Proceeds from the FFA all-you-can-eat Spaghetti dinner, held in the little gym on Friday, will help fund the Cleveland chapter’s trip to the state FFA convention on April 21-23.
Including an online version in 2020, this will be the Cleveland chapter’s fourth year participating in the state FFA convention.
During conventions, FFA vice president Carter Kern said he enjoys seeing students his age being recognized for doing worthwhile and difficult things, including competing in career development events (CDEs) and leadership development events (LDEs).
“That inspires me to do the same,” said the sophomore. “I also think that whether or not I realize it at the time, I am learning a great amount of knowledge and skills that I can use in the real world.”
While CDEs test the abilities of individuals and teams in more than 20 major areas of agricultural, food and natural resources education, LDEs are competitions on leading meetings, speaking in front of groups and job application skills, including designing a resume and interviewing.
Cleveland FFA has a team competing in the Fish and Wildlife CDE. Participants try to identify a dozen specimens in each of four groups: insects, birds, mammals, and fish. There is also a written test of 15 questions on each of the four groups and a team activity. Team members are seniors Ellie Dylla and Brianna Hollerich, sophomore Elijah Mons and seventh grader Jackson Mons.
Cleveland has a team competing in two LDEs: Parliamentary Procedure and Conduct of Chapter meetings.
In Parliamentary Procedure, members in grades 10 and higher complete a written examination and then demonstrate their proficiency at using the correct parliamentary procedure in conducting meetings. Contestants discuss chapter events during their mock meeting. Competing are Kern and his classmates Emma Bluhm, Samantha Baker, Anna Kawatski-Klein and Vivian Hilfer and junior Evelyn Keltgen.
In the similar Conduct of Chapter Meetings, 7th, 8th and 9th-grade FFA members are introduced to parliamentary procedure and tested on how to conduct an efficient meeting. Competing will be freshmen Clara Hilfer and Taylor Wolf, eighth graders Kayla Hoffmann, Luke Heldberg and Cece Gair and seventh grader August Keltgen.
With a role to share ideas how to continue the FFA’s progress, Chloe Haack, a junior, will attend the convention as a delegate.
Playing in the convention band are sophomore Dacota Lotspeich (bass guitar) and juniors Kendra Zimmerman (clarinet) and Olivia Braun (clarinet).
Katie Cink, who graduated last year, will be awarded the state FFA degree, an honor given to the top member of a state FFA association that requires proven leadership, education and work experience.
The University of Minnesota campuses and the state fairgrounds are the home of the convention. About 6000 FFA members and guests from across the state are expected to participate.
Baker said that turnout for the spaghetti supper was good. Heldberg Farms donated milk, and Cleveland Alumni donated garlic and cheese bread.
Also at the event, kids could play bingo, and adults could bid on a gift basket.
Above: Servers Chloe Haack, Ellie Dylla, Brianna Hollerich, Emma Bluhm, Samantha Baker, Luke Heldberg and Evelyn Keltgen. In back are FFA advisor Kelly Susa and Ag teacher Madisyn Schuster.
Emma Bluhm dishes up a plate of pasta.
Seventh grader Harper Rutz worked the beverage table.
August Keltgen served a choice of garlic bread or cheesy bread.
Elijah Mons at the entrance table.
Dacota Lotspeich called out bingo numbers.