Congratulations to Nebraska Winners and Finalists!

81st National FFA Convention
October 22-25, 2008
Indianapolis, IN

Nebraska FFA members and chapters excelled at the 2008 National FFA Convention.  See just how well we did by clicking on these areas of competition and involvement:

Stars Over America • Models of Innovation • Agri-Entrepreneurship Award • Agricultural Proficiency Award Program Winners • Career Development Events (CDEs) • Honorary American FFA Degree • Agriscience Fair • American Degree Recipients • National FFA Chorus • National FFA Band • National FFA Talent

Stars Over America
The Stars Over America Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of FFA members in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Programs. Sixteen individuals are recognized as finalists in four areas: Agribusiness, Farmer, AgriScience, and Placement. This is one of the most prestigious awards in the FFA organization.

Nebraska had a Star in Agricultural Placement Finalist: Kirk Peterson, West Holt FFA; David Gibbens, Advisor

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Models of Innovation
Models of Innovation recognize chapters for their outstanding program of activities in chapter, community and student development.

National Finalists from Nebraska:
Centennial FFA—MOI Finalist in Student Development; Amy Rasmussen, Advisor, and
Schuyler FFA—MOI Finalist in Student Development; Tom Wheeldon and Ryan Schroeder, Advisors

National Winner:
The Norris FFA Chapter of Firth, Nebraska, was named the National Model of Innovation Winner in Community Development. Doug Malone and Kristyn Harms are the Chapter FFA Advisors.

Norris FFA understands the importance of developing students into responsible and active citizens for their communities. To raise public awareness of FFA and unite the school with the community, Norris FFA members created a 70-acre outdoor learning lab. First, the chapter chose the school’s cross-country field as a natural site for planting. Then, members secured thousands of dollars in donations ranging from seed to the use of tilling equipment. Five separate ecosystems were eventually planted for research, including a switchgrass biofuels area. Members shared their work through local newspaper articles and a featured story in National Pheasants Forever magazine.

Norris FFA members also value service within their community. To create agricultural awareness for youth and adults, the chapter organized a petting zoo at the 2007 Dairy Fun Day. Members brought animals ranging from baby chicks to pigmy goats. More than 2,000 children and adults visited the petting zoo.

To further improve the welfare of their community, Norris FFA members also assisted an ailing local vineyard owner. They helped prune and harvest his fruit and learned the proper techniques for successful viticulture.

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Agri-Entrepreneurship Award
The purposes of this program are to encourage local visibility for agri-entrepreneurship education and to engage students, teachers, schools, parents and community leaders in dialogue about entrepreneurship education.

National Winner: Derrick Rocker—Franklin
Derrick, who is the son of David and Connie Rocker, owns and operates Derrick’s Kennels, an enterprise that produces Bichon Frise and Boston Terrier puppies. This idea came about when Rocker was a freshman in high school. Rocker started the business by researching different dog breeds and the market for each.

National Winner: Eric Kamler—Fillmore Central
Eric, who is the son of Mike and Kim Kamler, owns and operates EK Farms Company, a corn production enterprise. Kamler started his business in fall 2006. Eric actively pursues ways to increase his production and optimize his marking options.

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Agricultural Proficiency Award Program Winners
Members who excel in their SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) Programs can be recognized through the Agricultural Proficiency Award Program. These awards encourage members to develop specialized skills that will apply toward a future career. Members are recognized at the local, state and national levels.

A student can select from two proficiency award categories. One is called “placement” for work or experience only SAE programs. The other, called “entrepreneurship,” is for programs that typically involve ownership of an agricultural production or agribusiness enterprise.

National Proficiency Award Finalists from Nebraska:

• Jacob Paxton, Stuart—Beef Production—Placement
• Rachael Arkfeld, Lourdes Central—Emerging Agricultural Technology—Entrepreneurship/Placement
• Justin Cunningham, Bloomfield—Equine Science—Entrepreneurship
• Ashley Nunnenkamp, Sutton—Floriculture—Entrepreneurship/Placement
• Sarah Wheeldon, Schuyler—Turf Grass Management—Entrepreneurship/Placement

• Pat Arkfeld, Lourdes Central FFA, received second place in Zoology, Division 1. Tim Arkfeld is the FFA Advisor.
• Nyle Bartling and Jake Hinrichsen, Syracuse FFA, received second place in Botany, Division 3. Tim Arkfeld is the FFA Advisor.