From June 5-8, FFA chapters across North Dakota will be heading to the NDSU campus for the State FFA Convention in Fargo, N.D. Some 87 of the 93 North Dakota FFA chapters are planning to attend the state convention, along with advisors, business representatives, sponsors and friends who support the students at the convention.
“Students will have the opportunity to participate in Career Development Events (CDE), serve as delegates, attend student success workshops and sessions, mingle with industry partners at the college and career fair, hosted by the ND FFA Foundation, and enjoy lots of entertainment options,” said Nikki Fideldy-Doll, advisor of the North Dakota FFA Association.
For CDEs, a chapter team needs to win in order to advance to the national convention in November.
FFA members conduct official North Dakota FFA business during the convention, including electing officers during the last general session on June 8.
Travis Fritel, FFA ag advisor and educator in Leeds High School in Leeds, N.D., located in the northeastern region of the state, said he has several FFA students going to state next month.
“This year, we have students participating in floriculture, farm business management, small animal care and ag mechanics,” Fritel said.
With floriculture, the FFA students identify plants, conduct a math practicum, and make corsages and boutonnieres. There is also a sales portion to the contest.
The students who participate in the farm business management contest work their way through the income and expenses of a farm operation and come up with a balance sheet.
“They also need to answer questions about the farm operation,” he said.
Those involved in the small animal care work as part of a team event, problem solving about animal husbandry, identifying different breeds of animals, and identifying animal anatomy systems.
“With ag mechanics, FFA students work through a practicum on metal fabrication, with electric motors and circuits, small engines, as well as diagnostics and structural systems. This year, that will be concrete and masonry,” Fritel said.
During the year, the Leeds FFA chapter does numerous projects for the community and school.
“The community of Leeds is very supportive of our FFA chapter,” he said.“We also have very active alumni who help the program in many ways.”
According to Fideldy-Doll, this year’s Star Farmer finalists are Emily Fannik, Max; Ian Dukart, Killdeer; Elizabeth Dulmage, Leeds; and Lillian Steeke, Scranton.
Elizabeth (Libby) Dulmage was asked about her Star Farmer project. She has already been interviewed by the state FFA team. Libby is a senior at Leeds High School and once she graduates, she plans to attend the agri-business program at Crookston, Minn., and eventually return to the family farm. On the Dulmage farm in Benson County this spring, the family is raising wheat, corn, soybeans and edible beans.
Libby has been involved in her Star Farmer project raising crops during her high school years. She said her FFA advisor has been a great help to her and FFA has helped her figure out what she wants to do in the future.
Source: agupdate.com
Photo Credit: North Dakota FFA
Categories: North Dakota, Business