Wayne FFA Chapter Holds Virtual Banquet, Group Excited For Future

 WAYNE – Future Farmers of America members at Wayne Community Schools were planning on holding an in-person banquet but, like many other events, went the virtual route in presenting their 2020 awards.

Toni Rasmussen is entering her fourth year as the Ag Educator at Wayne and thanked all the officers for recording and putting the awards together. She said 2019-20 was an odd year for everybody but it drew a lot of positive attention to agriculture.

“Both looking at job security within agriculture and also opportunities within it,” said Rasmussen. “So, playing off that, of course and Ag education, there’s’ a lot that I’m anxious to talk to students about as they come back this fall. Maybe why prices were the way they were whether it be in the grocery store or market prices.”

Rasmussen will also look forward discussing some of the volatility of the market and how they play into the future. She’ll be teaching Ag Leadership, Intro to Ag, Food Science, Animal Science, Vet Science and Agri Business as well as working with all of the eighth graders.

Normally the banquet is held in April following the state convention. Rasmussen added the chapter waited until all of their state contests were completed.

“We always recognize those who have scored a certain percentage in Ag class,” Rasmussen added. “Recognize those who have been to so many FFA events. We call those our leadership awards and then also the service awards because that’s a big part of FFA is serving others.”

Also, a huge thank you goes to the Board of Education, school administration and the community for their continued support.

Among the 2020 FFA Awards and Recognition virtual banquet, individuals and businesses were recognized among appreciation awards, honorary chapter FFA members, academic awards, leadership awards, service awards and others.

The Wayne FFA chapter was also able to work with Kevin Koenig planting sweet corn that the group sold and they’ll be harvesting beans this fall from their 10-acre plot.

“Last year we had corn planted there and marketed that in our Agri Business class,” Rasmussen mentioned. “Always a great hands-on learning opportunity that’s fun to explain to students. We talk about the markets and when the best time to sell might be and they kind of get to try their hand at taking the risk that many people around here do every day.”

With uncertainty this year, Rasmussen looks forward to hosting dairy judging and attending a few competitions.

“I think that’s the biggest thing that we’re going to learn from this year,” said Rasmussen. “You know you can prepare, prepare and prepare and something could go wrong. But it’s ultimately about what you learn through that experience of preparing. Also, just being uncertain yourself and then learning from that and going through adversity.”

Like Wayne Ag Ed on Facebook for more information and to find the complete Wayne FFA Banquet details.

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