Upperclassmen evolve into leadership positions with program
As a junior-high student, Elsie Lewis never could have imagined being president of Muscatine High School’s FFA Chapter.
Lewis was more of an introvert, had no farm background and sports occupied most of her time.
“I was super shy and never spoke out in seventh and eighth grade,” Lewis admitted. “Now I’m speaking in front of lots and lots of people. This program has definitely grown my (leadership) efforts.”
Muscatine’s FFA Chapter was celebrated and recognized Thursday night with its annual banquet at the Ag Center.
Nearly 430 students, parents, teachers and guests were in attendance. The Chapter highlighted the accomplishments of the past year and teachers honored each senior individually.
“It’s always great to see how many people show up to our FFA banquet and support our program,” junior reporter Kensley Paul said. “A lot of people have made an impact on our program.
“We’re really proud of the program we’ve built and the culture that we’ve built. Hopefully, we can show our community how we can keep improving our program.”
Lewis, a senior, has been in FFA despite navigating academics, basketball, wrestling and softball. She has been the Chapter’s President this year.
Now, she can’t envision her life without FFA.
“This program is literally everything,” Lewis said. “I’m so focused on sports, but agriculture and FFA gave me lots of experiences.”
Lewis is headed to Iowa State University this fall and plans to major in animal science. The goal is to become a veterinarian and ultimately own a vet clinic.
“This program and our advisors give you great opportunities to do hands-on activities,” Lewis said. “We learn how to raise our own food or deal with animals. Even in leadership events, we’re building up our speaking skills. It helps us for our future life.”
Like Lewis, junior Eladiee Gaucin, recently selected as the new district secretary, was shy and timid in junior high.
“We just came back from COVID and it was hard,” Gaucin said. “(Junior high FFA instructor) Ashley Wiebe roped me into some contests and I didn’t like doing it, but eventually I gained some public speaking skills and I wanted to get more involved.”
At Thursday’s banquet, more than 100 students from 17 team career development events were honored. There were an additional 80-plus students recognized for 12 leadership development events.
And of the 24 seniors, 19 of them are on a pathway beyond high school that is directly linked to agriculture.
“You can’t really give (people) a sales pitch about FFA,” Gaucin said. “You’ve got to show them your program. Bring kids into the ag center or show them all the activities that we offer. That usually ropes them in and gets them interested.”
FFA will compete at the state convention next month. Muscatine’s Chapter had several first-place finishes at the district competition earlier this month, including Paul in Radio Broadcasting and Mallory Bruhn in Ag Sales.
“I’m super-excited to go,” Paul said. “It was very challenging to make it through sub-districts and districts. I’m excited to see what I can do at state.
“I’m feeling pretty confident right now, but time will tell.”
The Honorary Chapter Degree Award, given each year to an individual or business that shows tremendous support to Muscatine’s agriculture department and FFA Chapter, was presented to Bob and JoAnn Jensen (Temp Associates) and John and Rosy Eichelberger (Eichelberger Law).
Here is a look at all the award winners from Thursday night’s banquet:
All 8th Grade FFA Members received their Discovery Degree (pin & certificate)
All Freshman FFA Members received their Greenhand Degree (pin & certificate)
All Sophomore FFA Members received their Chapter Degree (pin & certificate)
Star Greenhand Award: Coen Navarro, Sam Potter, Violet Poci
Bob Braun’s Most Active Awards: 7th Grade- Bailey Danner, Bobby Bryant
8th Grade- Kaylin Paul, Emerson Franke 9th: Grade- Slone Bonebrake, Madison Herlein, Allison Hodapp, Peyton Stein, Voight Oberhoffer 10th Grade- Josh Koch, Sander Sotelo, Lily Barnard, Nathan Scadden, Colton Ineichen, 11th Grade- Kensley Paul, Mallory Bruhn, Saxby Stein, Eladiee Gaucin, Madyson Wyatt, Jack Zorich, Chelsea Carlson 12th Grade- Chale Lewis, Elsie Lewis, Kacie Riess, Addison Weggen, Rhynn Miller, Kale Wiebel Overall Most Active: Cheyenne Mosier
Outstanding Horticulture Students: Era Boyer, Carter Wagg, Yamileth Montes-Lucio, Giovani Ocampo
Outstanding Forestry Student: Josh Koch, Haley Brokaw, Brady Franklin
Outstanding Agricultural Mechanics Student: Brady Hoag, Alex Houck, Kaden Miller, Corwin McDonald
Star Agribusiness Person: Rhynn Miller, Liam Noll, Anna Boyer
Star Agri-Production Person: Cole Buster
Judd Leland Most Improved Awards: 7th Grade- Angello Dahlke, Hayden Reichert 8th Grade- Cooper Sotelo, Audrina Gaucin, Karson Smith, Carter Dorton, Lucas Buss 9th Grade- Preston Schroeder, Rosie Zorich, Sadie Manjoine, 10th Grade- Jaylynn Goddard, Hank Elam, Abby Schell 11th Grade: Owen Brown, Allyson Hayes 12th Grade: Kaylynn Huot, Raen Acker, Emma Whitmire, Maxwell Kautz, Kelsey Heath Overall Most Improved: Bree Thuman
Alumni Scholarships: Kacie Riess, Rhynn Miller, Kale Wiebel
Paul Family Memorial Scholarship- Anna Boyer, Addison Weggen
LB Hoopes Scholarship: Cheyenne Mosier
Dave Fowler Leadership Scholarship: Elsie Lewis
Joe Thompson Scholarship: Chale Lewis
FFA Scholarships: Kaylynn Huot, Bree Thuman, Kelsey Heath, Raen Acker, Alyssa Moore, Emma Whitmire, Jacob Murillo-Keener, Liam Noll, Cole Buster, Brady Franklin, Owen King, Jacob Huddleston, Issac Bravo, Logan Hunter, Lillyana Krueger, Maxwell Kautz, Zander Rudolph
Top Fruit Sales: Hank Elam, Kensley Paul, Mallory Bruhn, Rhynn Miller, Mason Castillo, Bobby Bryant, Jaylynn Goddard, Preston Schroeder, Elsie & Chale Lewis, Lily Barnard, Kacie Riess, Corwin McDonald, Addie Weggen, Cali Martinez, Madison Hopkins, Jemena Frausto, Josh Koch, Era Boyer
