This week — Feb. 23-29 — is National FFA Week.
Chapters around the nation will celebrate FFA and its impact it has on its members every day, including the Brainerd FFA Chapter.
Events in Brainerd include:
Monday — Teacher Appreciation Day and members wear FFA apparel, colors or official dress,
Tuesday — Give FFA Day and Milk Drinking Relay for ninth graders,
Wednesday — Milk Drinking Relay for 10th through 12th graders,
Thursday — Ag Eat and See Farm animals,
Friday — Snow tubing with the Staples FFA chapter.
Brainerd FFA Chapter was chartered in 1940. The first chapter officers were Norman Caughey, president; George Tautges, vice president; Milo Beuhler, secretary; Vernon Julson, treasurer; Carol Christopherson, Sergeant at Arms; Vernon Leibold, reporter; and Gerald McKay, adviser. In 1942, Howard Handeland was the first from Brainerd FFA Chapter to receive his State Degree. In 1951, Brainerd was the first chapter in the state to rank in the gold group in the national chapter contest. In 1969, females could join FFA nationwide. Kelli Kitzman was the first female president of the Brainerd FFA Chapter in 1985-1986.
Currently there are 60 members enrolled in the Brainerd chapter. The following career and leadership development teams have advanced to the state convention scheduled in April: Chapter Conduct, Parliamentary Procedure, Horse Evaluation, General Livestock and Dairy Evaluation. More teams are competing at the regional level. Six members will receive their State Degree this year. The chapter has three Region officers.
This past October, members had the opportunity to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Jacob Borgstrom competed in the talent event. While there the group attended a concert with Old Dominion and toured the Caterpillar museum, along with attending sessions.
ADVERTISEMENT
The chapter helped at community events to include the Brainerd Jaycees Fishing Extravaganza, Duck Loading, Culver Dairy Days and EAT picnic.
Current officers are: Keyahna Kurilla, president; Simon Nelson, vice president; Emmy Hinrichs, secretary; Olivia Ostrowski, treasurer; Ali Schroer, reporter; Annie Loss, historian; Lea Kreuger, sentinel; Taylor Radunz, officer at large; and Magnus Nelson, adviser.
