The new Crookston FFA Chapter is in the midst of a big two weeks as they compete in the State Convention. They also officially signed their Chapter Charter and received a ‘Superior Chapter Rating’ from the Minnesota FFA.
Advisor and first-year Ag teacher at Crookston Whitney Rupprecht said the students did amazing things to earn the chapter rating. “We were one of three chapters throughout the entire state selected to receive the ‘Superior Chapter Rating’ which is pretty phenomenal because this is our very first year,” said Rupprecht. “Students have been doing amazing things. We were one of the top chapters, which is really, really exciting that my students are doing some phenomenal things and are kicking butt, so I like it.”
The rare ‘Superior Rating’ is contributed not just to FFA involvement but academic success as well. “It was a lengthy application,” said Rupprecht. “We have to go through the National Quality of Program Standards which says how our chapter is meeting different academic standards. FFA is not just we go out and do something, we have some academics behind it and some knowledge to back it up. We had to prove we were meeting certain things like healthy lifestyles, chapter recruitment, academic status within our school, and different things. The state selects if we receive it and we were one of three, which is pretty amazing.”
The Chapter is also competing in the virtual state convention. “State convention would normally be this week, so we would travel down to the cities for three sleep-deprived days,” said Rupprecht. “Due to COVID, everything is virtual. We had the Conduct of Chapter meetings which I like to call baby parliamentary procedure. Victoria Proulx gave her prepared public speech on processed foods. We’re doing the food science contest. And final rounds for speaking and leadership development events. This week is all of our big contests like dairy evaluation, livestock evaluation, small animals, and so on.”
That isn’t all, the Chapter also completed a service project, and received completed the FFA Chapter Charter last week. “We’ve been collecting for the Care and Share – hygiene products as well as food,” said Rupprecht. “We had all five state officers as well as a national officer up here to essentially present us with our charter because we’re a brand-new school.”
The state officers attending the charter signing included three students at the University of Minnesota Crookston – Ben Olander (President), Elaina Knott (Treasurer), Laney Swiers (Sentinel). The other officers in attendance were Emilee Xayanourom (Vice-President) and Anna Euerle (Reporter). National FFA Southern Region Vice-President Artha Jonassaint also attended the chapter’s charter signing.
FFA Awards
Food Science Team – Danielle Haake, Kenze Epema, Jasmine Haglund, Emily Funk – 5th place – State Finalists –
Victoria Proulx – State Finalist in Prepared Public Speaking
Janessa Kunstleben – Participant in State Talent Show
Victoria Proulx – Participant in State Talent Show
Mrs. Whitney Rupprecht – Honory State Degree
Certificates of Appreciation for supporting Crookston FFA – Eric Bubna, Kayla Snyder, Robin Reitmeier, Guy Reierson
Discovery FFA Degrees – Dakota Laughery, Taylor Schulz, Ethan Bubna, Greyson Ecker, Garrett Fischer, Gunner Groven, Ashton Hoffman, Bailee Klinnert, Hayley Leckie, Wyatt Marsyla, Connor Maruska, Samuel Widseth, Ryker Arnold, Chloe Boll, Madelyn Anderson, Logan Brekken, Isaiah Donarski, Ava Martin, Claire McDonald, Zachariah Plante, Ellyn Adams, Timothy Brule, Ava Edwards, Miryah Epema, Malakai Hansen, Riley Helgeson, Kalea Luckow, Michael Miller, Joslyn Wallace, Alexander Schwede, Weston Benoit, Michael Bochow, Cody Demarais, Charles Finch, Lucas Hall, Emelia Hoerner, Naomi Olson, Naomi Johnson, Parker Kelly, Madelyn Knutson, Janessa Kunstleben,
Greenhand FFA Degress – Stella Duden, Jasmine Haglund, Lucas Kostrzewski, Jacey Larson, Savannah Meine, Carter Nelson, Victoria Proulx, Alyssa Schwede, Emma Sherman, Emily Shea, Noah Kiel, Linnea French, Emily Funk, Danielle Haake, Gunner Hooper, Joslynn Leach, MacKenze Epema, Claire Oman, Libby Salentine, Jacob Solie, Cameron Weiland, Jayden Hulst, Alyssa Spillum, Carter Bruggeman, Hunter Kresl,
