Future Farmers Tend to Business

Two Milbank FFA teams earned the chance to represent Milbank and South Dakota at the 88th National FFA Convention and Expo this week in Louisville, KY. Over 50,000 FFA members, parents, and guests from all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico attend the convention.

The MHS students spent two years pursuing and attaining state titles in either Dairy Cattle or Food Service and Technology Career Development Events (CDE). Sarah Jarman, Alysha Madsen, Sam Jarman, and Zach Sousa comprise the Dairy Cattle team. Chris Loutsch, Rebekah Tuchscherer, Katie Cannedy, Brianna Schreurs and alternate Macie Redmond make up the Food Service and Tech team. Kiera and Kadon Leddy will present an Ag Science Project display. Tera Hanson, Kristine Fairchild, Kimberly Arburto, and Maddy Liebe are serving as delegates from South Dakota.

Traveling by bus, the 15 students are accompanied by FFA advisor Jerry Janisch, Dairy Cattle Team Coach Suzanne Souza, and Krecia Leddy, who will act as a judge for the National FFA Proficiency Awards.

FFA members will participate in leadership and career development workshops, business sessions, judged competitions as well as enjoy speakers, tours, entertainment, and awards presentations.. An expo is set up at the Kentucky Exposition Center with more than 450 industry-leading exhibitors present to give the students an opportunity to explore various educational and career placements available.

Both teams will give presentations today with an awards banquet set for Friday. First place teams will receive awards Saturday while others will tour Churchill Downs. The students will travel home Sunday.

MHS has taken teams to the national convention every year since 1992 with the exception of 1996. Last year Kiera Leddy won the National Prepared Public Speaking Career Development event and in 2003 the local Dairy Foods team captured a national title, the only team from South Dakota to ever win that event.