90 years in Kimball County

90 years ago, the Kimball FFA Chapter was chartered. In that time, the chapter has had many accomplishments with several students and alumni receiving their state and American degrees.

In addition to celebrating this milestone, Kimball’s chapter also boasts the oldest alumni group in the state and members continue to provide the chapter with support today in various ways.

Though the members of this group do not actually have to be Alumni of FFA, the local alumni is largely comprised of past members and parents.

Kimball’s strong alumni group holds feeds and other fundraisers at home games during the school year.

They assist the chapter with travel to stock shows and leadership conferences in Indianapolis, Ind., Denver, Colo., and to the nation’s capital, Washington D.C.

The alumni hosts district contests and the FFA Progress Show in the summer, allowing students from surrounding communities and 4-H members to strut their ag stuff prior to county fairs.

FFA combines agricultural education with focus on skills such as leadership, responsibility and finding individual, unique talents.

The program allows students to use their talents and skills learned in the classroom in the real world through Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs). This allows them to develop those skills, perhaps earn wages and determine which careers suit them best.

Each year more and more students join, and initiates are welcomed at the Green Hand ceremony.

These members must then work hard to obtain their chapter, state and American degrees.

Those who put in the effort can’t wait to get their state degrees and, while everyone looks forward to the day all their hard work pays off, few obtain the American Degree – less than one percent of all members reach this lofty goal.

Several past members in Kimball have received this degree, including members of the same families. For Krystal Caudill, who earned her state degree in 2010 and then just one year later gained her American degree, it was a huge success.

“It was a big deal. I worked five years towards it, so my hard work definitely paid off,” she said. “My father also received it and he always told me if I work hard and make goals, I can achieve anything and I did. This, for me, was bigger than my college graduation.”

The other Kimball FFA members that received this award were Ronald Kennedy, Milt Kennedy, Harold Fricke, Richard Perry, David Lukassen, Larry Fricke, Jim Beranek, Tim Deboodt, Kendell Henderson, Doug Lukassen, David Johnson, Sandy Lukassen, Byron Wilke, David Acheson, Reid Hagstrom, Stephanie Perry, Todd Wilke, Bryan Perry, Dean Acheson, Danell Acheson, Lee Burns, Jeff Cook, JoElla Halligan, Lacey Madden....

Speaking of the impact the program has had in her life, Krystal said, “I gained a lot of leadership skills. My freshman year of high school I was terrified to speak in front of people. Throughout this program it helped me gain the confidence I needed, and by senior year I was able to speak publicly and to others fine. It showed me how to promote different items, which benefited me because today I do a lot of promoting. I was also taught better and more efficient ways of promoting.”

Happy 90th birthday to Kimball’s FFA Chapter!