The Conestoga FFA flew through October with fundraising, community service projects, contests, and conventions.  The FFA started off October by running concession stands at volleyball and football games. The concession stands provide the FFA members with an opportunity to fundraise, practice communication skills, and build rapport with the community.  Conestoga netted about $750 for future projects. 

After concessions, on October 9, 2008, 32 members of the Conestoga FFA Chapter competed at the District FFA Land Judging Competition in Ceresco, Nebraska.  Conestoga went up against 150 other area students from 10 different FFA chapters.   Conestoga’s Cory Schlichtemeier, Derek Phelps, Will Salisbury and Kalby Wehrbein placed second out of 43 teams and qualified for State Land Judging in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  This is the first team to qualify for state in over 20 years for Conestoga FFA.

In the Land Evaluation Competitions, students are asked to rate examples of land based on soil variables.  Students must identify soil depth before an impermeable rock layer, soil texture, soil permeability, slope, erosion and the thickness of topsoil layer. 

Mr. Jonathan Anderson, Conestoga’s FFA advisor, says, “This is one of the best competitions because all students will have to deal with land and soil sometime in their lives.  Plus, students are forced to think about an array of variables to place the land class. 

“This frustrates many students because the answers can be very vague and makes them think, which is great.”

On October 16, 22 Conestoga FFA members attended the IMPACT leadership conference at Norris High School in Firth, NE. 

The conference provides students with opportunities to meet the State FFA Officers, strengthen leadership qualities, and build teamwork skills with fellow members from Eastern Nebraska. 

Dakota Drannen said, “I meet a lot of new people and it was cool.”

On October 18, 34 Conestoga FFA members worked with “Bloom Where You’re Planted Pumpkin Patch” near Avoca, NE to put on a farm day.  

The members brought sheep, cattle, chickens, goats, pedal tractors, 4-wheelers and many other farm items. 
Numerous people from across the area came to the patch to learn about farm animals.  Amber Burg said, “This was a great time for both the members and the kids.  I had a lot of fun coming up with games to teach little kids about agriculture.

Finishing out October, fourteen Conestoga FFA members traveled to Indianapolis, IN to experience the National FFA experience.  Tyler Uhe, Daniel Knabe, Andrew Schlichtemeier, and Justin Slafter received the American Degree, which is the highest degree FFA members can attain. 

Justin Slafter, senior FFA member, qualified for the National FFA Chorus and showed off his singing ability to the rest of the nation’s FFA members. Other members attended sessions, met students from across the USA, and watched numerous contests.