Eliza Schmidt. Photo Courtesy of ADM FFA

Adel-DeSoto-Minburn FFA members recently attended the State Convention.

Advisor Advisor McKenzie Gettler said multiple members went to Ames on the campus of Iowa State University from April 19-21, where they were joined by 6,700 members and guests. During the event, she added that the Agriculture Sales Team placed in the top 15 while other members competed in Farm Business Management. 

Additionally, Gettler mentioned that FFA member Kelsey Greenslade, who graduated from ADM last year, retired as the South-Central State Vice President. 

Gettler detailed that one of the big highlights was Eliza Schmidt receiving the Iowa Degree, which only five percent of FFA’ers achieve. She added that it is the highest honor an FFA member can achieve within the state’s program and requires a number of criteria, including a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).

Schmidt talks about the work that went into applying for the Iowa Degree.

“This consisted of recording all of my records for my entrepreneurship business of selling eggs. I raise about 45 hens and then sell their produce to different people in my community throughout the school, family and friends. So in my Iowa Degree, it consisted of a lot of my records, what I’ve learned, how I plan to expand the project and then also the community service I’ve done throughout the past four years.”

Gettler added that Schmidt was one of 830 FFA members in Iowa to earn the state degree.