Ballard FFA Year-in-Review

The 2019-2020 year has been a big year for the Ballard FFA. We attended many events such as Greenhand Fire-up, FarmHer and Pork Congress. We also had two teams compete at the National level and had a proficiency award advance to Nationals. For the third time in a row, we won the South Central District Champion at State Convention. We have an out-of-school member who is currently serving as the Iowa State Reporter and a current member who was balloted for South Central District Officer. Additionally, Nic Edwards, a senior, was one of 10 people nominated for pig exhibitor of the year.

This summer we had four members run for fair queen. Ellie Twedt was selected as the 2019 Story County Fair Queen and Jenna Hernandez won Miss Congeniality. We also had four members qualify for the All-Iowa Showdown as well as Nic Edwards winning Grand Champion Market Hog and Carson Finch winning FFA Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer at the Iowa State Fair.

We started off the school year hosting the FFA Tailgate at the first home football game. Members served customers and got to catch up with each other. In October, seven members attended the National FFA Convention. Members toured Fair Oaks Farm where they learned more about the dairy industry and got to try some Fair Oaks Farm milk. Two teams competed at convention, the ag comm team received silver and two members received gold individually. The marketing plan team received a bronze rating and Dana Edleman received her American Degree. In December, we celebrated our fifth birthday by hosting the Ballard FFA Birthday Bash at a home basketball game in December. We celebrated with food as well as a bouncy house and raffled off an iPad.

Now, members are working hard planning FFA Week and Banquet. We have many fun dress up days and events planned for the week. We have various members practicing to compete at Sub-Districts on February 19th. We are excited for the new year and cannot wait to see where it takes us.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mattison Hill

Ballard FFA Reporter