity to see the chapter’s grain dust explosion model, the gravity flow wagon model and a display board filled with farm safety information.

National Convention

For the first time in its history, the National FFA Convention was held in Louisville, Kentucky rather than Kansas City, Missouri. Members who attended the Convention October 27-30 were Josh Allen, Kally Boehmer, Amanda Brenneman, Laren Garrett, Kyle Gingerich, Jesse Gingerich, Kerstin Hartzler, Tasha Juilfs, Brad Kinsinger, Mike Norman, Micah Peck and Kristin Schneider. Chaperones were Elsa and Benjamin Schmidt and Pat and Elizabeth Curl.

En route to Louisville, the group toured the new National FFA Center and the Brickyard Racetrack in Indianapolis, Indiana. The group attended the reflections session October 27 where the National FFA President, Lisa Ahrens of Iowa, welcomed members to Louisville.

Keynote speaker for the opening session October 28 was actor Danny Glover. Later that day, Tasha Juilfs and Jesse Gingerich accepted the one-star National Chapter Award for the Mid-Prairie chapter.

The final day, October 30, featured tours of agricultural industries near Lexington and Frankfort, Kentucky. The group also attended the National Convention Career Show where agricultural industries from throughout the nation had booths. Jesse Gingerich and Tasha Juilfs attended the National Leadership Dinner.

On the return trip, the group visited the St. Louis Arch.