Six from Imperial FFA chapter make cut for State FFA Degree

    Six Imperial FFA members have met the qualifications to receive the Nebraska State FFA Degree.
    While they weren’t able to receive it during the state convention earlier this month due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s a big honor, according to FFA Advisor Jason Speck.
    Recipients are seniors  Jozie Schilke, Taylor Jablonski, Carissa Hill, Valerie Herbert, Brooklyn Christensen and Austin Bernhardt.
    In addition to her State Degree, Jozie Schilke also was named one of just 24 Star Finalists for her Supervised Ag Experience (SAE) in ag production. She advanced to the state level as a District Star, where all District Stars were considered for those top 24 spots.
    Judges are now considering those 24 applications, from which four will be chosen to advance to nationals, Speck said. It’s expected those four will be announced in late May.
    Speck said as of this week, the state convention remains “postponed,” and if things open up allowing groups it’s a slight possibility for later in the summer. However, FFA state officers and personnel are working on holding virtual state contests for national qualification, he said.
    Candidates for the State FFA Degree were interviewed in Kearney in early February. Qualifications to earn the degree are:
    A member of FFA for the last two consecutive years;
    The member’s SAE had to earn or invest at least $3,000;
    The member must have compiled 25 community service hours; and
    The member must have tallied 500 points from local, district, state and national activities with 150 of those points on the local level.
    Here is a recap of each recipient’s SAE and activities:
Jozie Schilke
    In high school, Schilke was also involved in show choir, jazz band, along with track and field. During the summer, she spends her time at the family farm which is how she acquired the opportunity for her SAE, which consists of farming 360 acres of land. She does a crop rotation of corn and wheat each year.
    “This experience has taught me the importance of responsibility. I run the planter in the spring, scout the field in the summer and harvest the crop in the fall. I am in charge of making sure a crop comes up each year and makes it to harvest along with keeping up on my school work and extracurricular activities,” she said.
Taylor Jablonski
    Throughout high school, Jablonski was also involved in basketball and track. In FFA, he has the opportunity to show cattle and lambs almost year around. During the summer, he works at Longhorn Lawncare and Imperial Auction Market.
    His work with Longhorn Lawncare helped him develop his SAE.
    “My SAE consists of mowing, trimming and spraying lawns. I have learned how to properly take care of a lawn and run the equipment. I also have learned the importance of doing quality work for customers. My SAE has helped me develop some good qualities such as patience, responsibility, adaptability and dedication,” he said.
Carissa Hill
    Besides FFA, Hill has been involved in softball and the National Honor Society. Art has also been an important part of her high school experience.
    Hill works at her family-owned grocery store, Hill’s Family Foods, which has taught her  business strategies used for her SAE,  a goat milk product business called Goat Girls she operates with her sister.
    “We own Nigerian Dwarf goats that we milk twice a day. We use this milk to create goat milk caramels and goat milk soaps which are sold at Hill’s Family Foods,” she said.
    The soaps are also sold on their website and at The Farmer’s Wife boutique in the community of Lindsey.
    She said her SAE has taught her business cooperation, business principles, business production and budgeting.
Valerie Herbert
    Herbert is also involved in show choir, softball and Interact at CCS.
    During the harvest season and summer season, she works at Kelirav Farms, which is how she developed her SAE. For harvest, she operates the grain cart, and during the summer, mixes and hauls organic fertilizer to the fields, services irrigation pivots and operates equipment.
    “My job always provides me opportunities to learn something new. My time working on the farm has taught me how to problem-solve, overcome my fears, step out of my comfort zone in order to learn new skills and accomplish challenging tasks,” she said.
Brooklyn Christensen
    Besides FFA, Christensen stays busy with Interact, FCA, show choir, National Honor Society and the Blood Drive Team at CCS.
    She works at the Balcony House Bed & Breakfast year-round and the Imperial pool in the summer.
    He SAE is called Special Swimming for Special Kids. It started as an adapted aquatics business that was free to her customers, helping about 40 children with Down syndrome. In the program, she worked with babies through teenagers, helping them with muscle mobility and learning how to swim. She also worked with their parents and guardians and taught them how to further help the children.
    “It was extremely eye-opening and definitely worth all the reading, calls and emails with experts, and time that went into helping the families,” she said.
Austin Bernhardt
    Bernhardt has also been active in 4-H and St. Patrick’s CYO youth group throughout high school.
    During the summer she helps on the family farm, as well as working with her show calves, which is her SAE. Her SAE consists of raising market beef throughout the year and then selling them at the county fair.
    “This experience has taught me many things such as responsibility, as well as patience, because working with a 1,200 pound animal can definitely test the waters sometimes,” she said.
Schilke a candidate for FFA state office
    Schilke is also one of 12 FFA members who made the final cut as an FFA state officer candidate for 2020-21.
    After all candidates were interviewed in early March, the list was narrowed to 12, from which the seven state officers will be chosen.
    The new state officers are normally announced at state convention, but this year, it will be broadcast live online next Thursday, May 7, at 2:30 p.m. MT, Speck said.
    Details on how to access the live announcement will be on the Imperial FFA chapter’s Facebook page before May 7.