WISCONSIN RAPIDS — More than 240 high school juniors and FFA advisors from across Wisconsin attended Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s FFA Farm Forum in Wisconsin Rapids on Feb. 17.
“FFA Farm Forum is a time for learning and leadership,” said WFBF President Kevin Krentz. “These students are the next generation in agriculture. I hope members in attendance are able to take back what they have learned during this conference to better their organizations and communities.”
The keynote speaker was Joe Schlies, a member of the UW-River Falls Collegiate Farm Bureau. Schlies shared his experiences with the Wisconsin Association of FFA and Farm Bureau and how they have shaped him as a young leader. He shared how everyone has the power to seek out opportunities in their lives to develop impactful traits within themselves.
During the one-day event, FFA members attended career-based workshops including: ‘Food Science 101’ with Sara Menard Huber, Research and Development Manager at Brakebush Brothers; ‘Agricultural Product Applications’ with Andrew Dal Santo, an instructor at Southwest Technical College; ‘Supercharge Your Ag Technology Knowledge’ with Teri Raatz, an instructor with Mid-State Technical College; and ‘From FFA to YFA: Connecting the Dots in Your Ag Experience’ with Joe Schlies.
“FFA Farm Forum is a great partnership between Wisconsin Farm Bureau and Wisconsin FFA,” said WFBF Director of Member Relations Mandy Ganser. “Our organizations have worked together for many years to offer students a conference that showcases the many career paths and leadership development opportunities available in agriculture.”
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation sponsors FFA Farm Forum in cooperation with the Wisconsin Association of FFA.
