Marengo FFA Chapter officers attended the Northeast District Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conference on June 9, 2025, hosted at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School. 

The 2025-26 FFA Co Vice-President Hailey Dietze shared key takeaways that she learned from attending the camp which included advocating for agriculture, professionalism, teamwork, servant leadership, and advice for their chapter officer roles.

15 Marengo FFA members took a trip from October 29 - November 1, 2025, to the National FFA Convention & Expo. During this trip, members toured industry-leading businesses, and networked with professionals in the field. Some including the Ozark Fisheries and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. At convention, they got to listen to keynote speaker, A'ric Jackson, and receive our National 2 Star Chapter award. Additionally, a concert featuring country star, Ella Langley added some excitement to the trip! Members also got to attend workshops about leadership and being kind to your mind, and spend time at both the career expo and the shopping mall.

On January 21, members of the Marengo FFA Chapter joined more than 700 high school FFA members from 120 schools across Iowa at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines to promote citizenship, volunteerism, and patriotism as part of the 40th Annual Iowa FFA Association Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol.

𝐑𝐲𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫, 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐭, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐡 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧, 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐲𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐌𝐲𝐥𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐥, 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐬𝐞𝐧, 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞 participated in the Iowa Youth Institute through the World Food Prize Foundation on Monday, April 30, 2025. The Iowa Youth Institute is a life-changing experience at Iowa State University where high school students engage with leading experts on critical global challenges, participate in hands-on experience, and student-led research presentations. 

14 Marengo FFA members participated in the Iowa State Fair Ushering & Attendant program. Congrats to Kathryn Kilgard for serving as ULT leader for the program this year. Through this program, members stay in dorms at the State Fair and work at either the Grandstand or at the Free Stages. Grandstand Ushers help with gate duties, working the FFA Display, and at the Grandstand during nightly events. Free Stage Attendants work as stage hands for all of the performances through the day. 

The 97th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference was held in Ames, Iowa from April 15 to 16, 2025, nearly 7,000 FFA members and guests from across the state. The conference was hosted at Iowa State University. 

Among the attendees were Thirty-Five Marengo FFA members, who actively participated in various aspects of the conference. There were also nineteen guests from Marengo which included parents, grandparents, and high school administration. 

Alannah McKibben competed in the Prepared Public Speaking LDE and earned a GOLD rating! She was recognized on the main stage during the evening session.

Abby Sparrowgrove was also honored on stage as the State Runner-Up in the Ag Sales Proficiency Award area!

Claire Smolik was selected as the Chairperson of the Program of Activities Committee and will address the delegates on Tuesday which will be an exciting leadership honor for her!

Our chapter was honored with the Ambassador Award with Jackson Slaymaker proudly accepted the award on behalf of our group!

Carli Kanke and Avary Helmrichs gave their signature of intent to become a future agriculture teacher! 

Our talented band and choir members—Delaney Stubblefield, Derek Sherman, and Elijah Lillie—participated in rehearsals and had the honor of performing during the convention.

On the delegate floor, Claire Smolik addressed attendees as Chairperson of the Program of Activities Committee, while Asher Stubblefield and Jackson Slaymaker served as voting delegates, reviewing speeches and casting votes for state officers.

In the Chapter Display Contest, Kathryn Kilgard, Abby Sparrowgrove, and Claire Smolik presented on our greenhouse program and earned a Silver Rating for their hard work.

Alannah McKibben earned 1st place in Service Learning and will advance to Nationals!

Shayla Helgeson earned State Runner-Up in Small Animal Placement.

Our Ag Sales Team also had a strong showing with a Silver Rating. Out of 300+ individuals, freshman Carter Koenig placed 48th overall in the individual sale category, earning the top score for our team. Team members Jasmine Slaymaker, Hailey Dietze, William Sayers, and Carter Koenig worked together to create and present a team sale, take an exam, and give individual sales pitches.

Dallas Sherman and Brahn Hawkins competed in the FFA Knowledge Quiz, while  Ogden Truempler and Caleb Achey served on the Courtesy Corps, helping contests run smoothly at Hansen Learning center.

Carli Kanke accepted the Gold-Rated National Chapter Award on behalf of Marengo FFA.

Claire Smolik, Kathryn Kilgard, Abby Sparrowgrove, and Avary Helmrichs used their creative abilities to construct a chapter display over an event of the chapter. 

