For the City Times

The Stevens Point FFA was recognized for its positive influence on the community at organization’s state convention.

Over 3,000 Wisconsin FFA members, advisers and guests representing over 250 schools attended the Wisconsin FFA Convention held June 13-16 in Madison.

Seventeen members from the Stevens Point FFA participated in the Rally To Fight Hunger. The group also volunteered setting up the event, and later bagging food for less fortunate across the state, helping package 40,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest Foodbank in Southern Wisconsin.

Two members from the Stevens Point chapter, Allison Schulist and Justin Wisinski, were selected to be delegates at the convention. They voted on business matters pertaining to the future of the organization, and elected the next year’s state FFA officer team.

The Stevens Point FFA was also awarded a gold-rating in the National Chapter Award — a designation ranking groups’ overall students, chapter and community development — and the group now advances to national competition in October.

Stevens Point FFA President MacKenzie Betro received the Three-Star Leader Award, which recognizes members who are actively involved in their local chapter’s program of activities.

The chapter was always awarded sixth in the state for the Food for America program.

Groups from the chapter also participating in opening and closing ceremony competitions, where participants are judged on precise memorization, fluency, voice and overall effect.

The P.J. Jacobs Jr. High team consited of Alex Brzezinski, Savanna Bartelt, Casey Simonis, Jacquline Wisinski, Lily Trzebiatowski and Kate Zalewski. They placed fourth out of the nine teams that competed.

The SPASH team consisted of Justin Wisinski, McKenzie Schulist, Suzanna Viau, Breanna Weiler, Allison Schulist and Elijah Zimbauer. That team placed third out of 15 teams.

FFA members also participated in the High School Quiz Bowl, earning runner-up status. The team consisted of members MacKenzie Betro, Elizabeth Hirzy, Stephanie Hirzy, Allison Schulist and Justin Wisinski.

Suzanna Viau took first place in the State Floriculture Career Development Event, which tests the diversity of FFA member’s knowledge of the floriculture industry. Members must identify and treat unhealthy plants due to pest, nutritional, mechanical or chemical industry.

Casey Simonis and Trevor Wisinski conducted an Animal Systems AgriScience Fair project, having caught a variety of fish species to test how they are attracted to certain types of LED lighting. The boys received a silver rating for their project.

Jaci Brandl was selected to take part in the State FFA Choir. After hours of practice, the choir preformed during multiple sessions at the convention hall, and Brandl was selected for a solo performance. Brandl, along with the rest of the Wisconsin FFA Choir will perform at state fair in August. Brandl will also sing with National FFA Choir in October.

Sadie Kolodziej received a Wisconsin FFA Degree at the convention, the highest degree a state association can bestow upon its members. To be considered, FFA members must invest $1000 or work 1500 hours, be an FFA member for at least two years and have 360 hours of agricultural classroom instruction.

The Stevens Point FFA chapter’s advisors are Stephanie Beranek and Ione Hausler.