LaCrosse FFA members find that hard work nets success

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Feb 15, 20180

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FFA group

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FFA soils

Back Row (L to R): Lisa Baser, Lauren Stubbs, Jasmin Watson, Genevieve McGregor, Ty Harder, TJ Harder, Alynn Harder. Front Row: Mashayla Morris, Abigail McGregor, Nicole Harder, Britte Harder, Autumn Meyers, Jady Guske and Trey Fleming.

Blue pennants line the wall of the ag science room at LaCrosse schools with a pile of more yet to be put up. The pennants signify wins and top placings for FFA contests, and LaCrosse has found the key to earning more and more.

“Hard work and dedication,” said Jadyn Guske. “We give up a lot of our free time to succeed.”

The LaCrosse FFA is made up of high school students enrolled in an ag elective at the school. The class covers soils, agronomy, meats, ag mechanics and more. All but one of the enrolled students is involved in the school's FFA program with younger classmates doing creed, public speaking and parliamentary procedure.

“FFA is a lot more than just agriculture,” Guske said.

For her leadership and public speaking are skills she will apply in other aspects of her life. She added that she will probably use what she learns from FFA more in her life than other school subjects.

“The kids work really hard,” said seventh-year teacher Lisa Baser.

That hard work includes coming in on weekends and lunch breaks to go over material and study for the various contests.

“They all have things they like and don't like,” Baser said of the subjects covered.

While students like Guske take more from the public speaking side, others are really into the agriculture opportunities.

“I enjoy ag science,” said Trey Fleming. The ag mechanic curriculum is some of the more valuable to him. He feels it will help him as he plans to be a farmer in the future and the things he learns there will benefit him daily.

For Stephen Campbell, the ag science class and FFA changed his life. He said he was a city boy when he came to LaCrosse. When he took ag mechanic as part of the class, it introduced him to welding. Now Campbell wants to be a certified welder and continues to build his skills.

While the students work hard to prepare for the contests, they have fun when there. Baser noted the social appeal of going to the contests as students from a small school are able to meet and interact with others.

Fleming noted the contests are so varied, there is something for everyone.

The students like having something to strive for with the contests, and even more, they like the feeling of success. While the school's small sports teams struggle for wins, the FFA participants enjoy being successful and placing well. The students have placed as individuals and teams in many of the contests.

Pennants have been won for meats, diversified livestock proficiency, marketing, creed, public speaking, parliamentary procedure, livestock judging and soils. The students will go on to compete in state and national FFA conventions in May in various subjects.

“I think a lot of it has to do with her,” Guske said, indicating Baser. “She pushes us in a good way.”

“She makes us want to succeed,” Fleming added.

“It's easy to make good kids succeed,” Baser replied. In addition to the subjects, she said the students are also learning problem solving and independent study as they work through things on their own.

In May the Land Evaluation―aka soils―team consisting of Alynn Harder, TJ Harder, Guske, Fleming, Lauren Stubbs and Ty Harder will head to Oklahoma City for the National Land Evaluation contest after placing first at the state contest.

When they get back they will have one week before the state convention where they will compete in marketing after winning the district event. Guske, Alynn Harder, Autumn Meyers and Stubbs will take part in that contest. Baser noted the other qualifiers for state are in March, so they are not yet sure what other contest they will advance in.

Last year team members placed at the national level for meats, and Nicole Harder was a finalist for the Diversified Livestock Proficiency Award.

The Land Evaluation team is (L to R): Lisa Baser, Trey Fleming, Ty Harder, TJ Harder, Alynn Harder, Lauren Stubbs, Jadyn Guske, Autumn Meyers and Ryan Klaveano, representing Wilbur Ellis, which sponsored the team for state competition.