Two high school and 12 middle school students of the Oconto Falls FFA Chapter attended the Wisconsin Association of FFA FIRE Conference and were awarded the Spirit Award on Oct. 15 at the Fox Valley Technical College Campus in Appleton.
FIRE stands for “Foundations in Reaching Excellence.” The conference helps young FFA members discover opportunities in the FFA organization and gain valuable leadership skills. This is one of three conferences held around the state of Wisconsin for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade FFA members. Over 400 members will attend these conferences.
The Spirit Award is given out at each conference to the Chapter that is judged to be the most engaged and made the most out of the learning opportunities at the conference.
The FIRE Conference is designed to inform beginning FFA members about the FFA and motivate them to participate in its many activities. Students learned about communication skills, social skills, goal setting, FFA awards and programs, and opportunities in agriculture along with developing leadership skills to help them be effective members in their local chapters.
The conference is conducted by the 2022-2023 State FFA Officer Team with assistance from the FVTC-Appleton Post-Secondary Agricultural Student Organization. This conference was centered around the theme “Mapping Our Journey.” All of the state officers encouraged students who attended the FIRE Conference to set goals for their FFA involvement and meet people from around the state who can help them reach those goals.
Not only does this conference help students understand the FFA organization and all its opportunities, but helps them develop skills in meeting people, working with others and setting goals with a plan of action.
“In the FFA, we assist members starting in seventh grade to develop skills they will need for future careers and opportunities,” said Cheryl Zimmerman, state FFA executive director. “FFA develops the whole person and these young members are taking a step in the right direction.”
The Wisconsin FFA Association is comprised of over 250 local chapters with over 23,000 members gaining leadership for the future of agriculture. FFA activities and award programs complement instruction in agriculture education by giving students practical experience in the application of agricultural skills and knowledge gained in classes. FFA’s mission is to develop members’ potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
— Abigail Roskom
CLUB NOTES: Oconto Falls FFA
