The Decorah FFA competed at the 95th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference on April 17th and 18th at Iowa State University in Ames. Twenty-two Decorah FFA members attended this year’s conference, including Brooke Anfinson, Annika Brynsaas, Brody Courtney, Kiele Eberling, Karlie Einck, Rashell Lippe, Anders Lovstuen, Morgan Moen, Creed Monroe, Justin Nierling, Travis Nordheim, Jeramiah Rediske, Chezny Ryant, Eden Scheidel, Hannah Schnitzler, Kayleigh Smith, Derek Tieskoetter, Ciara Wedmann, Addison Wemark, Kamryn Werges, Thea Zidlicky, and Dalton Zidlicky. The members participated in seven contests.

Results on State Qualifying Events

Addison Wemark, the 2022-2023 secretary of the Decorah FFA, submitted the Decorah FFA Secretary’s book for the state evaluation. The book received a gold rating and was awarded as the state champion. Wemark was recognized on the main stage and presented with a plaque.

Anders Lovstuen, 2022-2023 treasurer of the Decorah FFA, submitted the Decorah FFA treasurer’s book. The book received a gold rating, and Lovstuen was recognized on the main stage during the first general session.

Annika Brynsaas competed in the ag sales individual leadership development event. She received a gold rating and was recognized on the main stage during the first general session.

Jeramiah Rediske competed in the job interview leadership development event and received a silver rating.

State Ag Skills Career Development Event

The Ag Communications team–Eden Scheidel, Kamryn Werges, Kiele Eberling, and Rashell Lippe–received 9th place and a silver rating. Eden Scheidel was named the top individual in the journalistic writing practicum.

The Farm Business Management team received a silver rating. Members of this team include Addison Wemark, Dalton Zidlicky, Hannah Schnitzler, and Morgan Moen. This career development event is designed to provide the students an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of farm management.

Karlie Einck and Thea Zidlicky participated in the FFA Greenhand Quiz event. This quiz allows members to showcase their knowledge about the FFA organizations. Einck and Zidlicky both received bronze ratings.

Iowa FFA Degree

The Decorah FFA also had members earning individual awards and degrees. The Iowa FFA Degree is the highest honor a member may receive from the state. FFA participants who qualify have completed the three-circle model’s minimum participation requirements: Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), FFA, and Classroom/Laboratory. This year eight members of the Decorah FFA received this honor: Brooke Anfinson, Creed Monroe, Justin Nierling, Travis Nordheim, Chezny Ryant, Hannah Schnitzler, Ciara Wedmann, and Addison Wemark.

Stars Over Iowa

Justin Nierling was named the 2023 Star in Agribusiness winner. This award category is based on an entrepreneurship/ownership Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program in a non-production agriculture area. Nierling keeps records from his business Nierling Custom Farming.

Additional Contest Results and Activities

The Decorah FFA Chapter earned a gold rating in the National Chapter Award Program, a contest designed to encourage chapters to plan activities and carry them out with a successful program of activities. Chapters are recognized for outstanding achievement in the areas of student development, chapter development, and community development. Brody Courtney accepted the award on behalf of the chapter during the second general session.

Members also took part in a variety of events that took place throughout the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference and attended the career show. Morgan Moen and Kiele Eberling played in the state FFA band, Creed Monroe and Kayleigh Smith served as state courtesy corps members, and Anders Lovstuen and Travis Nordheim served as the chapter’s delegates and attended the state FFA association’s business session. 

Joni Bruvold, agricultural science teacher at Decorah High School, is the FFA advisor.

4.17.23 Decorah FFA at State Leadership Conference
Twenty-two Decorah FFA members attended the 95th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference at the Iowa State University Campus in Ames.
Front Row (l-r): Kamryn Werges, Chezny Ryant, Morgan Moen, Derek Tieskoetter, and Anders Lovstuen
Middle Row (l-r): Eden Scheidel, Rashell Lippe, Karlie Einck, Brooke Anfinson, Addison Wemark, Annika Brynsaas, Brody Courtney, and Ciara Wedmann
Back Row (l-r): Kiele Eberling, Thea Zidlicky, Jeramiah Rediske, Hannah Schnitzler, Travis Nordheim, Kayleigh Smith, Dalton Zidlicky, and Creed Monroe, Justin Nierling
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Addison Wemark received 1st place at State in the FFA secretary’s book competition.
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Eight Decorah FFA members received their Iowa FFA Degree.
Pictured (l-r): Travis Nordheim, Addison Wemark, Creed Monroe, Chezny Ryant, Ciara Wedmann, Brooke Anfinson, Hannah Schnitzler, and Justin Nierling
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Eden Scheidel was named the top individual in the Ag Communications Career Development Event Journalistic Writing Practicum. 
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Justin Nierling was named the FFA Stars Over Iowa Agribusiness Winner. 
4.18.23 Ag Communications Eden Scheidel Rashell Lippe Kiele Eberling Kamryn Werges 9th place team silver rating
The Ag Communications Team placed 9th at state. Pictured (l-r): Eden Scheidel, Rashell Lippe, Kiele Eberling, and Kamryn Werges

4.17.23 Ag Sales Brynsaas gold
Annika Brynsaas competed in the individual ag sales leadership development event. She received a gold rating and was recognized on the main stage. 
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Anders Lovstuen submitted his treasurer’s book for the state contest. He received a gold rating and was recognized on the main stage. 
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Jeramiah Rediske competed in the job interview leadership development event and received a silver rating at state.
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Photo ID (l-r): Hannah Schnitzler, Addison Wemark, Morgan Moen, and Dalton Zidlicky competed in the state Farm Business Management Contest. The team received a silver rating.
4.18.23 Greenhand Quiz Zidlicky Einck Bronze ratings
Thea Zidlicky and Karlie Einck received a bronze rating in the Greenhand Quiz contest at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference.
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Kiele Eberling and Morgan Moen participated in the State FFA Band at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference.
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Travis Nordheim and Anders Lovstuen served as the Decorah FFA chapter’s delegates at the State FFA Business Session.
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Creed Monroe and Kayleigh Smith were selected to serve as courtesy corps members while at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference.