Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Each year, the National FFA Organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The American FFA Degree is bestowed upon a select group of students in recognition of their years of academic and professional excellence. This year more than 4,800 American Degrees were awarded. Levi Cronk, a member of the Summerland FFA chapter, wa...
Shaylie Kester envisioned a future as a veterinary technician. After working as a student teller at Cornerstone Bank's Clearwater branch, the Summerland FFA member is consider a career change. "This experience opened my eyes to the world of finance and made me realize how much I enjoy working in the field of business. Now, I plan to pursue a career in something on the financial side, like ag business." Kester, who serves as the local chapter president, initially considered showing fair cattle...
For several Summerland FFA students, school never is out of session, even during summer months. Through a Supervised Agriculture Experience, FFA members are able to explore career options and learn about workplace life. Summerland FFA Advisor Jacob Goldfuss said, "Essentially, it is some type of job or project that an FFA member should have to help them learn skills and knowledge that they can use in the classroom and in FFA contests." The sky's the limit when it comes to a job or project for an...
This month, three career and technical education organizations at Summerland Public Schools have attended state conventions, giving students an opportunity to show knowledge gained in the classroom and compete in a variet of events. FFA The Summerland FFA Chapter attended its state convention, in Lincoln, April 3 to 5. Two students received gold medals, including Jenna Funk in cooperative speaking and Braelyn Bergman, discovery speaking. Two groups received silver awards. The Conduct of Chapter...
A Summerland FFA student received a state degree, April 5, at the Nebraska State FFA Convention, in Lincoln. Ashley Melcher, of Page, received the honor. State degree candidates must meet a checklist of requirements, including being an active chapter member for the past two years, holding Greenhand and Chapter FFA degrees, completing at least two years of agriculture classes and at least 25 hours of community service in at least two different activities. Students must also present earnings,...
What a great time to be a Bobcat! Our students are shining in all activities. Backtrack to November when the volleyball team qualified for state competition and the football team played in two rounds of the playoff system. Nothing like starting the year off on the right foot. The marching band did well at competition in Wayne. Speech and drama students continue to earn awards. Next week, the speechsters compete in a tough C2 district, a trip to the state meet on the line. I have a feeling...
When Gavin Whiting was a freshman at Summerland Public Schools, he decided to attend the kickoff meeting for a new activity - FFA. "I didn't know much about it ... It sounded like fun, so I figured I'd give it a try," said Whiting, who resides on a farm southwest of Ewing. That was two years and multiple FFA experiences ago. Since then, Whiting has participated in a variety of agriculture classes at Summerland Public Schools, participated in FFA leadership and career activities and currently...
District 4 Leadership Development Events were held Dec. 6 at Lutheran High Northeast. Summerland FFA advisor Jacob Goldfuss said the local chapter took took 20 members and they all did very well. "There are 20 schools in our district and each chapter can send two individuals or teams for every contest, so to get top three and make it to state is quite hard," Goldfuss said. In addition to the two teams in the photos, several individuals qualifed or will be an alternate for state. Jenna Funk got...
Madison Melcher turned her story into FFA history. The 2022 Summerland Public School graduate is the first FFA chapter member to receive the American FFA Degree, according to advisor Jacob Goldfuss. Melcher made the historic walk across the stage, Nov. 4, at the 2023 National Convention, in Indianapolis, during the awards ceremony. "I am honored to be the first FFA American Degree recipient from Summerland FFA. I am so grateful that Mr. Goldfuss pushed me to apply. He was always there if I had...
A Summerland FFA student who started an auto detailing business has been tabbed by the Nebraska FFA Foundation as a 2023 grant recipient. Approximately $97,000 was awarded in total grant funding statewide. Bennet Flenniken, owner of Shiny Solutions Detailing, is one of nine students, statewide, to receive an award for the supervised agricultural experience. Other area winners include Ben Haschke, Wayne; Alex Lechtenburg, Boyd County; and Jacob Lind, Elkhorn Valley. In its seventh year, the...
Members of Summerland Public School's FFA chapter got first-hand experience in forestry, Monday, Oct. 2. Students added 10 new trees to school property, near the FFA corn test plot and track-and-field areas. The trees are part of the Ten Free Trees Progam, an effort of the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. James Ramold, Ewing village chairman and a school employee, applied for the grant. Ramold, along with instructor Jacob Goldfuss, assisted students with planting....
Corn in the Summerland FFA test plot was sky high by the Fourth of July. Some of the rows shot toward the sun, towering over other varieties. The chapter's test plot program, in its second year, is in a new location. Landowner Bob Napier said the plot now sits on the west side of the school, near the football team's practice field. "Signs will go up in August," Napier said. FFA students, along with advisor Jacob Goldfuss, ventured to the area on April 24, meeting with representatives from...
Summerland FFA Chapter members earned multiple awards at the 2023 FFA State Convention in Lincoln, March 29 - 31....
