ABOVE: McKenzie Wagelie and Star Nelson stand with the chapter charter inside one of GHEC’s agriculture classrooms.

GRANADA- The Granada Huntley East Chain (GHEC) FFA chapter is searching for individuals interested in joining its alumni association. The FFA chapter at GHEC is extremely new. Its agriculture department was first formed in 2020 but has since become a core part of the district’s high school curriculum.

Star Nelson was the school’s first agriculture teacher and taught its first agriculture classes.

“It was very difficult because I did it during COVID. It was a lot of hours putting in paperwork and program approval but getting the kids to come was not that difficult. The kids really wanted to be there and the community really wanted the kids to be there. We really don’t have any issues with community support. Everybody is supportive which is fantastic,” said Nelson.

Since the formation of the agriculture department changes have been made to the curriculum to emphasize agriculture education and make FFA entry more accessible. Students at GHEC are now required to take an introduction to agriculture course as well as an agricultural business course in order to graduate. Once students have been enrolled in an agriculture course they become eligible for FFA affiliation and programming. Currently there are around 40 FFA members at GHEC, but this number will increase over the coming years as upperclassmen are replaced by students who use the new requirements.

GHEC’s FFA chapter remains relatively new, thus far it’s organized a variety of student programming as well as some community outreach and service.

In the past

While FFA specializes in agricultural education, the instructors emphasize its programming can benefit students interested in a variety of different fields.

“There’s two different categories; there’s career development events such as (small animal identification and livestock evaluation) and then there’s leadership development events which would be agriculture communication, farm business, etc.” said Nelson.

Nelson provided an example of FFA programming that can benefit students going into industries other than agriculture.

“Right now we have a student who has zero interest in animals and livestock so she did the farm business management contest. She put together the community breakfast and she ran an (educational program). So really you don’t have to be involved in what the world thinks is agriculture to be in FFA, it can be literally anything,” said Nelson.

The district’s industrial technology courses are now also taught by Nelson and have been brought under the purview of the agriculture department. The district has also hired McKenzie Wagelie as a second agriculture teacher. In addition to teaching agriculture, Wagelie is also spearheading the creation of the alumni organization.

“I think at FFA there’s endless opportunities for kids to be involved, whether they want to be in a contest or help with the community service part. I know from my experiences in FFA that there’s so many opportunities to grow as an individual,” said Wagelie.

Because the FFA chapter was created very recently, individuals do not need to be an alum of the chapter or GHEC to join the alumni organization.

“It can be people from Fairmont, businesspeople, parents of students, and actual alumni as well,” said Nelson.

Members of the alumni association would assist with fundraising efforts, help connect the chapter with resources and assist the chapter and the agriculture department with its operations. The chapter hopes to use resources from the alumni association to expand the scope of the FFA’s operations and put together a scholarship fund for high school seniors going into agriculture.

“One thing I always preach to my kids is you don’t have to be involved in agriculture. You just need to have an open mind and I think that also applies to the (alumni committee). We just need people to help support our students, that’s why we’re all here. We’re not here because of FFA, we’re here for the kids,” said Nelson.

Those interested in joining the organization can contact the department at mckenzie.wagelie@ghec.k12.mn.us or star.schipper@ghec.k12.mn.us.