PENDER FFA SHINES IN STATE COMPETITION
By: Courtney Urbanec
by Matthew Hansen
Pender FFA members have spent the last couple of months preparing for state competition. On April 2-4, 38 members got to put all that studying to the test at the 80th annual Nebraska State FFA Convention held in Lincoln, at the Cornhusker Marriot, UNL East Campus, and Pershing Auditorium.
Members competed in Leadership Skills Events, agricultural Career Development Events, participated in the choir, and a select few earned the next degrees. Pender had two parliamentary procedure teams competing and also had three members giving speeches. The Junior Parliamentary Procedure team consisting of Jonathan Smith, Celsey Wichman, Crystal Henopp, Rochelle Calderon, Quinn Fillipi, Brant Peters, and Callie Janke, received a gold while the Senior Parliamentary Procedure team consisting of Matthew Smith, Joseph Guenther, Kayci Allen, Shandi Thomsen, Courtney Urbanec, and Hannah Bowder, received a silver. Brant Peters received a gold medal in Junior Public Speaking and Kayci Allen also earned a gold medal in Natural Resources speaking. Matthew Smith participated in the Extemporaneous Speaking contest and received a bronze medal.
In the Career Development contests, Pender had teams competing in Agronomy, Natural Resources, Junior and Senior Livestock Judging, Livestock Management, Nursery Landscaping, Agri-Science, Meats Evaluation, Ag Communications, and Ag Sales. Ribbons are awarded to members who place in the top half of the competitors. The Agronomy team received a red ribbon and had two members also receive ribbons. Casey Reppert received a red and Robert Dunn received a blue. Two members of the Natural Resources team received red ribbons; those members were Melissa Roeber and Grant Fillipi. Dylan Kent and Robbie Thomsen, members of the Junior Livestock Judging team, received white ribbons. The Senior Livestock Judging team received a white ribbon and Josh Beutler and Shandi Thomsen received a ribbon. Josh received a red ribbon and Shandi received a blue. The Nursery Landscaping team placed fifth and had two members receive purple ribbons and the other two members receive red ribbons. Receiving purple ribbons were Blake Kai and Daniel Kent and receiving red ribbons were Brenn Kai and Brant Wichman. Bryce Robertson received a white ribbon for his efforts in the Agri-Science contest. The Ag Communications team received fourth and Jacob Lamplot received second place individually. Also from that team receiving ribbons were Celsey Wichman with a blue and Tara Baker also with a blue. Benjamin Purucker, a member of the Ag Sales team, received a white ribbon.
Also participating at state were Jacob Lamplot, Rochelle Calderon, Hannah Bowder, and Kayci Allen. These members showcased their singing talents by being chosen to participate in the State FFA Choir. The choir sang at each session of the convention.
Fourteen senior members were awarded the second highest FFA Degree, the State Degree, on Friday night. Members receiving their State Degree were: Kayci Allen, Hannah Bowder, Eric Doht, Robert Dunn, Austin Fillipi, Grant Fillipi, Joseph Guenther, Blake Kai, Brenn Kai, Daniel Kent, Matthew Smith, Shandi Thomsen, Courtney Urbanec, and Brant Wichman. Never before has Pender had so many earn the state FFA degree. In 2002 and 2007, seven members earned the award, the most the chapter has ever had in one year. Pender now has 117 State FFA Degrees in its 58 years.
Jill Lander, 2007-2008 Nebraska FFA Vice President, delivered her retiring address “The mission for success.” She recognized Mr. Joe Sherwood and Mr. Jason Dolliver as supportive administrators, and presented them with certificates of appreciation. She also recognized her advisor, Mr. Bartlett, and presented him with a plaque. Jill and her team retired their jackets and installed the 2008-2009 Nebraska FFA officers. The first state FFA officer from Pender in 40 years, Jill served in a manner that the chapter, school, and community can be proud.
In addition to the chapter members earning so many awards, the chapter was also awarded the Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Award. This award, sponsored by Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) came with a $1000 grant for the purchase of an interactive whiteboard, or Smartboard, for the agricultural education classroom.
The Pender FFA Chapter would like to thank Rod and Ellen Lander, Randy and Liesa Bowder, Lisa Reppert, Matt and Pam Peters, Carol Allen, Dan and Connie Wichman, Ron Guenther, Nolan Fillipi, and Kim Urbanec for sponsoring during the convention. Many other parents, friends, and family members attended evening sessions as well. In addition, the members appreciate the family and community members for their support throughout the year. Maybe it didn’t win anything this year, but it is still the greatest chapter in the state.
