This year was the 50th year that Crofton Community Schools has had an FFA chapter.
On Monday, April 24, the 2022-2023 FFA chapter held their end of the year banquet. At this banquet the 2022-2023 officers turned over their offices to a new group of students, new members were given their discovery degrees, along with other members receiving their Greenhand and chapter degrees.
There were also special awards given to a select few members that include outstanding member awards, Appreciation certificates for public supporters, POA group awards and scholarships for the senior members.
At this event the chapter also celebrated the 50 years of an amazing blue and gold tradition. There is no other organization that celebrates the next generation in agriculture quite like FFA. This is an organization that was first started in Crofton back in 1972 and has only continued to grow up to this day.
Back in 1972 things in the Crofton FFA chapter looked a lot different. First, as it was an all male organization, compared to now when the majority of the Crofton chapter and chapters across the nation is composed of females, and second of all being the chapter has only had 17 Members in 1972 and now the chapter has over 60 members.
The Crofton FFA chapter has been a great way for students to get involved in different activities that adapt to their interests. FFA also gives its members a chance to build their leadership skills as well as many other skills that can help them throughout their lives. Each year the chapter participates in a multitude of activities ranging from indoor competitions like Parliamentary Procedure, Conduct of Chapter Meetings and Quiz Bowl, to competitions that lead them outside for things like showing, judging livestock, or even planting crops in the fields by the school. These members are limited to almost absolutely nothing thanks to this organization and the FFA alumni community.
This year's award recipients included:
-Discovery degree recipients:
Aydin Bakker
Macklin Folk
Ryker Guenther
Wyatt Guenther
Addison Hames
Arik Lea
Ashton Nelson
Ty Nielsen
Elly Sprakel
Hadley Sudbeck
Hunter Wiesler
-Green hand degree recipients:
Jaycee Anthony
Tylee Cooper
Ellie Foxhoven
Max Guenther
Jaisie Janssen
Lauren Loecker
Callie Olson
Addyson Ostermeyer
Josh Palensky
Tyson Sanger
Ashlynn Schieffer
Karoline Schendt
Anthony Steffen
Carter Steffen
Jordan Steffen
Sophia Wortmann
-Chapter degree recipients:
Rylie Arens
Ava Baker
Cameryn Fiscus
Hunter Guenther
Ben Kleinschmit
Madelyn Loecker
Kyle Maibaum
Samantha Strunk
Philip Tejral
Wyatt Tramp
-Scholarship recipients:
Megan Tramp
Blair Jordan
Simon McFarland
Garrett Bushcamp
Madisen Petersen
-Outstanding members:
Discovery degree star: Aric Lea
Greenhand degree star: Jacee Anthony
Chapter degree star: Emma Bilka
Leadership awards:
Megan Tramp
Blair Jordan
Tuff Foxhoven
Emma Bilka
Carter Steffen.
-Top officer POD:
Officer Josie Anthony’s Pod received the top pod award. All members of her pod received small gifts from the chapter to honor their accomplishment.
The members included in this group were as follows: Josie Anthony, Jacee Anthony, Ashlynn Scheiffer, Karoline Schendt, and Clair Steffen.
-Honorary member award recipients:
Jim and Sarah Petersen
Beth and Lonnie Tramp
Next years 2023-2024 Crofton FFA officer team includes: old - new
Sentinel- Tuff Foxhoven - Tuff Foxhoven
Parliamentarian- Emma Bilka- Rylie Arens
Student advisor- Kaylee Mauch- Emma Bilka
Reporter- Josie Anthony- Jenna Jackson
Treasurer- Jenna Jackson- Wyatt Tramp
Secretary- Blair Jordan- April Guenther
Historian- Lilli Weber- Cameron Fiscus
Vice President- Madisen Petersen and Megan Tramp- Kaylee Mauch
President- Garrett Bushcamp- Josie Anthony
Members who helped charter Crofton FFA in 1972.