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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Fairfield FFA is 12th oldest chapter in Iowa
February is the month focused on celebrating people’s love, passion, and culture. Every year, during the week of George Washington’s birthday, FFA chapters celebrate their heritage and excitement for the agricultural industry. The National FFA Organization is led by students interested in raising plants and animals, conducting research in the field of agriscience, and advocating for the agricultural industry through involvement in their local FFA chapter.
The Fairfield FFA Chapter is the twelfth oldest chapter in the state and uses the month of February to reflect on the students’ successes and achievements from the previous months while preparing to finish the school year.
Since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, the Fairfield FFA has reached its full potential and more. During the fall, the Soils Evaluation Team won multiple team and individual honors at the sub-district, district, and state-level competitions. The team consisted of Briana Steele (12), Wyatt Lovelady (11), Natalie Steele (9), and Carson Lovelady (9).
This team won 3rd Overall Sub-District Team, Champion District Soils Evaluation Team, Champion State Soil Evaluation Team, and Top Team in State Soils Pit Evaluation. Briana Steele won Top Individual at the District Competition and Third Overall Individual at State. Wyatt Lovelady won Fourth Overall Individual at the district and state levels. In April, the Soils Evaluation team competes at the National Soils Evaluation Competition in El Reno, OK.
Besides being high-achieving soil evaluators, the Fairfield FFA Chapter has also found ways to encourage personal growth and leadership development in the membership body. Students had the opportunity to attend the Southeast Iowa Ag Exploration Day hosted by Iowa State University and Extension to learn about the various niche markets and careers available in the agricultural industry in southeast Iowa.
A few weeks later, the first-year FFA members attended the Greenhand Fire Up conference to ignite excitement for the opportunities available to them in their coming high school years. November rolled around and six members prepared to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. On the road to the National FFA Convention, members toured Fair Oaks Dairy, Ozark Fisheries, and a family orchard. The Fairfield FFA members were a part of the 70,000 FFA members walking the town in their blue corduroy jackets proudly representing the National FFA Organization.
As the calendar turned another year, Fairfield FFA focused on preparing for upcoming career development events (CDE) and leadership development events (LDE). Currently, competition teams include Conduct of Meetings, Team Welding, Team Ag Sales, Greenhand Quiz, and Reporter’s Book at the sub-district, district, and state levels. The Sub-districts competition takes place at Van Buren High School, then the members will travel to North Scott for the District Convention, and the State Convention returns to Ames in April. During the State FFA Convention, Briana Steele and Madisyn Woodburn will walk across the stage to join the less than 2% of all Iowa FFA members who earned their Iowa FFA Degrees.
The mission of the National FFA Organization is to make “a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education” (National FFA Organization, 2023). The members of the Fairfield FFA Chapter are true representatives of the FFA legacy and develop their potential for career success and personal growth through engagement in local, state, and national activities.
