The students of the Pella Chapter of FFA competed at state on April 11 and 12. Individuals and the chapter received recognition and awards.

Senior Ben Thomas and Senior Chandler Jahner received the Iowa Degree award at the state award ceremony. Students receive this award for keeping track of FFA’s financial records through their high school years.

The Pella chapter also received the Ambassador Chapter Award which was accepted by Amanda Stanley. They qualified for the award by volunteering for 25 hours. The FFA members at Pella High help out an organization called the Iowa FFA Foundation. They also provide volunteers for several hours at the Iowa State Fair selling tractors, help out at the Grandstand events.

Jahner won 1st place in the extemporaneous speaking category. Each speaker has to give a speech on one of the following topics: Agriscience, Technology, Agri Marketing, International Agriculture, Food and Fiber Systems and Urban Agriculture. They have 30 minutes to prepare. Each speech must be between four and six minutes with five additional minutes for questions by the judges. Jahner will now proceed to compete at Nationals in October in Indianapolis. Students from the Chapter will be riding on a charter bus to Indianapolis to support Jahner at Nationals.

“When I found out that I won it was extremely excited I knew that there was an individual that was gonna be pretty stiff competition. I met him during the prep time. When I found out that he got third place, I got really excited because I knew i had an opportunity to win it all. Once they announced the person who got second, I started to get really really giddy. When they called my name, it was just absolutely phenomenal. It was an awesome opportunity and a blessing,” said Jahner.