State Leadership Conference: Success

Twenty-one Ballard FFA members attended the Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference (SLC) on Monday, April 10 and Tuesday, April 11. At SLC, members competed in a variety of events, heard from keynote speakers and broug

ht home many awards.

The Marketing Plan and Agricultural Communications Career Development Event (CDE) teams were named state champions and qualify for national competition in October. The Marketing Plan team included Clayton Poots, Dana Edleman and Carla Edleman. Caitlin Peterson, Jim Chism, Ashley Kahler and Grace Long were members on the Agricultural Communications team.

“We’re Indy bound!” said senior Clayton Poots. “We’re going to keep working hard and work towards our new goals.”

The Marketing Plan CDE was made possible with support from Grainbridge and Kent through the Iowa FFA Foundation. The team also received top presentation and top written plan awards for their marketing plan and presentation for Engler Land and Livestock.

For the seniors, this could have been their last experience in the FFA jacket.

“I am so proud of everyone and the accomplishments that our chapter has been able to make in the last three years,” said senior Caitlin Peterson. “I thought this would be the last time I put on my blue corduroy jacket but plans change and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Members of both teams found out Tuesday afternoon that they were named state champions.

“I think we all cried from excitement,” said sophomore Ashley Kahler. “I’m excited to represent Iowa in the agricultural communications event in October.”

The agricultural communications event introduces students to the communications and public relations career field and was made possible with support from the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Soybean Checkoff and Iowa Farmer Today through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

“For agricultural communications we wrote a media plan, created a presentation and practiced practicums,” said sophomore Grace Long. “Being named champions is validation for everything we worked for.”

The agricultural communications team also received awards for the top written proposal, the top presentation and the top practicum team. Grace Long was also named high individual for the journalistic writing practicum.

Dana Edleman was also named the state winner in the diversified livestock production proficiency area.

“It means a lot to me to get this award as I have enjoyed developing, maintaining and growing my supervised agricultural experience program,” said Dana. “I am excited to send my application to the national level.”

Grace Hill, Joseph Jordan, Jadyn Miller and Anna Russell competed in the agricultural sales CDE. The event was made possible by support from Nationwide through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

“It was a great experience and fun to learn about and sell a product,” said freshman Hill. “It definitely helped me improve my communication skills.”

The Experience the Action team of Poots, Peterson, Long, Chism, Nick Jordan and Winter Ringgenberg received a silver rating after advancing from districts.

Peterson’s scrapbook also received a silver rating.

Hunter Allen, Nic Edwards and Carson Finch represented Ballard in the Poultry Evaluation CDE. The team received a bronze rating.

Joseph Jordan and Russell also served on state committees while at convention where they reviewed financial records and the state program of activities, respectively.