Hartington-Newcastle FFA Chapter works hard to plan for upcoming year

HARTINGTON — Summer may have officially began but the Hartington Newcastle FFA Chapter is still working behind the seen. While we can’t meet in person the officer team has been meeting on Zoom and planning upcoming events.

The first ever virtual banquet was held May 14. Even with a few hiccups along the way, we recognized students for their hard work throughout the year.

Leadership awards are given to members who showed outstanding development and set good examples for their peers; Lane Heimes, Kamden Hoesing, Colin Potts, Claudia Stevens, Kerrigan Hoesing and Kalyn Martinson.

Scholarship awards were given to strong scholastic and academic ability; Isabella Hulit, Grace Biltoft, Sara Burbach, and Jayda Bernecker.

Members who put in long hours are given most active awards; Keaton Steffen, Ethan Becker, and Mackenzie Sudbeck.

Freedom Rogers took the John Lammers award for most active senior.

The top senior who excels in all areas of the ag program gets the Dekalb award, this year it was presented to Chase Lammers.

Many things have changed over the past few months that also included the Nebraska State FFA Convention, it was also canceled due to Covid 19. Since we could not be together, the state department wanted to still recognize all the hard working students, so they put together a virtual “Celebrate Ag Day” which replaced this year’s State Convention. Students that were recognized were the following.

Members who would have been part of the FFA State Choir include Kalyn Martinson and Logan Castillo.

Each FFA member has a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), with their SAE students can create a proficiency. The following members made it thought to compete at the state competition.

In Agricultural Service Entrepreneurship, Nathan Potts received silver. In Beef Production Entrepreneurship, Trisha Dybdal received silver. Beef Production Placement, Trisha Dybdal, was a state finalist taking third in the state. In Dairy Production Placement, three individuals went on to state, Bode Noecker received silver, Carter Klug was a state finalist taking third in the state, and Sara Burbach was also a state finalist taking first in the state. Alison Karnes received a silver at state for her proficiency in Diversified Horticulture. In Health and Human Services Jayda Bernecker received a silver. Mackenzie Sudbeck received a gold in Hospitality, Restaurant and Tourisms Management. Freedom Rogers received a silver in Poultry Production. In Swine Production Placement, Mackenzie Sudbeck took a silver. Claudia Stevens received a silver in Veterinary Services.

Receiving the State Degree is an honor that showcase the hard work and dedication in the FFA. Bradley Dowling, Ben Loecker, Nathan Potts, Sara Burbach, Claudia Stevens, and Mackenzie Sudbeck were six of the 702 Nebraska members that received the State Degree this year.

The last thing that happens at our banquet every year is the announcement of the new officer team for the upcoming school year, this year was no different. The retiring officers had the opportunity to announce the new officer team.

The 2020-2021 Hartington Newcastle FFA Officer team: President Sara Burbach, Vice President Mackenzie Sudbeck, Secretary Claudia Stevens, Treasurer Colin Potts, Reporter Jordyn Steffen, Sentinel Carter Klug, Parliamentarian Keaton Steffen, and Historian Shelby Underwood.