Students from Marengo FFA also seized the opportunity to engage with college organizations and had some fun at the FFA BBQ and Fun Night, hosted at the Hansen Learning Center and the Iowa State Memorial Union.

Throughout the conference, students helped pack food supplies for those in need through a conference wide community service event. Students had the opportunity to interact with motivational speakers and explore career pathways through the career fair, enriching their understanding of the agriculture industry and inspiring future leaders.

Avary Helmrichs and Brook Mangold exhibited in the FFA Breeding and Market Goat Show at the Iowa State Fair on August 14, 2025.

Avary earned:

Blue Premium in the Commercial Doe-Under 1 year Class

Brook earned:

Blue Premium in the Market Meat Goat Wether Class

Blue Premium in the Commercial Doe-Under 1 year Class

Blue Premium in the Commercial Doe-Under 1 year Class

The Marengo FFA Chapter had 11 members show photography at the Iowa State Fair. The Marengo FFA Chapter placed 8th overall in the Iowa State Fair Photography Show. Here are their results!

Sherra Bonnichsen – 2 Blue (Animals-Birds-Wildlife, Plants)

Claire Smolik – 2 Blue (Color, SAE)

Aslyn Truempler – 1 Blue (Animals-Birds-Wildlife)

Jestine Megchelsen – 2 Red (Color, Iowa Landscape)

Mason McKusker – 2 Red (Color)

Odgen Truempler – 1 Red (Animals-Birds-Wildlife)

Landon Kilgard – 1 Red (SAE)

Carli Kanke - 1 Red (Color)

The Marengo FFA is proud to have Alannah McKibben represent us at the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest! This week of the Iowa State Fair, Alannah McKibben and her fellow queen candidates participated in an unique and empowering experience that included developing public speaking skills and stage presence, meeting with state leaders at the capitol building, and leadership training workshops. 

The Marengo FFA had 15 members proudly exhibit in this year’s Floriculture and Open Floral Shows at the Iowa State Fair! 

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟕𝟔𝟕 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟒 𝐅𝐅𝐀 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝! 

Jestine Megchelsen – 1st Marigold, 1st Zinnia, 2nd Sunflower, 2nd Marigold

Kathryn Kilgard – 1st Red Garden Rose, 1st Pink Shrub Rose, 5th Shrub Rose

Kacie Nielsen – 2nd Red Shrub Rose, 3rd Open Class Floral Arrangement. This special category challenged exhibitors to create a colorful design using fresh plant material in a container of their choice.

Brooklyn Kilgard – 3rd Red Rose, 4th Zinnia

Kenley Koenig – 3rd White Rose, 4th Red Rose

Hailey Dietze – 3rd Pink Rose, 8th Coleus

Myla Frimml – 3rd Pink Shrub Rose

Michaela Schachtlie – 4th Pink Shrub Rose

Sherra Bonnichsen – 6th Pink Shrub Rose

Carli Kanke – 5th Yellow Mini Dahlia, 7th Marigold

The Iowa State Fair FFA Breeding Beef Show took place on Thursday, August 7th. Marengo FFA member, William Sayers exhibited in the show.

William Sayers earned:

Purple Premium- Lim-Flex Breeding Heifer

Myla Frimml, Abby Sparrowgrove, and Elijah Lillie competed in the Iowa State Fair FFA Market Market Lamb and Breeding Lamb shows. 

Abby Sparrowgrove earned:

Blue Premium Black Face Wether Market Lamb

Blue Premium Black Face Commercial Ewe Lamb

Purple Herdsmanship Award

Myla Frimml earned:    

Hampshire Grand Champion Spring Ram

Blue Premium Hampshire Spring Ewe Lamb

Blue Premium Black Face Commercial Ewe Lamb

Purple Herdsmanship Award

Elijah Lillie earned:

Blue Premium Lamb Carcass Class - 6th place overall

Blue Premium Black Face Wether Market Lamb

Blue Premium Black Face Commercial Ewe Lamb

Purple Herdsmanship Award

Odgen Truempler exhibited in the FFA Poultry Show on Wednesday, August 6th at the Iowa State Fair.

Odgen earned in Poultry:

Ogden earned a Purple Herdsmen Banner

Red Premium for Commercial Pen -Egg Production

Red Premium for Other Standard Breed- Large Fowl Americana Wyandotte Hen

Red Premium for Other Standard Breed- Large Fowl Americana Wyandotte Cock