November 3, 2021 – Slinger, WI – Tuesday, October 26, 2021, through Friday, October 29, 2021, the Slinger Future Farmers of America (FFA) sent 15 of our members to the 94th Annual National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The National FFA Convention is attended by over 65,000 members and guests each year.
Ally Loosen was the first in our community to arrive, as she was required to practice with the National FFA Honors Band well before the convention began. She was one of only four members from the state of Wisconsin to be chosen for the band. Ally plays the trumpet and has been a member of the Wisconsin FFA Honors Band for the past three years.
The Slinger School District was represented by eight Slinger FFA members on the coach bus, chartered with neighboring schools from around the area. Traveling with members from Lomira, Laconia, Dodgeland, Oakfield, Campbellsport, Waupun, and Kewaskum were Dylan Rick, Silas Green, Abbi Wolf, Madi Hess, Ann Thao, Abigail Benishek, Fiona Humphrey, and Chloe Cauwels.
The group toured MacFarlane Pheasants in Janesville, WI, Broken Wagon Bison in Hobart, IN, and Heartland Growers in Westfield, IN on the way to the convention to learn more about current agriculture industry practices and methods. The group also enjoyed a keynote from ‘Fancy Lady Cowgirl’, Courtenay DeHoff, a concert by country artist, Brett Young, and the World’s Toughest Rodeo at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Ben McMeeken, Hannah Hellesen, Madison Jensen, Julianna Duerst represented Team Wisconsin in the Environmental Science Career Development Event. At the Indiana State Fairgrounds, they evaluated water samples, soil samples, navigated GPS coordination, and prepared a team presentation to propose solutions to the effects of food waste in the United States. Following the competition, the team was recognized as a national silver-ranking team.
Duerst, Jensen, and Hellesen were recognized as silver-ranked individuals, and McMeeken was recognized as a gold-ranked individual. This was their first time participating in this competition, encouraged by Washington County Land & Water Conservation Technician, Stephanie Egner.
Hope Lockstaedt, Ella Kowaleski, Abby Schmoldt, and Emma Joecks competed in the Veterinary Science Career Development Event. They completed tool, animal, and parasite identification, a mathematics exam, veterinary procedure demonstrations, and finally a team presentation evaluating their knowledge of animal telehealth procedures. Following the competition, their team was announced as silver ranking at the national level. All members were silver-ranked individuals as well.
Lockstaedt was also recognized as a National Proficiency Finalist in the area of Veterinary Medicine for her work at Richfield Area Pet Clinic and Woodview Veterinary Clinic. As a national finalist, she is one of the top four veterinary science student SAE (supervised agricultural experience) projects in the country, projects that began as student work experiences in Slinger High School’s Small Animal Science class and Youth Apprenticeship program through the WI Department of Public Instruction.
Lastly, the Slinger High School FFA was recognized as a National Three-Star Chapter. To receive this honor, chapters must exhibit a rigorous program of activities that emphasizes growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. Of the 8,817 chapters in the nation, only 348 chapters, or 3% of all schools, were recognized with this achievement.
We are especially proud of the work of the Slinger High School FFA and encourage you to congratulate these students in the community when you see them.