Submitted by Atlantic FFA Reporter Haley Carlson

The Atlantic FFA had a outstanding day Saturday at the Southwest District Convention in IKM-Manning. They took 13 members to compete in five different contests and two different quizzes.

Three freshmen took the “Greenhand Quiz,” Emily Saeugling with a silver, Josh Rossell with a gold, and Cale Pellett with a silver. Rossell and Saeugling placed high enough to take the quiz again at the Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference (SLC.) Pellett will also be busy at SLC participating in the “FFA Creed” contest. He placed first at districts, earning a gold rating.

Pellett said, “I prepared for the contest by writing down all of the possible questions they could ask you after you recite the creed one at a time. Then I would come up with an answer for them and memorize it. I also had to find a way to use the stage more than I did at Sub Districts. My reaction was a big shock because I didn’t think that I did as well as I could of. In order to compete well at state, my plan is to put even more emphasis on key words and phrases as well as memorizing more of the questions.”

Sophomore Sam Barkley (silver), junior Garrett Schwanke (silver), and senior Marshal McDermott (bronze) and Clint Hansen (bronze) all participated in the “Farm Business Management Quiz.” Schwanke and McDermott were also involved as chapter delegates at districts.

Senior Adam Freund participated in the “Ag Broadcasting CDE” (career development event,) placing eighth with a bronze award. Junior Clayton Saeugling participated in the “Ag Sales CDE,” placing sixth with a bronze rating.

Sophomores Alexis Boes, Morgan Barkley, and Colby Sorenson participated in the “Chapter Program CDE,” placing fourth with a silver.

Junior Haley Carlson participated in the “Extemporaneous Speaking CDE,” placing fourth with a gold. Carlson also submitted a reporter’s scrapbook, earning a silver and placing third as an alternate to state.

To wrap up District Convention, Carlson was elected as the new 2015-16 Southwest District Sentinel. She gave a speech and answered two questions earlier during the business session. Carlson said, “I knew going in that it was going to be a big day with a contest, a speech, and a scrapbook due all in one day. The nerves and stress kept stacking up but I was mainly focused on the Sentinel speech I had to give. I spent my week preparing on stage at our high school and that really helped. I was nervous all day but I knew that the only thing I could do was give my speech and hope for the best. It has been my goal for the past year to become a district officer and I was overjoyed when I heard my name called. When results were posted for the contests I was pretty proud of how well I did, even though I didn’t get the chance to advance to state. Seeing that Cale got to advance was awesome. I’m super proud of him and everyone that competed on Saturday.”

FFA advisor Eric Miller said, “I was proud of the effort our FFA members put in each of their events.  They worked hard and should be proud of what they accomplished.”