(Atlantic, Iowa – by FFA Reporter Aspen Niklasen) – The Atlantic FFA Chapter placed 8th and won a Gold Medal in the annual Iowa FFA Ag Mechanics Career Development Event held at Iowa State on June 10, 2021. The Atlantic FFA Chapter team included: Cooper Jipsen, Logan Eilts and Wyatt Redinbaugh. Their Agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor is Mr. Eric Miller. Jipsen led the team this year placing 5th overall in the individual contest. Jipsen said “It was a great experience, with a lot of learning activities that came along with it. I am really excited to use the new skill I learned in the future.”

Team Photo
Cooper Jipsen, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Logan Eilts (photo submitted)

88 individuals from 24 FFA chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Agricultural Mechanics & Technology. Activities included demonstration of skills, problem solving, and knowledge application in agricultural machinery equipment, metals and welding, structures, environmental and natural resources, and electrical systems. The Iowa FFA Agricultural Mechanics & Technology Career Development Event was made possible with support from Titan Machinery through the Iowa FFA Foundation. The Agricultural Mechanics & Technology Career Development Event was hosted by the Iowa State University Ag 450 Farm and was coordinated and conducted by Mr. Kevin Sanders and the Agricultural Education & Studies Department at Iowa State University in Ames.

And, the Atlantic FFA Chapter placed 11th and won a Silver Medal in the annual Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event held at Kirkwood Community College on June 8, 2021. The Atlantic FFA Chapter team included: Taylor Mccreedy, Aspen Niklasen and Colton Becker. Their agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor is Mr. Eric Miller. Niklasen led the team this year placing 10th overall in the individual contest. Niklasen, who improved from her 21st placing the prior year said” I had a lot of fun and really learned a lot about horses.”

26 FFA chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Equine Science. The 87 individual contestants evaluated halter and performance classes. They also answered questions over the classes and gave oral reasons to explain their placings. A written examination was included along with a team problem solving competition. The Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event was made possible with support through the Iowa FFA Foundation. The Horse Evaluation Career Development Event was coordinated and held at the Iowa Equestrian Center in Cedar Rapids. The official judge was Heather Angle-Gardner of Ottumwa, Iowa.

Team Photo
Aspen Niklasen, Colton Becker, Taylor McCreedy (Photo submitted)