Five Mount Ayr Community FFA chapter members received their National FFA degrees at the national FFA convention in Indianapolis, IN, last week.

A dozen Mount Ayr Community FFA chapter members took part in the activities, led by chapter advisor Jack COOK.

The five students earning their national degrees were Tara BAKER, Joe CATAZARETI, Zach LYNCH, Kelsey MEESTER and Matt WIMER.

Tara BAKER is the daughter of Frank and Bonnie BAKER of Redding. Her supervised ag experience project was in employment at Kelly Tire and Exhaust and Peggy Sue's. She served as chapter reporter and assistant reporter, was a district officer candidate and on the state officer niminating committee, traveled to state and national convetions and the Washington, D.C. leadership trip and has been a part of several contest teams.

Joe CATANZARETI is the son of Joe and Suzie CANTANZARETI of Mount Ayr. He has a supervised ag experience project with a beef herd. He has been chapter secretary and vice-president and taken part in the parliamentary procedure, conduct of meetings and state agronomy team, among other activities.

Zach LYNCH is the son of Bill and Deb LYNCH of Redding, and has has a supervised ag experience program working as a farm labor and with a herd of 20 beef cattle. He has been part of the conduct of meetings, parliamentary procedure, agronomy and soil judging teams and been assistant treasurer and parliamentarian.

Kelsey MEESTER is the daughter of Jay and Pat MEESTER of Mount Ayr. Her supervised ag experience has been working for MEESTER Farms. She has been to state and national conventions and the Washington, D.C. leadership trip and shown horses at the state fair, among other activities.

Mat WIMER is the son of Mike and Shelly WIMER of Mount Ayr. His supervised ag experience has been working for DAE, a manure application fire, and Mount Ayr Tractor and Machine. He has been to state and national convention and was on the greenhand and chapter quiz teams, among others.

Theme for the convention was "Step Up, Stand Out" and focused on leadership development.

Representing the chapter at the convention weres Alyssa ADAMS, Katelyn WARIN, Matt KERNS, Elisha DOUBLEDAY, Ali ALTOUKHY, Devon WINEMILLER, Russell REYNOLDS, Karl KRENS, Jen ANGUS, Allison FOOKEN, Shelby REGER and Wes CAMPBELL.

The students left early Tuesday, Oct. 21, stopping at the John Deere planter works in Moline, IL., and at the history pavilion later that day. They went on to Chicago, IL., to spend the night, visiting the Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Board of Trade and top of the Sears Tower in a day of sight-seeing Wednesday before arriving in Indianapolis, IN in time for a Taylor Swift concert Wednesday night.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2012

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