On Thursday, January 28 FFA competed in Career Development Events (CDEs), which are designed to allow students a chance to develop hands-on skills related to career areas within agriculture. Each contest consists of different components related to specific careers. Congratulations to the following FFA members for their achievements:

2nd place team - Floriculture (from left: Chisum Wilson, Anna Tvrdy, Aspen Eckley, Hilary Kabourek [not pictured: Avery Mayberry]): students are tested on their general knowledge of floral design, horticulture principles, and propagation techniques. Individuals also have to be able to identify different types of flowers, greenery, and potted plants, as well as common tools within the horticulture and floriculture industry. Teams also had to put their designer hats on to create centerpieces for a dinner party theme. Individual placings: Avery Mayberry 3rd, Anna Tvrdy 4th, Chisum Wilson 6th, Hilary Kabourek 11th, Aspen Eckley 17th.

3rd place team - Livestock Evaluation (back row, from left: Trenton Barry, Andrew Vech, Miles Hannan, Alaina Furasek. Front row: Jazlyn Nelson, Marissa Meduna, Haley Meduna): students evaluate different classes of livestock based on the animals' ability to meet a need in the agriculture industry, whether that be for breeding or market purposes. Students then justify their placing of a class through oral reasons. Participants are also tested over general livestock knowledge through a written exam and oral questions. Individual placings: Alaina Furasek 16th, Haley Meduna 17th, Miles Hannan 24th, Marissa Meduna 25th, Trenton Barry 28th, Andrew Vech 34th, Jazlyn Nelson 53rd.

6th place team - Food Science (from left: (Kearsten Peterson, Aspen Eckley, Hilary Kabourek [not pictured: Avery Mayberry]): students are tested on their general knowledge of food safety, handling, and production methods. The teams also put their creativity to the test to develop a new product for a specific scenario. This year was frozen pizza for retail. Teams had to create and design product packaging, put together ingredients, and formulate nutrition facts for their new product.

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Numerous members earn honors in annual Leadership Development Events
December 21, 2020

For the past couple weeks, Bishop Neumann/Wahoo FFA members have been competing in virtual Leadership Development Events (LDE's). LDE's are designed to help students build upon their leadership skills. Competitions vary from public speaking, to mock job interviews, to team events demonstrating parliamentary law or a new skill/innovation in agriculture. These contests took place on Dec. 7 and 14. Congratulations to the following FFA members for their achievements:

CREED SPEAKING

Paige Williams - Blue Ribbon

SENIOR PUBLIC SPEAKING

Haley Meduna - Blue Ribbon (Social Media and Agriculture)
Marissa Meduna - 3rd Place Purple & Alternate to State (Farmer Suicide Crisis)

NATURAL RESOURCE SPEAKING

Cassidy Most - 3rd Place Purple & Alternate to State (Depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer)

EMPLOYMENT SKILLS

Kearsten Peterson - 2nd Place Purple & State Qualifier

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

BLUE Team - 3rd Place Purple & Alternate to State (Kearsten Peterson, Aaron Ohnoutka, Nolan Van Slyke, Andrew Vech, Chisum Wilson, Aaron Spicka)

GOLD Team - 1st Place Purple, District Champion, & State Qualifier (Sam Vrana, Hilary Kabourek, Avery Mayberry, Miles Hannan, Trenton Barry, Remington Musgrove)

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FFA Motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve

FFA Mission: The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

What is FFA? FFA is an organization that promotes growth in leadership skills, as well as agricultural education. Wahoo and Bishop Neumann have been co-oping since 2017. Students from Wahoo travel to Bishop Neumann either 1st or 8th period to take various ag classes from Ms. Katie Arp, our FFA advisor and agriculture educator.

Officers:
    President: Kearsten Peterson (WHS)
    Vice President: Trenton Barry & Avery Mayberry (BNHS)
    Secretary: Hilary Kabourek (BNHS)
    Treasurer: Samuel Vrana (BNHS)
    Sentinel: Remington Musgrove (BNHS)
    Reporter: Klarice Waage (WHS)
    Parliamentarian/Historian: Marissa Meduna (WHS)

T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER

The Bishop Neumann/Wahoo FFA Chapter is selling t-shirts to raise money for scholarships so students can participate in the organization and its regional, state, and national competitions. Thank you for your support! Link: https://rivalryapparel.com/search.php?search_query=FFA

Aaron Ohnoutka, Kearsten Peterson, and Trenton Barry competed in a recent land judging competition. FFA students spend time studying the basic differences in soils, and why soils respond differently to management practices, as well as how soil properties affect crop growth.

Bishop Neumann/Wahoo FFA members helped plant eight trees around Weston, which obtained the trees via a grant. Members assisted in digging holes, planting and watering the trees, and putting in posts for tree support.