Thursday, January 08, 2009

Shickley Attends National FFA Convention

Members of the Shickley FFA Chapter attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. This year’s theme was “Blue Jackets, Bright Futures.” The Convention lasted from Oct. 24-27. Members attending were: Marissa Hochstetler, Anna Lichti, Mike Sheets, Chas Timmerman, Amy Hendrickson, and Whitney Walters. They arrived on Wednesday and attended the opening session at the Conseco Field House at 7:30. The speaker that night was Rick Rigsby. On Thursday morning we went to the Indiana Convention Center. Later that day we attended a Career Show and in the evening we attended the second session with the FFA talent show. On Friday we went to the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway for a tour. Later that afternoon we went to the Conseco Field House to watch Conley Straight receive his Agriculture Mechanics and Repair Proficiency Award. When we got back we went out to eat and then attended the National FFA band and chorus concert. On Saturday, we went to the FFA Shopping Mall. After that we loaded up the bus and headed for Lincoln. In addition the Shickley FFA would like to thank the Fillmore County foundation for their support of our National FFA activity.

Conley Douglas Straight of Shickley FFA Chapter, in Nebraska was named a national finalist in the Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance—Entrepreneurship/Placement Proficiency award program in July, 2007 and competed at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excelled as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while they gained hands-on career experience. Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance—Entrepreneurship/Placement is one of 47 FFA proficiency award categories offered at local, state and national levels. 

Shickley High Ad-Ed Notes

The Ag-Ed 11 class at Shickley High School has been involved with many activities related to land measurement. Students have been studying the use of metes and bounds to describe the way land was surveyed in the eastern part of the United States. Understanding rectangular survey and legal land descriptions are a current activity that students are involved in.

Ad-Ed 12 students have been involved with the understanding of recordkeeping and utilizing Quicken to make income and expense entries. Categorizing incomes and expenses give students an understanding of how to analyze costs associated with various inputs that would be used in a business situation. Advanced career planning and is a major component of this year where students have reported on a career area of their choice, will make a college selection and prepare a resume, cover letter and make application for a job.

Students in Ag-Ed 8 Students are presently working a checkbook writing problem to give them the experience related to writing checks, making deposits and reconciling a checkbook. Thanks to Geneva State Bank, Shickley Branch for helping  defray the cost of the packets for this activity.

The Agriculture Mechanics class has developed a shop organization project to improve the layout of the schools ag shop. Implementations have been made with the rearranging of cabinets and location of welding stations and metal storage. Students have completed the development of plans for a portable metal rack, a bill of materials, a cutting order, a plan and procedure and are presently working on the building of the portable metal rack.

Understanding leadership qualities have given Ag-Ed 9 students a better understanding of the qualities that a good leader would possess. The ability to speak and think on your feet are part of the activities involved with the use of parliamentary procedure. Students are presently studying how meetings are developed and will apply their skills with the development of a mock meeting.

Ag-Ed 10 students have been involved with arc welding safety, types of arc welding equipment, and are presently practicing the development of beads. They will continue welding in the flat position and will practice lap welds and t-welds before moving into out of positions welds.

The Shickley FFA completed their first annual Food and Coat-Boot drive for the Blue Valley Community Action group We would like to thank everyone who donated food, coats and boots for the campaign. Eight boxes of coats and 2 boxes of boots and shoes were collected. A special thanks to the Catholic Church Youth Group for their donation of food that they collected on an earlier drive. In combination with the Catholic Youth Group and Shickley FFA Organization, 645 lbs. of food and products were delivered to the Blue Valley Community Action Group.

The Chapter again thanks everyone for their donations and hope that they will keep the Chapter in mind as they prepare for the second annual event.