Ask Braelyn Bergman what she wants to be when she grows up and she isn't shy about answering the question. "As I get older, I want to become a cattle breeder and breed analyst, which also includes artificial insemination technician," the seventh-grade student at Summerland Public Schools said. Bergman has been involved in 4-H for a number of years, showing cattle at the Antelope County Fair. This year, she joined the Summerland FFA Chapter, hoping to enhance her knowledge of agriculture. She joi...
Ewing farmer Bob Napier and members of the Summerland FFA chapter hosted community members, Sept. 7, at the corn test plot located north of the school. Approximately 80 inidividuals from the area stopped by the outdoor classroom to take a look at what's sprouted during the growing season. Napier said six companies - Pioneer, Channel, Brevant, NC+, Dekalb and Golden Harvest - each planted four to five varieties of seed last April. Bodie Meyer, of Plains Cover Crop, thanked Napier for sharing his...
Summerland FFA chapter presents honorary awards to Bob Napier and Chris and Sandy Moser, with son Dillon, during the organization's April 22 banquet....
The expansion of an agriculture education program has boosted membership in Summerland's FFA chapter. Advisor Jacob Goldfuss said 46 students, grades seven through 12, participate in the organization which combines classroom learning, field experience and community service. It's the largest group since the Summerland chapter originated last year. Goldfuss' credits his enthusiasm for ag education and FFA to his high school career, at O'Neill Public Schools. "The organization and classes help...
Summerland Public School agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor, Jacob Goldfuss, accepts a $2,500 donation from Aaron Hoke and Austin Twibell, with H and T Seed and Technology, alongside school administrators and Summerland FFA officers. Twibell and Hoke applied for the $2,500 grant through Corteva Agriscience, in the spring, with the intent of donating it to the Summerland FFA chapter. The grant will be used to provide FFA members with an opportunity to compete in various FFA...
Three Summerland School students competed in the virtual SkillsUSA national competition earlier this summer. SkillsUSA prepares students for careers in technical, skilled and trade occupations. According to the organization's website, more than 372,655 students and instructors participate annually. The program helps students investigate 79 potential career paths in 16 career clusters. Summerland students competed in state competition, virtually, in April and winners advanced to the national...
Four contestants will compete for the Miss Clearwater Rodeo title, this Friday, at the 54th annual Clearwater Rodeo. Queen contest chairman Devon Baum said contestants will be judged in multiple events, including horsemanship, congeniality and appearance categories. Josey Booth, Neligh, Morgan Erhardt, Clearwater, Amanda Sellin, Norfolk and Jordyn Stempek, Duncan, will begin competition Friday afternoon. The 2021 Miss Clearwater Rodeo will be announced that evening, at 7:30 p.m., in Gene...
Summerland FFA members and their families gathered Tuesday, May 11, to celebrate the chapter's accomplishments from the past year. Contest award winners from the year were recognized, as well as year-end awards given out and the 2021-2022 officer team was installed. Awards presented were: Chapter Proficiency Awards - Ashley Melcher, second place, beef production-entrepreneurship; Madison Melcher, first place, beef production-entrepreneurship; Madison Melcher, first place, beef...
Summerland FFA chapter had numerous members compete at state FFA events this year. Events were held virtually at the end of March and beginning of April. Levi Cronk and Carlee Livingston qualified for state in junior public speaking and discovery speaking, earning a bronze medal and silver medal, respectively. Also qualifying for state was the ag sales team of Cronk, Morgan Erhardt, Avery Cheatum and Larissa Thomson. Cheatum was not able to compete at state, so Collin Mullins filled in. Cronk...
Summerland FFA competed at the district career development events March 3 at NECC. Some events were held virtually at the end of February. Summerland FFA competed in nine different contests, qualifying one team to compete at the virtual State FFA Convention. The ag sales team advances to state after a second-place finish. Avery Cheatum finished first, earning a purple ribbon; Morgan Erhardt, third, blue; Levi Cronk, seventh, red and Larissa Thomson, eighth, red. The farm business management...
Members from the Summerland FFA Chapter competed at the District IV Livestock Judging Contest, Thursday, Feb. 4, at Northeast Community College. Of the 15 members who competed, eight students came away earning ribbons, with sophomore member Levi Cronk leading the pack, with a first-place overall finish in the junior division. Also earning ribbons in the junior division were Trevor Thomson and Jesse Thiele. Both received reds. Approximately 120 contestants competed in this division. In the...
Two Summerland FFA students will advance to state competition. Carlee Livingston and Levi Cronk advance to the spring event following district leadership event competition. The yearly convention and competition will be held virtually, according to Summerland FFA Advisor Jessy Hilkemeier. The Summerland Chapter took 14 students to the Dec. 16 event, held at Emerson-Hubbard. Livingston placed first in junior high discovery speaking. She spoke on natural breeding versus artificial insemination. Cro...
