Staff writer
Goessel FFA members, parents, and supporters gathered Thursday to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and honor special people, including Lynette Duerksen of rural Goessel, at their chapter banquet.
“We awarded Lynette an honorary FFA degree because she has been so helpful through the years,” Chapter Adviser Zana Manche said. “She helped us with so many fundraisers, selling fireworks, providing food, working concessions. We just all thought she was very deserving.”
Also deserving recognition were several chapter members who earned degrees and a variety of proficiency awards.
Chapter FFA Degree recipients were Brian Hiebert, Reece Hiebert, and Zach Showalter. Chapter Proficiency Awards went to Keenan Stultz in diversified livestock production; Austin Unruh in agriculture mechanics repair and maintenance; and Brian Hiebert in diversified agriculture production.
Freshman Arik Schmidt was named the Star Greenhand of the Year, based on his help in the school kitchens and attendance at chapter activities.
Outgoing officers Josh Booth, Drake Sterk, Reece Hiebert, Kevin Moon, Bruce Benjamin, Garrett Woelk, and Joe Campbell were honored, and then replaced by incoming officers Trey Schmidt, Reece Hiebert, Kevin Moon, Shane Goerzen, Zach Showalter, Lawton Makovec, and Connor Davis.
Several members will attend State FFA Convention May 30 through June 1, and Manche schedule an officer retreat for July 12 through 15. Other summer events include providing a Threshing Days Petting Zoo Aug. 4, a watermelon feed for school enrollment August 8, and summer work nights on Mondays, starting May 28.