The Stevens Point FFA chapter received recognition for its positive influence on the community, and individual members from the Stevens Point chapter succeeded in speaking contests as a result of its members’ hard work and dedication to the FFA organization at the Wisconsin FFA Convention June 13-16 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

Seventeen members from the Stevens Point FFA participated in the Rally to Fight Hunger Monday, June 13, in Madison. The members volunteered at the center, setting up for the event by putting bags, scales and rice next to each of the tables found in the room.

Following set up, the team bagged and packaged rice for children and adults suffering from food insecurity across the state. The Stevens Point FFA was part of 400 members and advisers that packaged 40,000 pounds of food to be delivered to 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 National Chapter Award is a cumulative award that compiles activities that chapters conduct throughout the year. It is divided into three categories: student, chapter and community development.

The Stevens Point FFA has a broad spectrum of activities that it conducts throughout the year. The activities paid off when the chapter was placed as a gold-rated chapter and is advancing to National competition in October. The award recognizes those chapters who have outstanding programs and are models for developing chapters to follow.

MacKenzie Betro, Stevens Point FFA president, received the Three Star Leader Award. This recognizes an FFA member who was actively involved in their chapter’s program of activities. The Stevens Point chapter applied for the Food for America award and placed in the top 10. Betro and Schulist interviewed for the award at the Convention Hall. Following the interview, the chapter was awarded sixth place in the state for its programs.

The Stevens Point FFA had two Opening and Closing Ceremony teams. The Opening and Closing Ceremony contest is a team event in which members memorize and recite designated parts. The ceremony is performed in front of three judges, and are then judged on their precise memorization, fluency, voice and overall effect.

The P.J. Jacobs Junior High team consisted of Alex Brzezinski, president; Savanna Bartelt, vice president; Casey Simonis, secretary; Jacqueline Wisinski, treasurer; Lily Trzebiatowski, reporter; and Kate Zalewski, sentinel. They competed in the junior high contest and placed fourth out of nine teams.

The Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) team competed in the High School competition and consisted of Justin Wisinski, president; McKenzie Schulist, vice president; Suzanna Viau, secretary; Breanna Weiler, treasurer; Allison Schulist, reporter; and Elijah Zimbauer, sentinel. The High School team placed third out of 15 teams.

High School Quiz Bowl began in 2009 on the State level. Stevens Point FFA has competed in each contest, winning the contest three times, and this year’s team was named the State Runner up.

The competition consists of three rounds of questions which consists of Agricultural and FFA based topics. This year’s state runner up team consisted of Betro, Elizabeth and Stephanie Hirzy, Schulist and Justin Wisinski.

Viau placed first in the State Floriculture Career Development Event. The Floriculture Career Development Event 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. She was recognized on stage and presented a trophy for her accomplishments.

Casey Simonis and Trevor Wisinski conducted an Animal Systems AgriScience Fair project. They caught a variety of fish species on a friend’s private lake and placed them in an aquarium. The boys then shined white LED light into the aquarium to see if the fish were attracted to it. If they were, the boys recorded the data and put it into a chart. Following the scoring of their project, they received a silver rating for their project titled “Fish Attractions.”

Jaci Brandl was selected to take part in the State FFA Choir. The choir preformed during multiple sessions at the convention hall, and Brandl was selected as a soloist for one of the songs. Along with performing at State Convention, the Wisconsin FFA Choir will perform at State Fair in August. Brandl was also nominated to sing for National FFA Choir in October.

Sadie Kolodziej received the Wisconsin FFA Degree at the convention. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree a state association can bestow upon its members.

To be considered for the honor, the FFA members must invest $1,000 or work 1,500 hours, be an FFA member for at least two years and have 360 hours of agricultural classroom instruction. They also must have given at least two agricultural-related speeches, each a minimum of five minutes in length, and must have been involved in at least five FFA activities above the local level.